Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-16
COLORED 0RATORY.
TIE GRIEVANCES or THE RACE DIS
cUSsED IN CONVENTION.
ymigration, Billy Malone, John 8. Wise,
Religion, Politics, and schools
Among the Topics.

lNkfeT
the audience-room had decidedly festive
look.
There we're some sixty-fve or seventy
DELEGATES present when Chairman Joseph
T. Wilson walked in the chancel and called
the body TO order.
TEMPORARY oFrIcERs.
Secretary w. w. Evans, Of Petersburg,
read the call for the meeting, and then the
Chairman announced that the first business
ras 10 select temporary officers.
Captain II. A. Paul moved that the Off
Gers of the last meeting Wilson and
Fvans) be continued temporarily and his
sucgestion was adopted.
The convention decided 10 appoint the
committees for work and take q recess
nutil $50 7. NJ.
THE COMMITTEES.
Chairman Wilson named the committees
A. follows;
on Oreanizatiou-Jobn Mitchell, Jr.,
James T.. Fuller, w. G. johnson, and Ennis
Dickinson.
On Resolutions-A. W. Harris. 7: c.
Johnson, William II. Sparrow, John
Mitchell, IT., and T.. A. Randolph.
On Credentials-M. ID. Meekins, j. Wes-
lev Jones, Il. T. Roberts, A. Q. Franklin.
and D. NJ. Stewart.
Evening Session.
II was 7:2O o'clock when Chairman Will
son called the convention to order at the
evening session.
The Committee on Credentials reported
that 1877 delegates were present and enu-
tied TO seats.
The Committee on Permanent Organi-
zstion made the following recommends
tiOns:
For President, Joseph r. Wilson, Rich
mond First Vice President, A; W: Harris.
pfaGtHpnt a
Franklin. Charles City; Secretary, W. w.
Evans. Petersburg: Assistant Secretary,
William III. Selden, Norfolk; Treasurer, &.
W. Harris. Manchester; ergeant-at-Arms,
Il. W. Whiting. Henrico.
A. w. Harris asked thnt w. II. Peasants
of Danville, be made first yice-plesident
instead Of himself, and, with this amend
ment, the report was adopted.
CHAIRMAN WILSON.
Chairman Wilson thanked the conven-
ton for the honor conferred upon him,
and proceeded to make a lengthy address.
He gave a history of the struggles OF
the negroes Of this State. Twenty years
ago, he said, they recognized the kepub-
lican party Of the nation who bad ayowed
in their platform TO give equal civil ana
political rights 10 all people without dis
iinction Of creed or color The colored
people pledged their support to the Re
publican party. but were Abandoned oy
Them when the reconstructed Democratic
host rose out of its lethargy and confronted
them at the polls.
The colored men. deserted by Wells,
Hunnicutt. and Plat, were left TO wander
in the wilderness. Tloy then looked to
the National Government, still IN the hands
Of the Republicans. and asked for redress,
but all was in vain. Congress told the
President 10 enforce the laws. fresl-
dene Hayes when appealed TO said to
the colored people: Make the best terms
YOU can with the people among whom you
live. - Congress, when appealed To Sc
cond time, pointed the colored people to
the State governments, and thus deserted
by the National Government the days OF
the negro were turned into night:
The Chairman proceeded at length to
show that politics had been great him
drance 10 the material progress of the col
ored man. I'VE saved the National Gov
ernmeut from dissolution" he SAID, 10
lie treated as orphan children. apprentced
to the rice, cotton, ana tobacco-srowers
nj the South
yIRGiNIAN BFSEDICr ARNOLD.
The moral force, said President Wilson,
which swept 250.O0O colored men into the
Tniou army lost it, power when Mr. Hayes
relieved General Grant at the helm. and
the rectitude which MahOne elected into
the Republican party of Virginia has been
smOthercd by few ambitions ofhce-seek-
ers. who for four years have been wearing
the cast-oH clothing OF Benedict Arnold,
and they have succeeded, after herdIng the
colored voters, in turning them over to the
BourbOns III consideration of endorse
ments for Federal positions. -
After explaining further the political
condition of tine cOlored people the Char
man said: "Such, gentlemen, is the po-
ltical status of our situation. The Re
4 rtgt LnnW a
with us aud the Democratic party wants to
yct rid of us. and we are at sea without
sail or anchor drifting with the tide"
TOO MUCH FOR CHURCHES.
Chairman Wilson then went on to argue
that tho colored people should look more
io their material progress. They should
seek TO build school houses, and buy land,
and own homes. Too much has been spent
10 build fine temples of worship such as
the Saviour did not worship in Funerals
should not be made so expensive.
EMIGRATION OF TIE NEGRO.
The Chairman wanted the people of
his race to support colored merchants
and patronize colored lawyers ana
doctors He desired all of his peo-
pie who can do so TO move away from
be a far better place than Virginia.
He referred t. John s. Wise "a man who
had come 10 them as a Moses and had be-
trayed them. He claimed that since the
war the colored people have spent III Rich
mond. Norfolk, Petersburg, Danville, and
Staunton, where they have 100000 popuia-
ton, 500 900 to build churches and nave
not built one school-house.
The Chairman in closing his remarks
said the colored people are consumers ana
not producers, and they need tarin Tor
revenue to support the Government, The
Kepublicans have deserted them and have
undertaken 10 protect the capitalist ana
manufacturer of the North. unless the
black flag raised against tho colored man
in workshops is taken down the colored
people at the South will have to oppose the
protection party of the North.
WARM WORDS.
Considerable discussion followed over
the proposition 70 have the Chalrman's ad-
dress printed.
some warm words took plsce between
Chairman Wilson and A. W. Harris, OF DIN
widdie, and finally the proposition to
prlnt was laid on the table.
ApDREss TO CONGRESS.
A. w. Harris. who was chairman OF the
committee appointed at the meeting last
December 20 present al address 10 Con-
gross read lengthy paper which he pre-
sented 70 the National Legislature.
WANT rHTIB MdHrs.
The following was offered by John
Mitchell. Jr.
Whereas notwithstanding IL is not the
object nor Intention OF this convention to
organize political party nor 20 endorse
the action OF any political party, club or
organization. We hold IL nevertheless TO be
its duty 10 advise the colored people whom
We represent to take such political
action as shall tend TO secure them
IN the enjoyment OF equal civil
AID political rights: therefore it becomes
them TO hrtnly unite In the support OF such
measures as shall defeat ali candidates for
Office who do not prior 10 their nomina,,
tions announce themselves in favor OF and
pledge 10 support all just measures look
ing to the repeal of all laws by which dis,
ordinations are made against the colored
race
Resolved, Inst we hold IL TO be the duty Of the
oolorsd people IN the second ard Fourth con-