Indignant Negroes
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Title
Indignant Negroes
Source
Chronicling America
Publisher
Daily Globe
Date
1883-12-27
Scripto
Transcription
[PAGE 01]
INDIGNANT NEGROES.
Assembling of the Ohio State Colored Men's Convention - Violent and Inflammatory Speeches.
[Special Telegram to the Globe.]
COLUMBUS, O., Dec. 26. - The state convention of colored citizens here to-day developed an intense feeling among those of that race which has been going on since the civil rights decision. The speeches pointed to the public sentiment forming against them that was worse than the physical slavery before the war. They cited Danville in every speech, said the Irish would rise up for O'Donnell, who confessed to deliberate murder, but that hundreds of negroes could be killed and it was simply considered in this country as a newspaper sensation. Walter S. Thomas, recording clerk of the state senate, said the rights of colored people were written law, but that was all they had of them, and must show their force in the ballot. C. E. Maxwell, a colored attorney of some of prominence at Xenia, where he has been clerk of the court and prosecuting attorney, made the most terriffic speech on taking the chair as permanent chairman that was heard. He said that Carlisle's election showed southern supremacy, and Mahone even was snubbed by the Republicans.
[PAGE 02]
He denounced southerners as cowards who murdered negroes by night and would not fight them fairly or by the day, and that the outrages perpetrated already would justify the colored people of the south in resorting to any means for protection; that it was time for intimidation and terror to strike the other way; that they had stood up for their fellows, so should the colored people of the north organize for the their brethren in the south; that the day of submission had passed and that the colored people to be respected in their rights as citizens, must organize in every quarter. The language of his speech was furious and every utterance was cheered to the echo.
[PAGE 03]
[Western Associated Press.]
COLUMBUS, Dec. 26. - The state convention of colored citizens convened to-day. There was a large attendance from all parts of the state. W. S. Thomas, of Delaware, temporary chairman, stated the object of the convention that the rights of colored people are being more and more disregarded, and the Danville outrages show such a condition of affairs as to lead to organization for the protection of all rights belonging to citizens. The decision of the supreme court on the civil rights law was generally discussed. The morning was occupied in appointing the committees on [unclear]credsntials[/unclear] and permanent organization. The convention adjourned.
Resolutions were adopted to petition the legislature to pass laws for their protection, to repeal the old statutes against them, to improve the facilities for the education of the colored youth, asking both state and national aid for colored schools, recommending the co-operation among the colored people by the formation of joint stock companies in business; also thanking Senator Edmunds for his civil rights bill, Justice Harlan for his dissenting opinion and the Speaker Keifer for his services, and recommending the appointment of a state committee of and from each congressional district, to perfect a plan for the protection of the interests of colored citizens, and the organization throughout the state of equal rights leagues. A state committee was selected to proceed with the organization.
[PAGE 04]
At the afternoon session eleven counties were represented and a permanent organization was effected. President C. L. Maxwell, Green county; Secretary G. E. Comly, Hamilton. The president made a strong address, setting forth the necessity of combined action for their rights. The greater portion of the afternoon was taken up with short speeches to get the sentiment of the delegates and those represented. The convention continued in session till after midnight. At one time the excitement over the alleged abuse of the race became very high, and most inflammatory speeches were made. Congress was to be a memoralized through S. S. Cox, who was to take action in their behalf. Mr. Cox was cited as espousing the cause of O'Donnell and he would be asked to plead for the hundreds of his fellow citizens who were being murdered at home. A long list of resolutions were adopted, pointing out their grievances and assigning a cause for an organized effort for protection. The resolution sets forth that the sentiment in the states, since the late rebellion, was averse to the rights of the colored men and they demand of the president and congress that the constitution and laws be enforced for equal protection. They held that the negro supremacy had never been allowed, and where they had a majority they were soon put down by violence, and in this state, even, are denied representatves in the legislature they once had, and yet the United States supreme court in its civil rights decision had left them to the states with these prejudices against them.
INDIGNANT NEGROES.
Assembling of the Ohio State Colored Men's Convention - Violent and Inflammatory Speeches.
