Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-07

Judge Chrismans plan is commenda-
bic effort TO raise the standard OF the bal
lot. but do not believe that the idea OF
any property qualification will be accepted
now, neither can satisfactory educationai
test be agreed on by this body.
The plan of Judge Calhoon. with the ex-
ception of few minor amendments to the
report which probably ought to be adopted
will no doubt be withdrawn, since the com
mittee has provided ample protection tor
county governments. j hope 1T VIII be
withdrawn, as i desire to escape the I'M
pleasant duty of entering my protest
against the adoption of sucn measure.
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
fn regard TO woman suffrage amend
ments: | am not q particular advocate OF
woman suffrage. But am OF the opinion
that the influence of the noble women OF
the South would serve as great factor IN
giving honor and dignity to political
thought and expression, IN giving purity
to the ballot. and prove valuable ald IN
adjusting the political forces of the state.
| am clad. however, that the amendment
offered by the gallant Captain Terrell has
been withdrawn at this time. 1t is a sub
iect worthy Of separate and distinct con-
sideration, and | hope the remaining
amendments on that subject Will not De
pressed on the committee report now.
Before closing my remarks / deem 1t a
duty incumbent upon me to call attention
TO some popular errors IN considering the
negro problem of this State.
EXTENDING THE OLIVE BRANCH.
In discussing the question of white su-
premacv every speaker has more or less as
sumed the idea that the negro was IN
actual contention with the white race. en-
gagged in mortal struggle for supremacy.
TIpon this assumption he fires his own pre-
iudices and those of his sympathlzers.
! The poor, harmless negro looks on In
wonder. He cannot interpret your action
TO mean ANYTHING but prejudice to his adj
vancement. | submit. sirs, that this Is an
indiscretion that seriously retards al I'M
derstanding between the two races.
Repressive legislation is another matter
which serves no good purpose. l mean
Fsuch things as are occasionally enacted INTO
law without any other direct purpose than
to show a legal exception &c color. 1t
places the State in bad odor with leading
colored men; coupled with other lnnu-
ences, it drives them from the State. In
my humble judgment, they are necessary
adjunct in finally adjusting tins great
problem.
Mr.. President. have briefly referred TO
these matters in the hope that this body
NAV begin to think of ending this great
and irrepressible struggle. | assure you,
sirs, that my race does not desire to prolong
il. ! stand here in their behalf to present
to you the ollve-branch OF peace.
THE REPORT AGAIN COMMENDED.
Finally. on behalf of the Franchise Com
mittee, now that their report is before the
convention as complete whole, embracing
every branch of our political government,
each and every section having been duly
considered in the relation which III bears
| to the whole, and with due regard to the
| temper and condition of the public mind,
with the full consciousness that 1t must
/ stand the test of close scrutiny at the
| hands of an unflinching pubic OPINION;
! that with it must stand the good name ana
reputation of our noble State. we again IN
| woke YOUR calm and considerate judgment.
| The State has undergone great expense ne
cessarIly III the maintenance OF TINS con,
ventlon. We have done the best we could
to limit this outlay; the responsibility oil
its continuance now rests with you.
A FEARFUL SACRIFICE.
A few more sentences for myself and in
| behalf of the people represent ana shall
close.
Quoting from distinguished writer in
sacred history | may say have stood by,
consenting and assisting IN striking down
the rights and liberties of 123.OO0 treemen.
MIR. President. 1t is a fearful sacrifice laid
upon the burning altar OF liberty. Many
of these men | know personally; then
hearts are as true as steel. Many are sol.
diers who have stood amid the smoke OF
battle on bloody fields IN defence OF the
flag which every American proudly halls as
the ensign of freedom and his tallsman OF
protection in all civilized lands.
MIR. President, l wish to say to my peo-
ple. Nav, we have not taken away your
high privilege, but only lifted it to q
higher plane and exalted the station OF
the great American bIrthright.
wish to tell them that the sacrifice has
been made to restore confidence, the great
missing link between the two races to re.
store honesty and purity TO the ballot-box
and to confer the great boon of political
liberty upon the Commonwealth OF Mlssis'
sippi.
understood in saying that there are terms
upon which consent to lay the suffrage Of
123, 900 Of my fellow-men at the feet of thi:
convention.
It is due to us. sir. that there should bt
some expression on the part of this great
body indicating that the price is adequate
that the contract is ratified and accepted
that henceforth the enlightened sentiment
of this great State. as voiced from the
hastings. from the public press, from the
|, lecture platforms, and from the pulpit
shall unite IN the determination that tn,
great question shall be truthfully settled
upon the enduring basis of Truth, Justice
and Equality: that the race problem shall
become thing of the past and cease e
yex and alarm the public mind that tn,
two great races shall peaceably travel sid,
by side, each mutually assisting the othe
to mount higher and higher in the scale o
human progress.
TWO GREAT RACES.
have characterized them as two grea
races, because the one was great in IL
ancient barbaric splendor," to use the ex
preston of prominent member of thi
convention. 1t dominated the world whel
there was no civilization. Its kings ant
queens wrote their names in brilliant let
tiers of undying fame when there was NJ
education.
Ipeffaceable monuments of its achieve
ments in the Old World have withstoo,
the ravages of more than twenty centuries
and bid fair to llnger till the end of time
exciting the wonder and admiration OF ad
vancing civilization; great In Its achieve
ments as a factor in this great nation
wealth and material progress.
THE WEALTH or THE RACE.
Quoting from the Brotherhood o
Nachez's report of colored conference IL
Chicago the entire wealth of the race II
the United States is estimated at 1888, 900.
900. OF this amount $751;, 464 900 is held b,
negroes in the sixteen slave States
S13, 400, 900 by them In the State of Missis
sippi
Ninety-nine per cent. of this maryellou
acquisition of wealth took place during tn
last twenty years.
IT'S INTELLECTUAL GROWTH.
Great in its intellectual achievements, a
has been attested by the debates upon thi
floor, which show that, though emerging
from q condition Of abject slavery ant
dense ignorance only twenty-five year
ago, fully one third Of its voting popula
ton are equipped to exercise the right o
franchise under any restrictions the domi
nant race is willing TO voluntarily impos
upon itself.
The greatness and chivalry exhibited b!
your race in spxinging from the loves
! depths Of bnbarisn 70 the position Q