Color'd Convention. Convention of Colored Talent.

Color'd Convention. Convention of Colored Talent.

A report on the 1880 Texas State Farmers Association Convention held in Dallas published in the Dallas Daily Herald (February 17, 1880)

From the Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers site, https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83025733/1880-02-17/ed-1/seq-4/

The Dallas Daily Herald

1880-02-17

Newspaper article

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COLOR'D CONVENTION. ----- CONVENTION OF COLORED TALENT, ----- The State Convention of Colored People to Con-sider the Exodus Question--The - The Address of Welcome - Welcome--Organization, Preamble and Resolutions. ----- The colored convention, called for the purpose of discussing the exodus question, and to organize a company of colored people to settle in a colony in northwest Texas, convened at the City hall yester-day at 11 o' lock. The attendance represented only Dallas and adjoining counties, but large delegations are expected to-day by the trains. The convention was called to order by the selection of A. R. Greggs, of Dallas, Chairman and H. F. Smothers, of the same county, as Secretary. The following address of welcome was delivered by Rev. S. H. Smothers, which was frequently interrupted with rounds of applause:

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SMOTHER'S SPEECH. Gentlemen - I feel most deeply the responsibility of this hour and occasion. For fifteen years our race in this country has been on trial, and it may be said that we have been continually in the balance. To-day the eyes of the people of the great State of Texas are upon this body. The press, that swift-winged messenger, carries the report of our actions and our words all over the land. Hence I would counsel calmness and discretion in all that we may do and say. We can not afford to make enemies by abusing anybody, nor by making unkind thrusts at those who differ with us in opinion. [Applaus.] ]

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The exodus movement is not, in my opinion, a novel or peculiar one. It is but the natural outgrowth of the changed condition on[/unclear] of our people in these United States. Before emancipation we were among the American people, but not of them; since reconstruction we can, and do proudly claim to be of the American people. This is a cosmopolitan nation. Nearly all the races of man are here, with their peculiar race characteristics, and yet we are one nation; and all are equally interested in the prosperity of our common country. Hence, whatever affects our white fellow citizens affects us; whatever agitates them agitates us.

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In this migration movement our people are but imitating the e example of the whites. We are acting in the main from the same e noble motives that inspired them, and are initiating imitating that heroic enterprise which has made them the leading race of the world. "Westward the star of empire takes its way." As the old States, both North and South, become over-populated, their soil ex exhausted, and their industries crippled, the laboring whites are leaving them by thousands and hundreds of thousands annually, to seek homes in the cheap and fertile lands of the West. Is it not natural that when those white emigrants write back to their friends and neighbors, telling ing of the great advantages to be found in the West, that the colored people should be moved and inspired to imitate them and thus better their own condition? [Applause.]

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Only a few weeks ago, in a conversation with a colored immigrant from Georgia, I asked him why he left that State and came to Texas. He replied a great many of his white neighbors were moving to Texas, and he thought that whatever was good for them would be good for him. I hold that the same arguments which are usually advanced in favor of white emigration from the old States are equally applicable to our people in those States. But those arguments do not apply to North Texas, and hence the convention has been called in the interest of colored immigration and colonization, and not for the encouragement of emigration from the State. Kansas and other sections of the northwest may be good countries, and doubtless are far better than the old States, but they are not equal to North Texas, nor do they offer the same advantages to colored immigrants. The "quarters" system, both in the old States, and in the southern part of this State, ought to be broken up. It is a relic of slavery and is de-grading in its tendencies and effects upon the people who live in that condition. Scores of families all huddled together in dirty and miserable little shanties can have very little idea of refinement, or even decency. But our race should not be encouraged in violating their contracts, but, on the contrary, advised to fulfill their contracts before attempting to leave. If they have made hard bargains they should live the closer to them. [Applause.] ]

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Much has been said in regard to wrongs and oppressions of which our people complain. While, doubtless there is some ground for their complaint, their hardships, in my opinion, are more the result of their illiterate condition than all things else. If a class of white laborers were as illiterate as our people, they would be equally as oppressed as are the Irish tenants to-day. Capitalists look out for their own interest, and will, if they can, oppress one man, be his color what it may, as soon as another. We should remember that knowledge is power and ignorance is weakness. The protection which we most need is the power which education and property give. For my own part all I ask of any man is an equal chance, and then if he can outstrip me in the race of life let him do it.

