Conservative Colored Convention at Nashville
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Title
Conservative Colored Convention at Nashville
Source
Chronicling America
Publisher
Evansville Journal
Date
1867-04-11
Scripto
Transcription
[PAGE 01]
The Rebel Democracy and the Ne- Negroes.
The rebels are having a great deal of trouble and much tribulation of spirit in manipulating the negro vote of Tennessee to their advantage. The Conservative Colored Convention at Nashville, on the 6th inst., was a miserable abortion. Four- Fourteen conservative negroes were all they could muster out of a negro population of eight thousand. The Radical negroes, (very impolite, we admit), flocked in and took part in the proceedings, voting down every proposition amid laughter and cheers. One speaker made an out-and-out Radical speech, reproaching slave-holders holders for their past cruelty and selfishness, ness, amid loud applause, and cries of "Go on," from the assembled negroes.
Another attempt was made to hold a Conservative Colored Convention at Gal- Gallatin, with no better success. Baylie Pey- Peyton (only think of Baylie!) and others made speeches, bitterly denouncing [unclear]Radi-[/unclear] Radicals and Yankees. When it came time for negroes to speak, Columbus Johnson was called out, and made a forcible Radical speech, which was loudly cheered by all the colored persons present. A colored man, named Fox, then appeared, and in reply to Preston said, "who took the lash away from my back, restored my wife and my children, and broke my shackles? The Yankees." He was vociferously cheered, and the Conservatives adjourned the meeting ing in haste and disgust. It seems to be an up-hill business to convince the negroes that their former masters are their best friends, but it may yet be done.
The Rebel Democracy and the Ne- Negroes.
The rebels are having a great deal of trouble and much tribulation of spirit in manipulating the negro vote of Tennessee to their advantage. The Conservative Colored Convention at Nashville, on the 6th inst., was a miserable abortion. Four- Fourteen conservative negroes were all they could muster out of a negro population of eight thousand. The Radical negroes, (very impolite, we admit), flocked in and took part in the proceedings, voting down every proposition amid laughter and cheers. One speaker made an out-and-out Radical speech, reproaching slave-holders holders for their past cruelty and selfishness, ness, amid loud applause, and cries of "Go on," from the assembled negroes.
Another attempt was made to hold a Conservative Colored Convention at Gal- Gallatin, with no better success. Baylie Pey- Peyton (only think of Baylie!) and others made speeches, bitterly denouncing [unclear]Radi-[/unclear] Radicals and Yankees. When it came time for negroes to speak, Columbus Johnson was called out, and made a forcible Radical speech, which was loudly cheered by all the colored persons present. A colored man, named Fox, then appeared, and in reply to Preston said, "who took the lash away from my back, restored my wife and my children, and broke my shackles? The Yankees." He was vociferously cheered, and the Conservatives adjourned the meeting ing in haste and disgust. It seems to be an up-hill business to convince the negroes that their former masters are their best friends, but it may yet be done.
Convention Minutes Item Type Metadata
Convention Type
County Convention
City
Nashville
State
TN
Country
USA
Start Date
1867-04-06
Provenance
Library of Congress
Event ID
1867.TN-04.06.NASH
Citation
“Conservative Colored Convention at Nashville,” Colored Conventions Project Digital Records, accessed October 22, 2026, https://www.omeka.coloredconventions.org/items/show/2697.