[Special Telegram to the Globe.]
COLUMBUS, O., Dec. 26. - The state convention of colored citizens here to-day developed an intense feeling among those of that race which has been going on since the civil rights decision. The speeches pointed to the public sentiment forming against them that was worse than the physical slavery before the war. They cited Danville in every speech, said the Irish would rise up for O'Donnell, who confessed to deliberate murder, but that hundreds of negroes could be killed and it was simply considered in this country as a newspaper sensation. Walter S. Thomas, recording clerk of the state senate, said the rights of colored people were written law, but that was all they had of them, and must show their force in the ballot. C. E. Maxwell, a colored attorney of some of prominence at Xenia, where he has been clerk of the court and prosecuting attorney, made the most terriffic speech on taking the chair as permanent chairman that was heard. He said that Carlisle's election showed southern supremacy, and Mahone even was snubbed by the Republicans.
[PAGE 02]
He denounced southerners as cowards who murdered negroes by night and would not fight them fairly or by the day, and that the outrages perpetrated already would justify the colored people of the south in resorting to any means for protection; that it was time for intimidation and terror to strike the other way; that they had stood up for their fellows, so should the colored people of the north organize for the their brethren in the south; that the day of submission had passed and that the colored people to be respected in their rights as citizens, must organize in every quarter. The language of his speech was furious and every utterance was cheered to the echo.
[PAGE 03]
[Western Associated Press.]
COLUMBUS, Dec. 26. - The state convention of colored citizens convened to-day. There was a large attendance from all parts of the state. W. S. Thomas, of Delaware, temporary chairman, stated the object of the convention that the rights of colored people are being more and more disregarded, and the Danville outrages show such a condition of affairs as to lead to organization for the protection of all rights belonging to citizens. The decision of the supreme court on the civil rights law was generally discussed. The morning was occupied in appointing the committees on [unclear]credsntials[/unclear] and permanent organization. The convention adjourned.
Resolutions were adopted to petition the legislature to pass laws for their protection, to repeal the old statutes against them, to improve the facilities for the education of the colored youth, asking both state and national aid for colored schools, recommending the co-operation among the colored people by the formation of joint stock companies in business; also thanking Senator Edmunds for his civil rights bill, Justice Harlan for his dissenting opinion and the Speaker Keifer for his services, and recommending the appointment of a state committee of and from each congressional district, to perfect a plan for the protection of the interests of colored citizens, and the organization throughout the state of equal rights leagues. A state committee was selected to proceed with the organization.
[PAGE 04]
At the afternoon session eleven counties were represented and a permanent organization was effected. President C. L. Maxwell, Green county; Secretary G. E. Comly, Hamilton. The president made a strong address, setting forth the necessity of combined action for their rights. The greater portion of the afternoon was taken up with short speeches to get the sentiment of the delegates and those represented. The convention continued in session till after midnight. At one time the excitement over the alleged abuse of the race became very high, and most inflammatory speeches were made. Congress was to be a memoralized through S. S. Cox, who was to take action in their behalf. Mr. Cox was cited as espousing the cause of O'Donnell and he would be asked to plead for the hundreds of his fellow citizens who were being murdered at home. A long list of resolutions were adopted, pointing out their grievances and assigning a cause for an organized effort for protection. The resolution sets forth that the sentiment in the states, since the late rebellion, was averse to the rights of the colored men and they demand of the president and congress that the constitution and laws be enforced for equal protection. They held that the negro supremacy had never been allowed, and where they had a majority they were soon put down by violence, and in this state, even, are denied representatves in the legislature they once had, and yet the United States supreme court in its civil rights decision had left them to the states with these prejudices against them.
Convention Minutes Item Type Metadata
Convention Type
State Convention
City
Columbus
State
OH
Country
USA
Start Date
1883-12-26
End Date
1883-12
Provenance
Library of Congress
Event ID
1883.OH-12.26.COLU
Citation
Thomas, Walter S., “Indignant Negroes,” Colored Conventions Project Digital Records, accessed October 22, 2026, https://www.omeka.coloredconventions.org/items/show/2408.