A Colored Man Speaks to the Chivalry
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Title
A Colored Man Speaks to the Chivalry
Source
Chronicling America
Publisher
Daily Press and Dakotaian
Date
1876-04-09
Scripto
Transcription
[PAGE 01]
A Colored Man Speaks to the Chivalry.
The Hon. P. B. S. Pinchbeck, a colored citizen of Louisiana, whose unsuccessful effort to secure a seat in the United States senate has made his name familiar to the readers of newspapers, made an address at the recent of newspapers, made and address at the recent colored convention held at Jackson, Mississippi. A striking instance of the modification of southern feeling was exemplified on this occasion. The legislature of the state was in session, composed of two-thirds democrats, but that body adjourned and invited the members of the colored convention to hold their deliberations in the legislative hall. Mr. Pinchbeck was invited to address the convention, whereupon the legislature as a body resolved to attend and listen to the remarks of this distinguished representative of a hitherto proscribed race. The legislature occupied one side of the house and the colored convention the other. Mr. Pinchbeck spoke for two hours, dividing his remarks between the white law makers and the colored right-seekers.
[PAGE 02]
He told his people that they must economize their means, and seek lands and homes of their own; that they must educate their children and bring them up to habits of industry and economy; that they must accord to all people their rights, and at the same time they must insist on their own rights as accorded to them by the people and constitution of the United States. The speaker said:
It is folly for you to look and wait for United States troops to come here to place you in possession of your rights or to assist you in your
[PAGE 03]
local elections. The government is not going to send troops here to as- assist you in your local elections, nor protect you in voting, any more than it will send troops to Massachusetts or New Hampshire; and all those people who tell you that it will be done are to be looked upon by you with suspicion. You must think and act for yourselves. You must assert your rights, and then defend them No one else will do it for you.
In your political affairs I would not ad- advise you to go in the Democratic party, but, if you conduct yourselves properly, enough of that party will come to you to break up their organ- organization and strength, and bury that issue of race that has been attended with such baneful results. No party can succeed or be prosperous, and its people be happy, that is founded upon race alone; but all races and all classes when they have numerically a political cal strength, must and will have representation, without which there can be no peace. In all the large northern cities both political parties respect the German and Irish element, and in making up their tickets always give them a fair representation. There must be no more race issues, and to avoid it you must overlook past political records and select the best men for the most res- responsible positions. You may feel des- despondent in consequence of your late defeat, but you must remember that majorities are nothing. It is princi
[PAGE 04]
ple alone that can win, and right must triumph in the end. It may require a long time, it may require a few martyrs; but any party founded upon principles of right must eventually win, and present majorities are but as nothing if you but do your duty, think for yourselves, and let your manhood be your own independent protection. You are not the only people who have had obstacles to surmount. The example of the Jews stand in bold relief upon the pages of time in the history of the world. Like you they were once slaves, and after they were emancipated they met with persecutions; but backed by principles they believe to be right they have unitedly fought on, and on, and on, generation after generation, age after age, until now we behold them leaders of education, and the princes of the commercial world, a political power in all lands, and one of their number Premier of England. When they left their masters they could neither read nor write. To-day their authors compete with the world, and their masters are educated in the arts and sciences. What an example for you my people, whose advantages are so great. Husband those advantages and success will yet reward your efforts.
[PAGE 05]
To my white friends I will say that I feel highly complimented by your attendance here this evening, and as you are men and gentlemen, as I know you to be, I ask you not to misconstrue what I have said and what I have to say. You have grave duties to perform toward this people in whom you have lost your property. There is no reason or judgment in any prejudice by reason of race existing between you. You cannot get along without the labor of the colored man to till your fields, and for the present he cannot get along without your advice and management of business affairs. Then why should this unsettled and unhappy condition of affairs in this state exist? Why should there be one political party known as a white party, and another party known as the colored party? And why should there be so much violence and bloodshed? I would ask you all, why is it that every little while we are startled by an account of another horrible riot and outbreak, always winding up with thirty or forty negroes wounded and killed, and
[PAGE 06]
NOBODY HURT ON THE OTHER SIDE,
Why is this? I tell you, my white friends, that this killing of our people must be stopped, and I intend to help in putting a stop to it. Not by force of arms; not by use of teh needle guns and Remington rifles, but by breaking up this issue of race, and by breaking up your white line democratic party. The colored people are bound to have their rights, and I advise you, who are gentlemen, to be the ones to guarantee them those rights; for, if you do not, in sober earnestness I warn you to be aware of the day when the ruffian class of whites shall unite with the more ignorant class of colored people! I leave you to imagine the result.
A Colored Man Speaks to the Chivalry.