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Gentlemen, have we not an equal chance in Texas. Do not the excellent laws of our great State protect all alike? Are not the doors of our public schoolhouses open alike to all? Do not our broad and fertile prairies yield their abundant products to the black farmer the same as to the white husbandman? Then why should we leave this beautiful land, which is destined to be the Empire State of the Union? No, gentlemen, let us remain in Texas and invite our brethren from other States to come and settle among us, and let us and them co-operate with our white fellow-citizens in settling up and improving our vast unoccupied domain, until our great State shall be all dotted over with prosperous communities of both races, who shall be owners of the soil on which they live, and all alike interested in the institutions they labor to support. [ [Applause.] ]

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APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES On motion the following Committee on Credentials was appointed by the chair: T. V. B. Davis, J. C. Ceasar, G. Brown, B A Jackson. On motion the chair appointed the following Committee on Resolution: S. H. Smothers, T. V. B. Davis, Clem Pierce, W R. Carson, John C. Ceaesr. The following Committee on Permanent Organization was named by the chairman: S. H. Smothers, T. V. B. Davis, A. R. Griggs, B. A. Jackson, J. C. Ceasar, C. Pierce, A. S. Richardson, S. R. Andrews. The chairman then introduced the representatives of the press present, who, in a few happy remarks, bade God-speed the convention in the movement to be inaugurated by the convention, when the meeting took a recess until after the dinner hour. Upon reassembling the Committee on Credentials reported the following named delegates as duly accredited from the counties preceding their names: Ellis-- W. T. Templin and J. C. Ceasar

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Navarro--T. V. B. Davis and B. A. Jackson. Grayson--Clem - Clem Pierce. Collin--D. - D. L. Coleman. Dallas--S. - S. H. Smothers, S. R. Andrews, A. R. Griggs, W. R. Carson and H. F. Smothers. Lamar--A. - A. Gray. Tarrant--A. - A. W. Cook and G. Brown. On motion, the Committee on Credentials was continued. The Committee on Organization reported the following named delegates as the permanent officers of the convention: President--W. - W. R. Carson, of Dallas. Vice-President--A. - A. R. Griggs, of Dallas. Secretary-- - T. V. B. Davis, of Corsicana. Assistant Secretary -- J. C. Ceasar, of Ennis. Treasurer--S. - S. H. Smothers, of Dallas. The report of the committee was unanimously adopted, the officers installed and the Committee on Permanent Organization discharged.

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RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED. The Committee on Resolutions reported as follows: Whereas; ; The world owes much of its progress to migration; and, whereas, the migratory races have advanced in civilization much more rapidly than those that have remained mained stationary; ; and, whereas, we rejoice in the fact that our people are becoming inspired and moved by the same noble spirit of emigration and enterprise which has made the Anglo-Saxons the leading race of the world: ; Therefore, [unclear]Resolved[/unclear], Resolves, 1, That there is a necessity for the exodus of the laboring classes both colored and white, from the Southern States east of the Mississippi river. The poor soil, and its worn-out out condition, in most of those States, and the general derangement of the labor system render the condition of poor people in that [unclear]section[/unclear] n almost hopeless. 2. That there are peculiar circumstances surrounding our people in the States referred to, which make their condition far more discouraging than that of the white laborers. In addition to the obstacles which lie in the way of white laborers, our people have also the prejudice of caste to paralyse their energies, and impede their progress.

