“News From Texas. From the Austin Citizen.”
Files
Click image to view file:
Document Viewer
Dublin Core
Title
“News From Texas. From the Austin Citizen.”
Description
A report on the 1883 Texas State Convention of Colored Men held in Austin published in The New York Globe (April 21, 1883)
Source
From Gale. 19th Century U.S. Newspapers. ©2008 Gale, a part of Cengage Learning, Inc. Reproduced by permission.
Publisher
The New York Globe
Date
1883-04-21
Type
Newspaper article
Scripto
Transcription
[PAGE 1]
THE COLORED CONVENTION. Address by the Governor. The convention assembled at 10 o' o'clock a. m., Rev. A. Grant presiding. Mr. Nelson spoke on the subject of education and national aid in the cause of public institutions. The state, he thought, had been liberal in its provisions for colored schools. Mr. Armstrong spoke in favor of better co-operation of the colored people in accumulating property for themselves, and helping each other in public enterprise. A committee was appointed to invite the governor to address the convention. Gov. Ireland soon after appeared, and being introduced as the "Governor of the Lone Star state," spoke over an hour, delivering, perhaps, one of the most telling speeches that could have been made on such an occasion: It was evidently received with the utmost favor, and abounded with a great deal of good advice, plainly and frankly stated, but enforced with spirit, and at times with the most convincing argument and eloquent language. We give the substance of his remarks: He said he was really too little apprised of the objects of the convention to speak as he would like to do, but, as far as he understood their proceedings, he feared they were giving them too wide of a political scope, instead of confining themselves, as he had hoped they would, to matters of more immediate material interest to their welfare as a people. These were questions which they should discuss calmly without political bias.
[PAGE 1]
upon innocent persons through mis-apprehension and excitement. As to public accommodations they say they don't object to separation of the races in cars and at hotels, etc., but simply wish good separate accommodations to be provided for colored as well as white people, and that this would end the trouble. The address alludes in gratifying terms of the provisions made for and the progress of the colored people in education in this state. It t declares that immoral teachers and preachers should not be tolerated. They need money and ask for further appropriations for their schools. The colored people are advised to discourage emigration, even from one county to another, as much as possible. They are advised to acquire lands and farms and homes in the towns where they live, and especially to become farmers on their own property, and where they have means to do so to go into business. Resolutions were adopted indorsing the Austin Citizen and Galveston Spectator as reliable organs in the interest of the colored people, and commending J. W. Johnson, a colored man of Austin, as an attorney. [The president here took occasion to remark that the colored people don't read the papers enough. They should read them more generally and be better informed.] A resolution was adopted asking the legislature for an appropriation of $ 100,000 to enlarge the buildings and scope of instruction of Prairie View school, so as to add the advantages of mechanical education, etc. It was announced that the board of regents of the state university aimed to have the colored branch in operation in about twelve months. Resolutions of thanks to Col. Brewster, for the use of the hall, and to THE STATESMAN and other papers, for publishing the proceedings, were adopted, and the convention adjourned sine die. Delegates to the national convention at Louisville were selected during the session of the convention. The proceedings generally were characterized with moderation. During the closing hours of the convention it was addressed, by invitation, by Judge Terrell and by Mr. Garland.
[PAGE 2]
They doubtless expected him to say something flattering to their convention, but, while he did not care to criticise their proceedings, it was his duty as a public man to speak to them plainly and frankly as to their duties. They should not, he argued, waste the time of their convention by consideration of such matters as railroad and hotel accommodations and court rulings on constitutional questions, such as Judge Turner's late decision on the civil rights bill, which he said were matters that would have to be regulated by law and the higher tribunals of the country. They could not force the questions upon the people. As to Judge Turner's decision they had not the law and the facts before them, to comprehend all the issues in the case, without which he would not himself undertake to pass upon its merits. It was not for him or them to pass upon the decisions of the court. Judge Turner's ruling, if wrong, would be corrected by the supreme court. If you have grievances, express them, but do not indulge in the useless denunciations of the courts, which have to decide according to the law and the facts, and not according to political convictions. Laws were not perfect, and white men, as well as colored men, sometimes failed to get justice. As to all this clamor about riding in the cars and stopping at hotels, these were the issues which, he argued, could not be forced upon the people, and much of the agitation and feeling existing in the public mind had been caused by the attempt to force social recognition by the legislative enactments. Why, in course of time, you people, when you have fully grown into prosperity, may build your own hotels for your own accommodations, and would denounce any law that would aim to force you to accommodate me at them, simply because they were places of public entertainment. You might invite me into your house, but what would you think of a law to compel you to entertain me?
