Huntsville gazette., 1883-09-29
NATIONAL COLORED CONVENTION.
Gathering of Representative Men of the
Colored Race in Convention at Louisville,
Ky.-Fred Douglass Elected Presiding
Officer After a Heated Contest.

Gathering of Representative Men of the
Colored Race in Convention at Louisville,
Ky.-Fred Douglass Elected Presiding
Officer After a Heated Contest.
LOUISVILLE, KY, Sept. "a.
| The Colored Convention began its sessions
in this city at noon to-day, and it is a
notable gathering OF representative men
of the race. When twelve O'Clock came
| the large hall of the Liederkrantz building
contained about 243 delegates and a large
| number of colored and white spectators.
| NJ n. Holland, of Washington, an original
signer of the call, called the meeting to
/ order, when Rev. D. W. Arnett, of Nash
vile, delivered an eloquent prayer. The
names of A. M. Greene, of Louisiana; G. II.
| Tandy, of Missouri; Fred Douglass, of the
! District of Columbia; George L.. Ruffin, of
Massachusetts and DR.. Fitzbutler, of Ken
| lucky, were mentioned in elaborate nOmi-
mating speeches for temporary Chairman.
| The name of Fred Douglass was withdrawn
at the earnest request of his friends, who
designed pushing him for permanent Chair
! man. Greene, Of Louisiana, was elected
and introduced to the Convention as mar
tyr of the race. In accepting the nomina-
tion, Rev. Mr.. Greene said that he felt it
| an honor to preside temporarily over such
meeting, on soil made hallowed by the
name of Henry Clay and his successor,
| Cassius M. CLAW. In concluding his speech,
| which recounted the past history OF the
colored race and looked into its future con-
dition, he exhorted the Convention to stand
i by the principles set down in the CALL and
| 10 refrain from discussions of all political
questions. j. N. Gregory, of Washington,
| ID. c., was made temporary Secretary.
Pending balloting the following tele-
| grams were received and read to the Con-
vention:
"Recognizing the fact that in republi-
| can governme mt the enactment and enforce
ment of laws for the protection of the rights
of citizens largely depends on the public
sentiment of the country, and believing
public sentiment is created by representa-
tive gatherings of the people, | regret my
inability to attend the Convention, owing
to the lateness of the reception Of notice of
my election, | nominate Hon. A. i. Du-
mont nv proxy. Trusting the deliberations
of the Convention will be harmonious, dig
nified, discreet and beneficial to those it
represents, am your obedent servant,
''P. B. s. PINCHBACK."
''NEw HAVEN CONN, Sept. 24, 1888.
"Connecticut greets the colored men of
the nation, and prays them to memorialize
Congress in favor of colored commission
bill.
(Signed) "ANDREw J. CHAMBERS"
Among the prominent men attending are:
VIM. Mundell, editor of the Baltimore Pin
dicator; w. Calvin Chase, of Washington,
ID. c.: DR.. j. w. w. Washington, of Chica-
go; II. Price Williams and II. Hughes,
Philadelphia; Jesse Lawson, New Jersey;
j. II. McGinnis, Delaware; Colonel George
NJ. Arnold, Virginia; ID. A. Straker, South
Carolina; I. I. Joseph, Alabama; j. W..
Cromwell, Virginia; A. NJ. Geer, Louisiana !;
w. r. Pledger, Atlanta, Ca; j. l.. Kenne-
dy, New Orleans, La; t. H. Vance, Louis
lana; Fred Douglass, R. S. Laws, and J..
+,,;4 +ofr
w. Williams, Boston, Mass; Colonel Muir
relI, Baltimore, Nd; J. G. Napier, Tennes-
see; T. II. Bell, st. Louis, Mo-; w. HI. Hol-
linsworth, Kansas. Twenty-seven States
are represented and no trouble about ac-
commodations, every delegate being pro-
vided for. Recess at 2:40 until seven
O'Clock.
The convention reassembled promptly in
the evening and proceeded to the business
of organization. The convention got
into a protracted wrangle over the per-
manent craftsmanship. Fred Douglass had
been put in nomination, but the convention
did not show any great desire to elect him.
D. A. Straker of South Carolina had a
strong following who nominated him and
who made hard fight for him.
The convention, during the early part OF
the evening session, was orderly, but feel
ing began to grow, Eastern delegates
charging the West and South with desire
to dominate the convention. The points OF
order were too numerous for Presiding
Officer Green to even hope to decide half OF
them. Too many wanted to speak at once,
and some charged Green with unfairness,
which he resented in a dignified manner
and threatened to leave the chair, which
the convention opposed. Green is an in
telligent man and, as far as could be seen,
endeavored to do justice to all. Fred
Douglass had not entered the hall, but
paced the floor nervously just outside the
4 Jr-C To
Presidents chair, and probably feeling that
his race was none too just towards him.
After nearly four hours of hot wrangling
Fred Douglass was brought into the hall
amid the widest enthusiasm OF his friends
and went upon the stand. The old man
was trembling with excitement, and II he
had talked his words would have been hot
ones. His presence resulted, at the end OF
four hours, in his election to the permanent
Presidency.
The lateness of the hour prevented his
delivering lengthy prepared speech, but
he took occasion to deny the report that be
had said if Ben Butler were nominated foI
the Presidency he would sweep the cOlored
vote of the Union. A mere slip of the re-
porter's pencil had nearly caused him to
lose the support of his dearest friends. Ad
journed.
LOUISVILLE, KY, Sept. 25.
When Fred Douglass, at ten o'clock
came into Liederkranz Hall to deliver his
speech he found very large crowd in at
tendance, many white persons having
come to hear his plea for his people. Or
the stage, besides leading colored men, sal
ex-Attorney General James Speed, Of Lin
coins Cabinet, General James A. Eakin
United States Army, retired, and number
of other whites of prominence. Douglass
spoke two hours, his speech being logical
often humorous, and always interesting
He sketched the history of his race since
the emancipation. He was frequently sar
castically severe on the Government, and
incidentally on the Republican party. He
was listened to with interest, and received
frequent and generous applause.
| haar1 r