Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-07
A NEGRO'S SPEECH.
TIE RsMARKAeL E ADDRESS or ISAIAH
T. MONTGOMERY
sssere the MississIppi Convention - A
= splendid Appeal in Behalf OF His
Race--solutiou OF the Problem

confess that patient consluerptioh Va eiio
wide range Of debate proceeding on this
foor for the past week has rather startled
me.
Before Che trust OF becoming member
81 this honorable body was conferred upon
me by my constituents freely stated 70
them my earnest convictions that the work
of This convention, in order TO be success
frl m,st restrict the franchise by pre-
scrihinc such qualification for voters as
wonld reduce the negro vote considerably
below the white vote Of the state; sucn re-
etr,ctions. of course, 20 be fairly applied
and only affecting the colored vote. to a
greater extent because OF their INFERIOR
development in the line OF CIVILIZATION.
entertained the same opinion then that
hold now-yiz.. that the Federal Con-
rress will interpose no objection provided
inch restrictions are honestly imposed Tor
.he purpose Of bringing about far soiu-
fion Of the great problem known TO be con-
fronting the people of this State.
In the convention and in the committee
room / have taken an active interest ia
every practical movement 10 purity tne
ballot and lift il 70 n higher standard IN
the estimation of the people, at the same
time being conscious of the fact that tne
reforms under consideration would result
in placing the voters of my race largely III
the minority.
HIS KEN DISAPPOINTMENT.
had fopdiy hoped that the achievement
Of this purpose would leave the convention
freeto consider such All adjustment in poh-
teal conditions as TO prevent .ne f IvTu.,
renee of tho present problem AZ any IutuIo
per1od of our history. In tins have oeeh
sadly and bitterly disappointed.
Mr. President, / regret 70 say IL, ana L
hope not TO be considered egotisticai IN
doing SO. that the debate has served 10 IN
tensify race prejudices. ana thereoy ltten.
sify the problem that must ever confront
onr beloved State and rudely disturb her
fancied dream of security-ever stalking
befo-e her as a threatening phantom. LAKE,
Banouo's ghost. IL will not down: such IS
tbe color or race line to the people OF MIS-
s'ssippi. -:
Mr.. President and gentlemen, promnl-
nept statesman of our timo recently mace
use of the following potent phrase IN open
ing political article in one OF our leading
week.-Mrs.; Unsettled public questions
have no pity for the repose OF nations. ;.
This sentence aptly applies TO the condl-
ton of Mississippi, and, not 70 her alone
but IL extends more or less 20 oil OF her BIS
Ter States of the South,
One of tho highest duties and response
fhties deyolvinc upon a free and enllght-
rned people under our form OF poNein-
rnent is that Of assembling INTO repr .s. y;
tative bodies, Of which tins convention u
.fe highest type for the purpose OF con-
e6erinc and adjusting all questions aheci-
IN fine public veal, which are OF such
eroat moment that they cannot be dls.
ned of through the ordinary sources Oh
recourse.
rTs rAR-RFA ACHING SIGNIFICANCE.
Mr. President. IL Is my earnest convic-
tiod that the matters intrusted to the de-
iberations of this august BODY are more
momontous and far-reaching IN ther io.i-
cal consequences than any that have ever
confronted an assemblage OF like charac,
Ter upon the soil Of Mississippi Sir, l
would impress upon the members OF TINS
convention the fact that tins - an occasion
that requires display and employment OF
the highest qualities of statesmanship; a
breadth and scope of political observation
overreachinp county and State lines and
stretchjng TO the bounds OF the National
Ieeislature itself. IL Is an occasion tha'
demands patience, self-sacrifce, and exer-
i else of the truest principles on PATRIOTISM
The people of State collectively nave
mind. conscience. and heart similar 10
these factors Of human life as possessed Dy
Us individually.
ANEW HEART FOR THE STATE.
Then. sirs. we are here to construct a
,a,T heart with it's imperishable attributes
for the great Commonwealth OF MisslsslpI
nj Shall il be true? Shall IL be hxed
frrnly upon the great principles OF truth,
Justice, and equality These are burning
questions now propounded TO the con-
science of each member. but the tI1e IN. aii-
sner will be given when the work of this
convention ~ completed and presented at
the lar of an enlightened and scrutinizing
public opinion. -, ..,I,.
applicable 10 the whole work OF TINS Douy'
but INV purpose is TO discuss one OF the
most important subjects now qeIl ml,Sn ~!
consideration at our hands. l allude TO
the elective franchise. The proper con-
sideration of this subject necessitates
the presentation of others, first OF when IL
THE RACE PROBLEM
This problem. rs you are called upon TO
consider and adjust IL, forms POSSIBLY one
OF the most intricate ever presented 10
civilized people. To deal with IT success
fully requires the acknowledgment OF many
popular errors II requires on the part on
he convention tina. it shall ascend to tnat
altitude of moral Humanitarian, ana IN
tellectual excellence from whence IL may
without prejudice calmly and deliberately
survey this great question IN its three prih
cipal phases. ...,t :,
The first picture that presents itSeh y
The broad area of our State IA an almost
unbroken forest. Her territory is the hunt
inp-pround of the savage, the home oil ra
yenous beasts; her climate mlasmatlc ano
inhospitable her only commerce the tro
phie. of the red mans chase. -,
Your ancestry appears upon the seem
and carefully selects and LAYS out his broa'
acres. Under the institution OF Atrical
slavery he brought to his aid the stron
arm of the negro. / cannot better Illus
trate the idea | wish TO convey than b
reproducing bit of history gwen 10 III
not long ago by a white-haired sire OF IN
race. -
va cat toqether upon the bank of tn
nighty river on the western border of tn
State awaiting the arrival OF the boat.
Was familiar with the locality and duecte
fhe conversation 10 q great landed estat
some few miles distant. For few me
nepts he seemed lost IN revere, the
opened his story substantially as follows
Long wears ago Master - iande
near this spot with me and party OF thre
besides myself. We ;had provisions an
tools. After searching for certain tree
n starting point we cut our way iof lnr'
miles towards the setting sun through
wilderness Of cane. AT that point we ouil
srude cabin. Master stayed with US tor
certain period laying out lines. htte
giving instructions he departed by the ira
whence he came.
I'VE felled the cane, cut away the forests
erected fences. and planted corn. We live
by trapping. At the end OF tweiV
months Master came again, bringing u ie
more slaves aud fresh supply OF pr,
visions. Again he laid out another year
work and departed. For three successlv
years the Master made these annual VISIT
each time bringing more slaves.
Finally he came alone, and on O certai
day took us all 10 the river to receive
crowd Of slaves he had purchased TO stoc
his plantation"
II had been three long years since the ol
man had gazed upon the placid stream {
sught that pertained TO civilization. Sue
was the beginning Of one Of the grande
estates in the parish of Tensas. IN the Stat
OF Louisiana. Sucn. sirs, is but an indie
of what took place all over this bros
southland. BY this process your civiliz
lion progressed till IL produced the prou,
est aristocracy that ever graced the ives
ern hemisphere. Forests disappeare,
agriculture thrived till your CONNER,
dotted every sea.
Cotton became king, and every matte
S<as1 tl,,ta