[PAGE 3]
The governor called to their minds what had been done by the state, particularly in the way of educational advantages for the colored children and for the education of colored teachers, so they might have, as they naturally desired, teachers of their own class to instruct their children. Every department of the state government was exercised for the good of the people, and every head of the departments, he was sure, was proud of the progress made by the colored youth, especially in the various higher institutions of learning, which the state has provided for them. As to the enjoyment of the fullest rights by the colored people of Texas, he referred them to the facts and arguments as presented in the speech of a colored youth named Orr, recently delivered at one of these institutions, which was a speech, he said, he would like to see printed among the colored people of the whole country. Alluding to the proposed national convention of the colored people at Louisville, he hoped it would be made known to the world what Texas had done for the colored people and their consequent prosperity here, and that those who were urging them to emigrate from Texas to Kansas and other places were doing the colored people themselves an injustice. He hoped the convention would not be biased by politics. The colored people should be educated and left to vote according to their convictions. The governor, in conclusion, discussed the constitutional amendments in an able and exhaustive argument. He did so because he noticed they had been proposed for the consideration of the convention. He was frequently interrupted with applause during his speech, and at the conclusion took a seat near the rostrum to witness the proceedings of the convention.
[PAGE 4]
The president of the convention was now called for, and spoke also at some length, expressing the highest appreciation of the governor's ad-dress, to which he responded in very happy terms. His speech was kindled with the fire of enthusiasm and well made points as to the views and in-terests of the colored people, and was also frequently applauded. Among other things he said they were gratified at the evidently frank manner in which the governor had given them a great deal of great ad-vice. But he had to disabuse the governor's mind of a wrong impres-sion--that - that this was a political conven-tion. Such, he explained; , was not the object of the call. He felt, too, he said, that the white and colored people were getting nearer each other in feeling and interests, and so far as his own people were concerned, he assured the governor they would ever take two steps to his one in this di-rection. He said it was the decisions of Judge Walker, of the state district court, to which he alluded the day before, in contrast with Judge Turner's. After speaking by some other members, resolutions of thanks to the governor and president for their ad-dresses were adopted. Mr. Henson, as his remarks of the day before had been alluded to, took occasion to explain that he had not aimed to introduce politics into the discussions of the convention, and had alluded to the Republican party only as a matter of history, and not for controversy. Various matters were considered by the convention.
[PAGE 5]
Third Day's Session. This convention concluded their proceedings yesterday after a harmonious session of three days. Various committee reports were read and adopted during the session- Among them a report from committee mittee on grievances, which complains of the operations of the laws of the state as to miscegenation, marital relations, etc., as somewhat discriminative in their operations to the prejudice of the colored race. It also complains plains of the system of treatment of convicts hired out of the penitentiary; of the jury system and other matters. It speaks of an increase in friendship between the races, and less disposition by the white people to blame them as a whole for the individual outrages which may be perpetrated, and for which the offenders should be punished. At the same time they desire co-operation law-abiding men in suppressing [unclear]suppressing[/unclear][deletion][/deletion]as as being cal-culated to [unclear]inflicting[/unclear] inflicting death
THE COLORED CONVENTION. Address by the Governor. The convention assembled at 10 o' o'clock a. m., Rev. A. Grant presiding. Mr. Nelson spoke on the subject of education and national aid in the cause of public institutions. The state, he thought, had been liberal in its provisions for colored schools. Mr. Armstrong spoke in favor of better co-operation of the colored people in accumulating property for themselves, and helping each other in public enterprise. A committee was appointed to invite the governor to address the convention. Gov. Ireland soon after appeared, and being introduced as the "Governor of the Lone Star state," spoke over an hour, delivering, perhaps, one of the most telling speeches that could have been made on such an occasion: It was evidently received with the utmost favor, and abounded with a great deal of good advice, plainly and frankly stated, but enforced with spirit, and at times with the most convincing argument and eloquent language. We give the substance of his remarks: He said he was really too little apprised of the objects of the convention to speak as he would like to do, but, as far as he understood their proceedings, he feared they were giving them too wide of a political scope, instead of confining themselves, as he had hoped they would, to matters of more immediate material interest to their welfare as a people. These were questions which they should discuss calmly without political bias.
[PAGE 1]
upon innocent persons through mis-apprehension and excitement. As to public accommodations they say they don't object to separation of the races in cars and at hotels, etc., but simply wish good separate accommodations to be provided for colored as well as white people, and that this would end the trouble. The address alludes in gratifying terms of the provisions made for and the progress of the colored people in education in this state. It t declares that immoral teachers and preachers should not be tolerated. They need money and ask for further appropriations for their schools. The colored people are advised to discourage emigration, even from one county to another, as much as possible. They are advised to acquire lands and farms and homes in the towns where they live, and especially to become farmers on their own property, and where they have means to do so to go into business. Resolutions were adopted indorsing the Austin Citizen and Galveston Spectator as reliable organs in the interest of the colored people, and commending J. W. Johnson, a colored man of Austin, as an attorney. [The president here took occasion to remark that the colored people don't read the papers enough. They should read them more generally and be better informed.] A resolution was adopted asking the legislature for an appropriation of $ 100,000 to enlarge the buildings and scope of instruction of Prairie View school, so as to add the advantages of mechanical education, etc. It was announced that the board of regents of the state university aimed to have the colored branch in operation in about twelve months. Resolutions of thanks to Col. Brewster, for the use of the hall, and to THE STATESMAN and other papers, for publishing the proceedings, were adopted, and the convention adjourned sine die. Delegates to the national convention at Louisville were selected during the session of the convention. The proceedings generally were characterized with moderation. During the closing hours of the convention it was addressed, by invitation, by Judge Terrell and by Mr. Garland.