The Hon. P. B. S. Pinchbeck, a colored citizen of Louisiana, whose unsuccessful effort to secure a seat in the United States senate has made his name familiar to the readers of newspapers, made an address at the recent of newspapers, made and address at the recent colored convention held at Jackson, Mississippi. A striking instance of the modification of southern feeling was exemplified on this occasion. The legislature of the state was in session, composed of two-thirds democrats, but that body adjourned and invited the members of the colored convention to hold their deliberations in the legislative hall. Mr. Pinchbeck was invited to address the convention, whereupon the legislature as a body resolved to attend and listen to the remarks of this distinguished representative of a hitherto proscribed race. The legislature occupied one side of the house and the colored convention the other. Mr. Pinchbeck spoke for two hours, dividing his remarks between the white law makers and the colored right-seekers.
[PAGE 02]
He told his people that they must economize their means, and seek lands and homes of their own; that they must educate their children and bring them up to habits of industry and economy; that they must accord to all people their rights, and at the same time they must insist on their own rights as accorded to them by the people and constitution of the United States. The speaker said:
It is folly for you to look and wait for United States troops to come here to place you in possession of your rights or to assist you in your
[PAGE 03]
local elections. The government is not going to send troops here to as- assist you in your local elections, nor protect you in voting, any more than it will send troops to Massachusetts or New Hampshire; and all those people who tell you that it will be done are to be looked upon by you with suspicion. You must think and act for yourselves. You must assert your rights, and then defend them No one else will do it for you.
In your political affairs I would not ad- advise you to go in the Democratic party, but, if you conduct yourselves properly, enough of that party will come to you to break up their organ- organization and strength, and bury that issue of race that has been attended with such baneful results. No party can succeed or be prosperous, and its people be happy, that is founded upon race alone; but all races and all classes when they have numerically a political cal strength, must and will have representation, without which there can be no peace. In all the large northern cities both political parties respect the German and Irish element, and in making up their tickets always give them a fair representation. There must be no more race issues, and to avoid it you must overlook past political records and select the best men for the most res- responsible positions. You may feel des- despondent in consequence of your late defeat, but you must remember that majorities are nothing. It is princi
[PAGE 04]
ple alone that can win, and right must triumph in the end. It may require a long time, it may require a few martyrs; but any party founded upon principles of right must eventually win, and present majorities are but as nothing if you but do your duty, think for yourselves, and let your manhood be your own independent protection. You are not the only people who have had obstacles to surmount. The example of the Jews stand in bold relief upon the pages of time in the history of the world. Like you they were once slaves, and after they were emancipated they met with persecutions; but backed by principles they believe to be right they have unitedly fought on, and on, and on, generation after generation, age after age, until now we behold them leaders of education, and the princes of the commercial world, a political power in all lands, and one of their number Premier of England. When they left their masters they could neither read nor write. To-day their authors compete with the world, and their masters are educated in the arts and sciences. What an example for you my people, whose advantages are so great. Husband those advantages and success will yet reward your efforts.
[PAGE 05]
To my white friends I will say that I feel highly complimented by your attendance here this evening, and as you are men and gentlemen, as I know you to be, I ask you not to misconstrue what I have said and what I have to say. You have grave duties to perform toward this people in whom you have lost your property. There is no reason or judgment in any prejudice by reason of race existing between you. You cannot get along without the labor of the colored man to till your fields, and for the present he cannot get along without your advice and management of business affairs. Then why should this unsettled and unhappy condition of affairs in this state exist? Why should there be one political party known as a white party, and another party known as the colored party? And why should there be so much violence and bloodshed? I would ask you all, why is it that every little while we are startled by an account of another horrible riot and outbreak, always winding up with thirty or forty negroes wounded and killed, and
[PAGE 06]
NOBODY HURT ON THE OTHER SIDE,
Why is this? I tell you, my white friends, that this killing of our people must be stopped, and I intend to help in putting a stop to it. Not by force of arms; not by use of teh needle guns and Remington rifles, but by breaking up this issue of race, and by breaking up your white line democratic party. The colored people are bound to have their rights, and I advise you, who are gentlemen, to be the ones to guarantee them those rights; for, if you do not, in sober earnestness I warn you to be aware of the day when the ruffian class of whites shall unite with the more ignorant class of colored people! I leave you to imagine the result.
Convention Minutes Item Type Metadata
Convention Type
State Convention
City
Jackson
State
MS
Country
USA
Start Date
1876-03-31
Provenance
Library of Congress
Event ID
1876.MS-03.31.JACK
Citation
Hon Pinchbeck, P. B. S, “A Colored Man Speaks to the Chivalry,” Colored Conventions Project Digital Records, accessed October 22, 2026, https://www.omeka.coloredconventions.org/items/show/2660.