Year: 1872

The principal feature Of the fourth day S


proceedings of this convention was the ad-


vent of Mr.. Doug glass--the intellectual giant


Of his race in this country. His fame as an


orator, as man Of far more than ordinary


mind, and philanthropist, had preceded


his coming and prepared our people, with


out distinction OF color, for beholding noble


specimen Of mankind. o And all who had the


pleasure yesterday of hearing his eloquent


address, upon taking the chair as president


of the convention, will testify that their


highest expectations of the man have been
| fully realized.


Long before the hour for the assem- ID ling
| of the convention, the people began to as
| semble in the hall of the House Of Repre-
sentatives, definite information having been
| received that Mr.. Douglass had arrived and


was the guest of Lieutenant Governor
| Pinchback. just before twelve oclOck-the
time for calling the convention to order
| the venerable form of the dIsting uished
visitor was seen to enter the hall Of the
convention, accompanied by the Lieutenant



| committee appointed to meet Mr.. Douglass
| at the railroad depot. The presence Of Mr..


Douglass was the signal for a round of ap-


plause from the very large congregation
| convened to greet his advent.


Attwelve o'clock Mr.. Ingraham called the
convention to order, and instructed the
secretary to call the roll. A quorum being
| present. the Rev. Mr. Thompson was invited
| 10 offer up prayer in behalf of the assem-
bled representatives Of the colored people,
and the cause which had brought them to-
gether. He prayed that they might have
the wisdom, discretion aud patriotism


necessary to accomplish the great ends that


had brought them together.


Mr. Pinchback moved that committee


of three he appointed to escort Mr.. Doug


lass to the chair. His motion prevailed, and


the chair appointed Messrs. Pinchback,
| Ransier and Myers said committee. Mr..


Douglass was accordingly conducted to the
| chair and introduced to the convention by
| Mr.. Ingraham in a few appropriate re-


marks. Mr.. Douglass then proceeded to
| address the convention. He thanked the
chairman for the very kind and fattering
manner in which he had introduced him to
the convention, and returned thanks to


members for the distinguished honor they
had conferred upon him in making him


president of national convention of col


orcd men He said be felt satisfied
that there was at least twenty gen tlemen
bon M


perieuce and Intellectual ability to fill the
piace He felr that this preference had
been made more in consideration of his
humble services in endeavoring to obtain a
proper recognition of the rights of his race
than for any extraordinary ability he pos
sesses. After explaining the reasons that
had prevented his sooner arrival, he pro-
ceeded TO state his views in regard 10 the
rights and privileges of cOlored men. It
was the business OF the convention TO urge
upon Congress and the people OF this coun-
try all those civil and political rights for


the colored people that are enjoyed by the
white people. While doing this Mr.. Doug
lass did not fail to acknowledge the great
benefits that had been bestowed upon his


race by the startling events OF the past few
years.


The time was not far back, he said, when
colored men in this country were not per-





then recited an anecdore illustrating how


his race formerly appeared in public in
New Orleans. 1t was the case of colored
man in the days of slavery. He had been


arrested and taken before recorder on


charge OF some petty otiense The charge
was not sustained, and the poor colored


man was told that he could 60, being gently


admonished, at the same time. not TO ap-
pear there again. The poor colored man
gladly availed himself Of the opportunity to
escape this kind of public notorety, re-
marking at the same time that lie would


not have graced the court with his presence
if he had not been dragged there by police
officer.


Mr. Douglass then proceeded to descant
upon the marvellous changes that had taken
place in regard to the negro III this country
within the past few years. He eloquently
and truthtully depicted these almost miracu-
lous changes Now. he said by the logic of


events and the blood of patriots, the negro
was no longer lawful game for the slave
bunters and oppressOrs of his race. The
changes were indeed wonderful. The coun-
try does not seem the same. The dark clouds
of slavery no longer oyerhang it, aud the


air we breathe inspires lis with love OF
liberty But colored men. Ike other


mel, might be forgetful, and he would
therefore remind them of the trouble
and danger it had cost the country TO
give them the boon of freedom and


that degree of equal rights they have


attained. Mr.. Douglass would impress
this seriously upon colored men. IN
order that tLeir conduct in the future
may prove that they deserving Of the
blessings that have already been conferred
upon them. They have been invested with
tie mantle of manhood, and they can no
longer be hunted and harrassed from. Lake
Erie to the Gulf of Mexico. History in
Europe, where men fought fer freedom,
gave no such extraordinary results. Ty-
ranny and despotism had attempted to step
in between man and his God. and make
slaves of men. This day had passed. Now
every man was freeman-was tree to act
for himself. But Mr. Douglass did not de-
sire to rake up the dead past, further than
useful lessons could be furnished for the
future. He could not forget such men as
Garrison, Phillips and Garrit Smith. They
were the pioneers Of the abolition Of Afri-
can slavery in this country.


Mr.. Douglass then went into a history
of the parties that had fought slavery in
this country, going back to the earliest
days of the anti-slavery party, when but
few men rallied under its standard, up to
1856, when the Republican party was or
ganized for the purpose of resisting the
when the Republican party was blessed
with its first victory under the immortal
Lincoln. After this, and when the struggle
for the Union was successful, came other
struggles 1t was then asserted that this
was white mans government, and that
the negro was not wanted. He was not
wanted as soldier nor as a
citizen. But Mr.. Douglass thought tine
coiored man might as well put