[PAGE 2]
They doubtless expected him to say something flattering to their convention, but, while he did not care to criticise their proceedings, it was his duty as a public man to speak to them plainly and frankly as to their duties. They should not, he argued, waste the time of their convention by consideration of such matters as railroad and hotel accommodations and court rulings on constitutional questions, such as Judge Turner's late decision on the civil rights bill, which he said were matters that would have to be regulated by law and the higher tribunals of the country. They could not force the questions upon the people. As to Judge Turner's decision they had not the law and the facts before them, to comprehend all the issues in the case, without which he would not himself undertake to pass upon its merits. It was not for him or them to pass upon the decisions of the court. Judge Turner's ruling, if wrong, would be corrected by the supreme court. If you have grievances, express them, but do not indulge in the useless denunciations of the courts, which have to decide according to the law and the facts, and not according to political convictions. Laws were not perfect, and white men, as well as colored men, sometimes failed to get justice. As to all this clamor about riding in the cars and stopping at hotels, these were the issues which, he argued, could not be forced upon the people, and much of the agitation and feeling existing in the public mind had been caused by the attempt to force social recognition by the legislative enactments. Why, in course of time, you people, when you have fully grown into prosperity, may build your own hotels for your own accommodations, and would denounce any law that would aim to force you to accommodate me at them, simply because they were places of public entertainment. You might invite me into your house, but what would you think of a law to compel you to entertain me?
[PAGE 3]
The governor called to their minds what had been done by the state, particularly in the way of educational advantages for the colored children and for the education of colored teachers, so they might have, as they naturally desired, teachers of their own class to instruct their children. Every department of the state government was exercised for the good of the people, and every head of the departments, he was sure, was proud of the progress made by the colored youth, especially in the various higher institutions of learning, which the state has provided for them. As to the enjoyment of the fullest rights by the colored people of Texas, he referred them to the facts and arguments as presented in the speech of a colored youth named Orr, recently delivered at one of these institutions, which was a speech, he said, he would like to see printed among the colored people of the whole country. Alluding to the proposed national convention of the colored people at Louisville, he hoped it would be made known to the world what Texas had done for the colored people and their consequent prosperity here, and that those who were urging them to emigrate from Texas to Kansas and other places were doing the colored people themselves an injustice. He hoped the convention would not be biased by politics. The colored people should be educated and left to vote according to their convictions. The governor, in conclusion, discussed the constitutional amendments in an able and exhaustive argument. He did so because he noticed they had been proposed for the consideration of the convention. He was frequently interrupted with applause during his speech, and at the conclusion took a seat near the rostrum to witness the proceedings of the convention.
[PAGE 4]
The president of the convention was now called for, and spoke also at some length, expressing the highest appreciation of the governor's ad-dress, to which he responded in very happy terms. His speech was kindled with the fire of enthusiasm and well made points as to the views and in-terests of the colored people, and was also frequently applauded. Among other things he said they were gratified at the evidently frank manner in which the governor had given them a great deal of great ad-vice. But he had to disabuse the governor's mind of a wrong impres-sion--that - that this was a political conven-tion. Such, he explained; , was not the object of the call. He felt, too, he said, that the white and colored people were getting nearer each other in feeling and interests, and so far as his own people were concerned, he assured the governor they would ever take two steps to his one in this di-rection. He said it was the decisions of Judge Walker, of the state district court, to which he alluded the day before, in contrast with Judge Turner's. After speaking by some other members, resolutions of thanks to the governor and president for their ad-dresses were adopted. Mr. Henson, as his remarks of the day before had been alluded to, took occasion to explain that he had not aimed to introduce politics into the discussions of the convention, and had alluded to the Republican party only as a matter of history, and not for controversy. Various matters were considered by the convention.
[PAGE 5]
Third Day's Session. This convention concluded their proceedings yesterday after a harmonious session of three days. Various committee reports were read and adopted during the session- Among them a report from committee mittee on grievances, which complains of the operations of the laws of the state as to miscegenation, marital relations, etc., as somewhat discriminative in their operations to the prejudice of the colored race. It also complains plains of the system of treatment of convicts hired out of the penitentiary; of the jury system and other matters. It speaks of an increase in friendship between the races, and less disposition by the white people to blame them as a whole for the individual outrages which may be perpetrated, and for which the offenders should be punished. At the same time they desire co-operation law-abiding men in suppressing [unclear]suppressing[/unclear][deletion][/deletion]as as being cal-culated to [unclear]inflicting[/unclear] inflicting death
Convention Minutes Item Type Metadata
City
Austin
State
TX
Country
USA
Contributor
This transcription is the combination of work from more than 4,500 people who volunteered during the 2022 celebration of Douglass Day, held in partnership with Zooniverse.
Event ID
1882.TX-04.05.WACO
Citation
““News From Texas. From the Austin Citizen.”,” Colored Conventions Project Digital Records, accessed October 22, 2026, https://omeka.coloredconventions.org/items/show/1616.