New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-04
4 GREAT SPEECH BY DOUGLASS.

HOW HE RETAINED HIS PLACE IN THE DofA~
lists CONVENTION OF 1865.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: In September 1850, Loyalists convention
was held in Philadelphia. Andrew Johnson was al
that time swinging round the circle dehVerins
his obnoxious speeches The convention was one
OF the most remarkable bodies ever assembled IN
this country. II composed OF oya4ists from
the South and delegates from almost all the otner
States Many OF the war Governors were there
Conspicuous among them were Andrew bucA'hs-
ham Morton, Sprague and curtin also congress
men Boutwell,. Anthony. Thaddeus stevens "dae'
Wee President Wilson. General Schenk and host
o. other distinguished men We're present New
York State had sent a delegation of sixty Paders
az publlc opinion and among them Frederick Doug
lass His presence created a sensation IL "as Wv
first time a negro had appeared on an equal toot-
ing with white men in a great National representa-
tive body.
pressntlv whispers drifted around raising the
question whether il was a wise thing to comph-
cate matters just at that critical time py pressing
10 the front negro equality Especially, was II pru-
dent upon the OF the fall elections to intensity
bitter antagonsms? Would II rot be expedient ana
best for Douglass to retire?
The convention the guest OF the Union
League club which had its rooms in Broai-st'
Without any apparent concert OF acton me New.
York delega ton began to gather IN a nan on tnS
second floor Members from other states dropped
in Frederick Douglass was called upon TO SPEAK,
sympathy with him. Feeling was at wni'e h esi.
He said shall | retire from my place III tns
convention They shouted. NO no. lie con-
tinued -.......,,,. A.,
our system OF government is representatlye in
character DO represent anything mere: why, i
stand for two races My enemies claim that wha,-
ever talents | may possess 1 derived from ii'y
white father. That represent the AK race: iet
my bondage declare. I Was slave. on my, coun-
trymen am In this great gathering the sole rep
resentative OF 10000 OF nattve-born Americans
| stand here to represent 0oCD BLACK men g gmo
fought for the Un.on. TO save constitutional io,
errment and prove themselves III 20 be iree snap
| abandon them? | stand here to-day Tor me deadi
for eOOO brave black men who freely gave theI
lives i'm defence % your liberty. shall ne iaiss
to the dead? But II did not represent All taeae:
II | stood sir,ply for myself shall SURRENDER
my place a.; a among men? For the nfS
time in a great National assembly or white men
stand with full recognition OF my mannood,
greater than man has said. What shall i pront
a man II he gain the whole world, and lose MS own
soul? Shall policy bargain for my soul?
As he said this he rose 10 his full nelgnt. anu
stood before them superb specimen or manhood'
He was then forty-nre years old. and in the per-
fec,ior OF his mental and physical powers; have
heard many OF the great orators OF our time. out
this speech. OF which tho preceding Is ira.
ment. viii. always rank as one or the great.st
to witch I ever listened Douglass kept his pace
and marched into the convention when Il Opener,
arm in with the great commoner Ihaddssus
Stevens "a
New-York. March !. 1895.