National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-02-17
CoIored Ma.s.Meetine in Vireinia.

AT large maSs-meeting of the colored
Republicans, held at the court house in Botetourt
County, Virginia. on the 14th day of February 1881
Henry McFadden was called to the chair and
George Galloway appointed secretary. After
some discussion as to the prOpriety of rec
ognizin the call made OH us to send delegates to
the colOred convention to be holden at Petersburg
on the 14th day of March next the following pre-
amble and resolutions were adopted, with only six
or eight dissenting voices:
Whereas we, the colored Republicans of Bote-
tOurt County, in mass meeting assembled, feeling
the great Importance of preserving true Republican
principles in our party organization by not ex-
cuding from, but receiving into its ranks all who
are willing honestly to cooperate with us, and by
advancing free education, securing fair elections
and untrammeled suffrage, and the abolition of
all Bourbon relics of barbarism and oppreS-
sion; to the end, therefore, and believing
this can be best attained by a delegated
State convention, composed of only the
colored element of the Republican party in this
State free from the interference and meddlesome
Funder grip-sack officials, who, though numbering
scarcely one i'll every hundred of the Republican
party in this State, have heretofore almost uni
formly, by packing, bribery, and other rcprehens-
ble manlpulatlons, managed TO get the control of
and to shape the actions of almost every conven-
ton to which they have been admitted, to the
great dctrfment of the cOlOred people, to the
bringing of reproach upon the party, and the
bitter denunciatiCn and 0stracism of our friends
and to their OWN pecuniary advantage Therefore,
be it
"Resolred, .frst, That we approve of the call to
hold conveption of the colored people in the city
of Petersburg on the 14th day of March next, and
will send delegates to the same.
"ReSO,rci, second, That we are nnalterably op-
posed to any dictatiOn by Federal Office holders as
10 what shall be done or shall not be done in said
convention.
. Res0lred, third, That we have been dictated to
and bull by the Federal officials of this State
for years past, and with regret and shame confess
that they have misled, deceived and betrayed US,
and have only used us throughout that long period
for the sole purpose of aggrandizing themselves
prnA hair atnf=. tf.Ft 7i,
''ReS0lred, fourth, That we shall ask the removal
from Office of all Federal officials not in sympathy
with this movement.
"ResOire3. ffh, That we are Republicans and de-
voted TO Republican principles, and therefore wish
TO see the Republican party composed of men who
will labor to enlarge and strengthen the party
and not by men who desire to reduce numerically
the party SO as to prevent competition for the offices
they desire 10 fill.
"Rcsoiysd sicth That we are opposed to Bour-
bonism in all its forms. and from whatever source
il comes and will make every honest effort and
aid any party that will aid Us in repeating the in
famous pOll-aX restriction, favor free ballot and
fair count, favor free education of all children,
and guarantee our civil rights.
RsSOired, serci,th, That w. &. Wickham and his
little "grip-sack" committee cannot read US out
of the Republican party, and We spit upon his eff
forts SO TO do.
g Resolred eighth, That we heartily indorze, the
sentiments of Judges Riyes and Hughes and TX
Senator Lewis as promulgated in their late letters
and here take occasion 10 renew to these gentle
men our confidence IL them as honest Republicans
nd true friends.
"Resolred ninth That We feel deeply indebted to
the ReadjuSter party for the manly stand il has
heretofore taken in our behalf, and pledge the
leaders of said party cordial support in future
state elections, knowing and feeling that we are
too weak to succeed single handed against Bour-
bon rascality and Democratic numbers
At this point in the proceedings the chair an
nOunced that the time granted by the court had
expired. and That this convention assemble at an
other place anal Ssler; delegates aud alternateS
The body hei?iE ""aSscmbied. on motion the resO-
lutOns were c-rc;;d and unanimously passed. On
motion, Henry McEddGen, Xachariah Hunt, and
Daniel Anderson YcrC elected delegates. On mo-
ton, Rush White, William Coleman, and Nathan
iel Butler were elected as alternates. The gentle
men, being each present accepted in neat but short
addresses On motion, The NATIONAL REPUBLICAN
and Richmond IFhig were requested to publish
these proceedings. On motion, the convention
then adjourned.
HENRY McFADDEN, Chairman.
GEORGE GALLOWAY, Secretary.