Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1883-05-05
Washington Letter.

| Gu 'SOIll6 Weeks dSO W I0e OuotVC oiiu
| perfect the arrangements for a Ma
tional Convention of colored men,
met on Friday evening, April, 9th,
and after a preface Of six resolutions
which were peculiarly significant and
forceful, presented the following call /;
1--WE therefore recommend to the
colored people of the several States
that they meet in State conventions
sometime prior to the month of Sep
TENDER and elect delegates to a ma
tional convention to be held in Wash
ington, D. c., September oath, 1888,
and that the basis of representation
be one delegate to 200 colored pop
ulation." This will entitle North Car
DINA to 90 delegates. The convention
will consist Of 2SS delegates.
The following resolution adopted is:
Bird. Our civil rights are still in
fringed upon all over the country,
Notwithstanding the passage of the
acts of Congress for our protection
in that particular
9th. That according to the signs of
the times the country is ON the eve
of great political revolution and it
behooves us as a race to make our in
terests paramount to those of any par
ty or sect; that it is our duty to unite
and strike out some bold policy and
line of action which will bring us
nearer to the estate of full citizenship
and power when this great revolution
is over.
These resolutions, together with the
remaining four, are fraught with
meaning and determination, and if
the interest which prevails in Wash
ngton can be secured in the States
the convention can and will be one
of the most decisive events in the
history OF the Negro race. With the
Hon. Frederick Douglass as president
and Prof. James M. Gregory as Sec
rotary, this committee including Jno.
F. Cook, R. T. Greener and Jno. NJ.
Brown is the most influential that
could have been designated.
Let North Carolina hold her con-
ventions and send not self-appointed
leaders but staunch men of the race
who are known for character, for in
tellect and for unselfish devotion to
the interests of the colored race. 1t
does not follow that any man, be-
cause he has succeeded in elevating
himself politically or otherwise, will
strive to elevate his race. Such
man is frequently a most deadly
enemy to the race in that he turns
every opportunity presented for race
elevation into a means of self-aggran-
dizement and gain, regardless of the
interests Of race or State. The great
est judgment, therefore, must be used
in the selection of earnest, capable
and reliable men to represent North
Carolina in this coming National
Convention.
The Hon. Thos. B. Keogh who is in
the city this week complains that the
ex- United States Marshall Douglass
of the Western North Carolina dis
trict refuses to turn over to him the
papers of that office to which (he)
Mr.. Keogh was recently appointed
by the President The Attorney
General Brewster has authorized the
District Attorney to sue Mr.. Douglass
and to prosecute him on the charge
of abstracting Government property.
Notwithstanding the anathemas
which were hurled against Mr.. Keogh
last summer for his discountenance
and spirited opposition to the Liberal
party he has been nicely provided
for by President Arthur and his
cause is being vigorously prosecuted
by Attorney General Brewster. So
much for Liberalism.
At the Bethel Literary Tuesday
evening the paper entitled ''Some
practical hints for the consideration
of the colored citizen" which had
been presented on the preceding Tues
day evening by Mrs. M. A. S. Cary,
was discussed by Prof. Greener, E.
I Warinc. Geo. M. Arnold. ]. w.