The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-05-10
NATIONAL coIoRED coNyEXTloY.
The Address to the People OF the Couu
tFy-'TheIr Statement OF the situation

v
The Address 10 the People or the Couu
!. tFy-TheIr Statement Of the situation
NAsnvtLLR, May 0.-In the Nationa
> Colored Convention, Gov. P. B. Pinch
+ back, Chairman Of the Committee on Ad
dresses, made a report, Of which the fol
| lowing are salient points; Fifteen year
? have elapsed since our emancipation, and
though we have made material advance
meht as citizens, yet we are forced to id
init that obstacles have been constantly
thrown in our way to obstruct and retard
our progress and our toll Is still unrequit.
ed hardly less under freedom than slavery,
Whereby we are sadly oppressed By pov.
erty and Ignorance; and consequntly pre-.
vented from enjoying the blessings OF
liberty, while We are leftto the shame and
contempt ot all mankind. This unfor.
tunate state OF affairs Is because OF tho in.
tolerant spirit exhibited on the part OF the
men who control the South. To-day free
speech In many localities is not tolerated
The lawful rights Of citizenship are dc.
MED when majoritics must be overcome.
Prosecution meets us on every hand-in
the school room, In the church that sings
praises TO that God who made OF one
blood all nations OF earth. In places OF
public amusement, in the jury box, and
In local affairs OF the Government we
are practically denied the rights and
privileges OF free men. We cannot ex.
pect to rise 10 dignity OF true manhood
under this system and pay rs practically
carried out In some portions fthe South
to-day Wages are low at best but when
paid1n scrip, having no purchasing power
beyond the prescribed limits OF land owner.
1t must appear obviously plain that our
condition must ever remain the same; but
With 9 iair,adinstnentA AesxSea easitsi and
labor we as q race, by our own Industry,
would soon be placed beyond want and In
selt;sustatning condition. Our people in
the North, while free from many outrages
practiced on our brethren in the South,
are not wholly exempt from unjust dis.
examinations, and caste preiudices have
sufficient sway TO exclude them from the
workshops, trades and other avenues OF
remunerative business and advancement.
We realize that education is the patent
lever by which We arc to be elevated 10
the plane Of useful citizenship. We have
the disposition and natural ability TO
acquire and utilize knowledge where equal
facilities are accorded, but we are denied
the necessary advantages owing 10 the
defective common school system and the
non.eniorcemen OF the laws in most of
the Southern States. We therefore favor
and recommend q national educational
system, embracing advantages for all, the
same to be sustained by the proceeds
derived from the sale Of public lands, |
Wholly unbiased by party considerations
we contemplate the lamentable political
condition OF our people, especially in the |
South, with grave and serious apprehen-
sions for the future. Having been gwen |
the ballot for the protection OF our rights
we find that through systematic intimida.
ton, outrage, violence and murder our
votes have been suppressed, and the DOW.
er thus given US has been made weapon
against us. The migration OF colored neo.
pie nowgoing on from several Of the South.
ern States has assumed such proportions
as to demand the calm and deliberate con-
slderGtion OF every thoughtful citizen in the
country. Its the result OF no idlecuriosity or
disposition to evade labor It proceeds
upon the assumption that there is a com.
bination well planned, and OF systematic
purpose TO still further abridge their rights
and privileges and reduce them TO a state
Of actual seridom. 1t Is declared in Holy
Writ, the OK that treadeth cut corn shall
not be muzzled; il their labor is valuable
it should be respected; il it be demon
strated that it cannot command respect in
the South there is but one alternative,
and that is 10 emigrate. But as the South
possesses many advantages for them they
would prefer to remain there il they could
peaceably enjoy the rights and privileges
they are legally entitled to, and receive
fair equitable remuneration for their labor
disposition, to leave the communities in
which they feel insecure is an evidence
OF q healthy growth in manly independ.
ence, and should receive the commendation
and support OF all philanthropists. We
therefore heartily endorse the National
Emigration Aid Society recently organized
ut Washington, d. c., and bespeak for it
successful issue in its laudabie undortak.
ing. We view with qualification the re.
cent efforts Of the planters Of Mississippi
and Louisiana at the Vicksburg Conyen-
ton, to effect an adjustment ofthe troubles
existing in that section Of the country,
believing that through such movement il
Is,possible to establish friendly relations,
adjust all 1ditereeces between the races,
and secure a final and satisfactory settle.
ment OF the grave causes underlying the
unsettled and inharmonious condition OF
affairs now existing among them in the
South. We would respectfully recommend
to both classes the adoption of similar
action in the future for the settlement OF
al! disturbing public questions which may
arise between them. Having said so much
with regard to the disabilities under which
we labor on account Of our Influences,
over which We have no control; we are
not unmindful Of the important fact that
We are to great extent the architects OF
our own fortunes, aud must rely mainly
on our exertions for success; we there.
fore recommend 10 the growth OF our race
the observance OF strict morality, temper.
ute HABITS, and to practice economy, the
acquisition OF land, the acquiring OF agri-
cultural education, OF advancing to mer-
camille positions, and forcing their way
into the various productive channels Of
literature, art, science and mech.
anism. The sooner the knowledge
Of our ability to achieve sue
cess in these directions is acquired
the sooner We will overcome tho inSur.
moQntahle obstacles to our elevation in
the struggle for independence, our blood
mingled with that Of the white men in de.
Tense OF common cause. When our flag
was insulted on high seas and natpraIjSed
citizens outraged We sprang promptly 10
our country's call. In the war which fol.
lowed We did not stop 10 consider tho fact
that although Americans we were not cit
zens, that although soldiers We ware not
treemen in the war Of the rebellion. Al. |
tor the emancipation we responded by
thousands in the country's defense and on |
high seas, in tented camps, and riaed par. |
apets prejudice OF race and caste were for. |
gotten In the heat Of the conflict and cause |
secession disappeared beneath the bodies |
OF whites and blacks alike, In the light
Of tho facts, We demand in the name Of The |
citizenship conferred by the organic law,
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