The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-13
VIRGINIA NEGROES PLEADING FOR
JUSTICE.

Richmond. Va. has witnessed many his
toric scenes, but none more interesting
than that of Tuesday last. when chosen
representatives of the colored race in Vir-
ginia awaited themselves of a permission
to plead their cause before the suffrage
committee of the constitutional conven-
ton now sitting in that city. If the COM
mittee or the convention does not intend
TO deal fairly with the colored people they
are adopting a policy of refined cruelty in
making them believe otherwise. If they
intend to adopt unjust suffrage discrimina-
tons against the negroes or a qualification
based on racial grounds they are guilty of
gross deceit in trying to make the negroes
believe they are open to conviction on the
subject and in inviting them to plead their
cause before the suffrage committee.
On the occasion referred to there was a
large white audience present in the old
State Senate chamber. including twenty
two members of the suffrage committee,
many members of the convention and a
large number of outsiders. The chamber
had echoed the voices OF many distin-
guished Virginia statesmen from the early
days of the Republic to the period of Sc
cession in defense of slavery, but 1t had
never before been the scene of such an oc-
casion as this, when six chosen repre-
sentatives of the colored race. all teachers
or preachers. spoke in succession, pleading
for justice TO the negro. All OF the
speeches were d~ignifed and temperate in
tone. all were strong and some were elo-
quent. The speakers showed they realized
that they were In no position 10 demand
anything. but they simply pleaded for JUS
tice. There was no protest against re-
striction. of the suffrage. only an appeal
that whatever restrictions were adopted
might not discriminate against the negroes.
The speakers called attention 10 the fact
that they were Virginians. that their an
cestors had been born in Virginia for three
hundred years. that they had been loyal
TO their former masters during the war,
and that they were as jealous of the honor
of the State as were the whites. One of
them. a teacher. warming with his subject,
said:
While / deem II a great honor and privi-
lege 10 be allowed to address your COM
mittee In behalf of 100000 negroes of our
beloved State. yet L must say Ii is no more
than the glorious history and traditions
of this grand old commonwealth might
have led US to expect. Virginia has ever
been courteous and fair 10 her bitterest
enemies and considerable and kind to the
dependent and hapless. Should she be less
IN this. the high noon OF progress and civili-
aZtion. IL would prove a disappointment
and surprise 10 the world. / do not speak
as an alien. but as a Nirginian, as proud
OF the State OF my birth as the fairest
Caucasian or as the apostle 10 the gen.
tiles OF being a Roman citizen. Al that
| am, all that l hope to be is connected
race Is indissolubly interviewer with the
destiny of the Anglo-Saxon OF the great
old mother State.
These sentiments were roundly applauded
by the white audience, and a correspond
ent says that a member OF the convention
famed for his o~ratory threw UP his hands
in wonderment." When the speakers were
through they fled out of the hall. leaving
their case and the fate OF their race I'm
Virginia I'm the hands OF the committee.
a representation OF the scene on canvas
would make a At companion piece for a
picture OF the state senators OF 1861 plead
ing the cause OF secession in the interest
OF & confederacy whose cornerstone was to
be slavery. II seems incredible that the
convention will adopt suffrage restrictions