Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1884-04-30
A SMALL AFFAIR.
Meeting Of the National Colored Con-
i: alton at Pittsburg-Only About
Seventy.Five
Delegates I'm Attendance-Fred Douglass
Defeated for the Temporary and
Permanent Chairmanship
And Scarcely Allowed to Speak In the
C0nyentiOn-Res0lut to be
Adopted.

PIrrsBuRG, April 29.-The Interstate
Conference of Colored Men assembled in
Municipal Hall this morning, delegates
being present from Connecticut, Rhode
Island, Massachusetts,, New Jersey, Penn
sylvania, Ohio, Virginia, District of Co.un-
bia, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas and Louisi-
ana, to the number of seventy-five.
Among them were Fred Douglass, and
Bishop Green of Ohio. The convention is
composed of fine body of men, and the
determination is expressed to prevent it
being used for political purposes. At 10
o'clock the Rev. G. S. Smith, of Bloomfield,
III in stirring address stating the objects
of the conference, called the convention
to order, and Robert Jackson, of Pitts
burg, was elected temporary chairmun.
An address of welcome was made by VIM.
Barks, of Pittsburg, and response by
Robert Pelham, lr., of Detroit. The Com
mittee on Permanent Organization will
report this afternoon. Fred Douglass was
put in nomination for temporary chair
man, but the convention approved the
nomination of Jackson.
The convention reassembled at o'clock
in the afternoon, and as the Committee on
Permanent Organization was not ready to
report the time was taken up in reading
letters of regret from ID. A. Starker, of
Columbia, S. c.; j. A. Brown, Cleveland !;
T. Thomas Fortune, New York, and
others, who were unable to attend.
Starker suggested that in view of the re-
cent decision of the Supreme Court de-
claring the civil rights bill unconstitu-
tional, that the convention de-
mands that the Republican party
at Chicago make unmistakable declara-
ton of its purpose to secure to colored
citizens equality with their fellow-citizens
under the constitution, the right to enjoy
all the privileges of sucn, as is the intent
of the civil rights bill, and be protected in
the enjoyment of the same by the power
of the constitution through the Federal
tribunals Of the national government; !;
also to demand from them pledge for a
free ballot and fair count, and have them
answer the question, "Are the colored
people American citizens, and what are
their rights ?"
The motion to allow the Hon. Frederick
Douglass to be heard gave rise TO consid-
cradle opposition, and calls were made for
the report of the Committee on Permanent
Organization. Finally Mr.. Douglass him
self arose and said: 81 am a member of
this convention. My right to stand on
this floor is equal to that of any other
man. This is a conference of equals, not
of superiors and interiors. l do not come
icIC W udNC iCdNC stShcu sp6dhy
it is not necessary that the privilege should
be begged for me. When the time comes
l shall demand the right to be heard, as /
thall concede the same right to every
other member of the conference"
The committee then reported the fol-
lowing permanent officers: President,
Lloyd G. Wheeler, Chicago; vice-presi-
dents, George ]. Downing, Rhode Island !;
w. A. Price, Kansas; j. n. Weaver, In
diana; John p. Green Ohio; Robert Shaw,
Illinois; ]. G. Craig, Michigan; ]. Holmes,
Connecticut; A. Price Williams, Pennsyl-
vania; o. l.. G. Hughes, New York; A. H.
Newton, New JERSEY; Fred Douglass, Dis
trict OF Columbia; secretaries, Z. A. Cros-
by, New York; Robert Pelham, Detroit !;
P. II. Herbert, New Jersey.
The committee recommended the ap-
pointment of Committee ON Resolutions
and on Address, to consist OF one from
each State
H. Price Williams, of Philadelphia, here
created intense excitementby assailing the
ability of Mr.. Wheeler, who was nomi-
mated for permanent president, and bffer-
ing as substitute the name of the Hon.
Fred Douglass.
The motion was voted down, and the
report adopted. Maj. Wheeler was then
escorted to the chair and introduced. He
delivered a very able address.
After some further speaking the con-
vention adjourned till morning.
Tomorrow a series of resolutions and
addresses will be adopted.