Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-10-09

OT TIC Yoke OF hepNDllCanlSms
LYNOHBURe, Sept. 30.-The State
Convention Of colored men assembled
here to-day j. B. Syphax of Alexan-
drla was elected temporary chairman.
N. V. Beckley, of Richmond, adj
dressed the convention, saying this
convention had not assembled as Re-
publicans or Democrats, but as citizens
Of Virginia, claiming the right Of free
men,, He hoped their deliberations
would demonstrate that they were
worthy to be citizens.
The convention reassembled at s
pm, and r. b.. Beckley was elected
permanent chairman and n. v. Backus
secretary.
The following address was present.
ed amid great cheering
THE ADDRESS.
To the Colored People Of Virginia:
Whereas, We, the colored people Of
Virginia, believing as we do that the
time has come for us to call a halt in
the unqualified support we have given
the Republican party, do here in con-
vention assembled, solemnly declare
ourselves politically independent in all
matters which pertain to us as citizens
and voters of this commonwealth. We
have for twenty-five years adhered to
our former political associates with
unparalleled fidelity, because in those
darS days of reconstruction the Re-
publican party proved that it was the
only party to which the colored man
of the South could consistently
ally himself. To that end the
colored voters molly responded, and
raised to power and place men who
grew wealthy while administering the
laws Of the United States government
10 the Southern States. We feel ever
grateful for what has been done, but
now the time has come for US to think,
act, vote and speak for ourselves, and
especially so since the Republicans
have practically abandoned US in form
er campaigns and in all matters where
the negro ought to have had recogni-
tion in proportion to voting strength
aud intelligence. We know, too, that
many of our race have been
murdered in the Southern States,
but the causes which led
to these sad occurrences which
have spilled our blood and created a
bitter rae antagonism, which now re.
tards our progress and makes it diff
cult for us to live in the land Of our
birth, are largely traceable to the mis-
management of Federal ofice-holders
in u section. These foregoing rea-
sons lead us to adopt such meth
DDS and so to demean ourselves as to
make friends Of those whose interests
are identical in every way with. our
own. We therefore appeal to the col
ored people Of our native State to look
well to the altered condition of affairs,
and in the future to make
such political alliances as will
most advance our interests education
ally, financially and politically. We
feel sure that there is throughout the
broad limits of the commonwealth a
disposition on the part Of the white
people TO accord us all or rights be-
fore the law, and to meet US heartily
in every advance we make for the up.
holding Of our Epeople. 1t behooves
US Thea to so use our ballots that we
may drive out all discordant
elements in Virginia, whether
they be headed by natives
or aliens to the State. We also con-
denim the raising Of the race issue by
any class of men who essay to lead the
masses, because it a do nothing but
prove detrimental to our cause and our
interests. We therefore ask a hearty
cooperation of our people in Virginia
to the success of our movement. We
have cause to be thankful for the lib
erality of the present administra-
ton to our people in the
South. We also believe our re
lations to the State debt are
such as to justify us in hoping that
Virginia will be relieved from her
present financial embarrassments by
aid from the Federal government,
which will enable her better to provide
for all the material interests of her
citizens and bring about that universal
good feeling which ought to exist be-
tween the two races.
The address was adopted, and the
convention adjourned sine die.