The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-03-16
icOrrspondenee of Tie Richmond Dispatch !

| fCorrespondonce of The Richmond Dispatch.l
PhTERsBURG, March Is, 1884,
The col1red convention Of yesterday is OF
course the theme of discussion in our city
to-day. That body finished its business and
adjourned sine die at half past O'Clock this
morning, after continuous session OF thir-
teen hours. The gst Of its action is summed
up in tie resolution appended TO the ad-
dress to the cOlorcd people OF the State, de-
clarne that "the cOcred people of Virginia
regard the Readiuster party with favor, and
confidently believe that their interes.s Will
be better secured and pTe:erved by aiding
that party in its cffoIts to achieve
and permanently settle the autagOnism
OF races which have unfortunately
affected the prosperity Of our State" The
address and resolutions were unanimously
adopted by a standing votc-the opposition
party in the Convention, or straght.out Re-
publicans. having previously withdrawn.
Resolutions were also adopted appointing
committee 10 wait OH the President and ask
him'tO protect the rights Of franchise of the
cOloIed people in the coming election, and
TO ask GenCral
MALONE TO TAKE CHARGE OF THEIR RIGHTS,
interests, and affairs as good citizens OF Vlr-
ginia. The scenes in the Convention at
times were beyond description, and would
have presented a rich field for the genius OF
the artist Not since the famous Wells
Convention has anything like it been wit
messed in our city.
| The straight-Outs who left the COnven.
ton held meeting yesterday, and pre-
pared the protest which was read in that
body last night, and which gave rise to SO
many speeches. They will prepare an ad-
dress to the coIored people Of the State,
| H. hoI ;,o a Goo 1av
ting forth their principles.
THE PLATFORM N FULL
) is as as follows:
We, rs colored citizens in convention as
sembed, do hereby set forth the following
address 10 the good people OF Virginia, and
as the representatives OF the cOlored popu-
lation OF the State we beg leave to present
10 the whole country as well as to Nirginians
Of both races the results OF our calm delibe-
, ration and Judgment IN the trying ciIcum-
stances surrounding us.
5 We are sensible of the prodigiOus inter
ests which the coored people OF Virginia
4 have at stake i'll their political crisis, which
= threatens the renewal OF the color line and
the revival Of the war OF races; and we are
anXiously solicltOus that no iniudicOus step
should be taken. Heretofore re,olutc in
asserting the right TO be free-iree TO think,
10 speak, and to act-with the high purpose
4 OF controlling their own affairs to the best
S ends; spurning the al btrary dic'atlOns OF
= seli.eIected leaders and masters, who sought
: to prescribe and circnmscribe their political
action to selfish and partisan designs, our
. people mean now, as heretofore. 10 do right,
; and in so doing tud it essential TO assert
) their inalienable freedom and independence
in working out their own destiny. under
t the guidance Of heaven, despite The wies
c and distractions OF selfseeking parties, fac
tions, and individuals. We believe that The
j time has come when the cOlored man cannot
+ better Viudicdte his manhood and bis title
TO citizenship than by boldly shouldering
political responsibilities that have been too
: long assumed for him by Others. Ii he
would not always be in ward he must now,
at last, act for himself, and determine his
own eau.e with that spirit of self-reIiance
which at once secures respect and achieves
: success.
CONSCIOUS OF THE DUTIES
and responsibilities deyOiying upon us i'm
this attitude Of equal citizens in the aSsel-
tiOn OF common rights and privileges, we
accept these duties and responsibilities in
good faith, filled with the reasonable hope
that our conduct will bring TO us and our
p0sterty a full share of the civil, political,
moral, intellectual, aud material blessings
which we implore Almighty God to pour
forth on this Commonwealth, after her long |
travail of poverty and woe. To the Jury, |
the free schools, aud the ballot we look as
tie highest, earnest, and the best safe |
guards q all that il valuable in our Citi- |
Zenship, and 1t is with the most fervent |
aspiration that We seek the final Ob!iteration |
in politics OF that color line, which, disas.
trOus TO the nation, the State, and all the
people, has been especially hurtful TO our
selves as a race. We, therefore. most de-
youtly invoke thSera OF good feeling be-
! tween all CLASSES and color OF our popula-
| tion, and are sure that our own people are
anxious 10 do all in their power TO promote
Fits coming, 30 that all of us, white and black,
rich and poor, may alike enjoy every right,
privilege, and interest guaranteed by our
constitutions harmony that must result
sptedily IN making Old Virginia the exam.
| pie for Others
Already great movement has been ini-
tiatad in our borders by The
LtBsfAL WING OF OuR WHITE FELLOW CITI-
zBsls.
Already our raee..quick to recognize aud
grateiei to respond 10 generosity, haze
acted 81 concert 20 some extent with this
1noyemsni. Already we have experienced
come Of dhe benefits of an enlightened and
hnmanjzed policy whch promises US still
gbeatei blessings in it, successful progress.
As -citigeDs charged with at the responsi. !
6ihies OF citizenship, having an equal In
teJsSt IN ALT the prosperlties Of the State, we
should take advantage OF every opportunity I
to nse-e our power felt and day respected.
Long deprived Of "A free vote and a fair {
count. denied the right Of trial by jures q
OF our peers5 our children turIsed from c
closed schools tor the opening OF which G
we had paid ous taxes, the money being O
diverted 20 other purposes, we fGd our. a
selves DISTINGUISHED TO large extent by an n
IDsust restriction on free suffrage, with a
all recurrence OF all the old Ills; inieusi- g
led, Abreatened through section OF our q
n0st prttudiced white population, calling "
themselves Conservatives or regular Demo- In
rats. seek again TO secure control OF the Sc
tate aud res.tablish the Bourbonism which ac
vas oyerthrsxn in 1879. Better known as nj
hQ Euudprs ftagp mn la 0tfidaA .otft,ann oaas. "A