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3. That there is no such necessity for the exodus of our people from the State of Texas. Texas is the Empire State of the Union, having a most delightful climate, millions of acres of cheap and fertile lands, and traversed in all directions by railroads. While thousands of white immigrants from the North and from Europe are pouring into to our state, let us remain here and invite our brethren of other States to come and join with us and our white fellow-citizens in the grand march of progress and fame. 4. That we can assure our people of other States that there is no political proscription in Northwest Texas, and that all men are treated here according to their merits. 5. That this convention will organize a Texas Farmer's association, to be incorporated under the laws of this State. 6. That the object of said association shall be to assist its members in purchasing and improving homesteads in this State. 7. That we warn our people against undue excitement and haste in their emigration movements, and advise them m to act prudently and deliberately, and to provide them themselves with at least means enough for one year's support in their new homes.

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8. That as education is the most important and powerful element in the civilization and elevation of all races of men, we urge our people to give more attention to the establishment and support of good schools for the training of their children. 9. That Texas has the largest free school l fund of any State in the Union, consisting of more than fifty million acres of land, which will, in a few years, be sufficient to educate every child in the State without taxation. The report was then acted upon seriatim, and after adopting the preamble and the three first resolutions the convention took a recess for supper.

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NIGHT Session. On reassembling the report of the Com-mittee on Resolutions was taken up and adopted by sections. During the reading of the resolutions, the following proposition, offered by Captain. G. W. Veal, of Fort Worth, was interpolated, read and ordered to be spread upon the minutes. Dallas, Texas, February 16th. To the Convention: : I will sell 700,000 acres of land in Tom Green county, along the south line of the reservation of the Texas & Pacific rai railroad company. I will take one dollar per acre---one-third one-third down; the remaining two-thirds to be divided into four payments of one, two and three years, with eight per cent. interest after one year. With respect, W. G. Veal. P.S.--If S. -- If this proposition is accepted I will give five hundred dollars on the cash pay-ment. W. G. V. On motion, all ministers were admit-ted to seats in the convention without the privilege to vote. It was moved that the chairman of each county delegation be called upon to make the wants of their people known.

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The President said that people coming here would expect them to lay before them their plans. There was nothing cut and dried about the movement. They wanted a free expression of opinion. Mr. Davis stated that he represented his people from Navarro county; ; that the people of that county, both white and colored, are good people. He had lived among them for years and he knew them. His people of that county had caught the Kansas fever, but he had dissuaded them from going, yet they were anxious to go to Northwest Texas. They did not wish the matter delayed. An old man came to Corsicana croaking about Kansas, but he got after him so hot that he s[unclear][/unclear]ook ook the dust from his feet and bid the place a hasty good bye. He thought the move was a good one and he hoped to see it succeed. Mr. Pearson, of Grayson, said that his people had sent him to see and listen to what was done, and to be heard a little, too. His people did not have the Kansas fever, but it might be that they were afraid they would catch it, and so they had sent sent him down to the convention. Kansas had a cold, uncongenial cougenial climate. He thought the movement ment to go west was a good one, but they must not be too fast. They ought to take their time, and not be in too big a hurry. He said that the majority of his race who had gone to Kansas from Texas and the other States were poor, and that it was over-run. He trusted that everything would work well, and that the white people would help them in the movement to colonize themselves in West Texas.

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Mr. John C. Ceaser, of Ellis county, said he was in favor of colonization, and did not want to wait two years. He lived in Concho valley, south of the Staked Plains, the country described by Captain Veal to them, ten years, and thought the Captain's proposition was a good one. Mr. R. W. Cook, of Tarrant county, was of the opinion that his people favored the Western movement, and as to the Kansas movement that had never bothered them in the least. Mr. Barrett, of Kaufman, said his people did not want to go to Kansas, and as Texas held out as great inducements as Kansas, he thought they had best reman here. Mr. Coleman, of McKinney said his people were anxious to find a place where they can better themselves. Some of them had grown careless. The Houston convention had caused their people to leave their homes

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and to go to strange countries. He favored the movement here. They want to go where they can be a people by themselves. Mr. A. S. Richardson, of Dallas county, stated that the colored people of Dallas county don't wish to go to Kansas nor to North-west Texas just now. They are prosperous, are doing well, and yet they sympathize with those of their race who are not so thrifty. They favored the western movement, however. He was also authorized to speak for his race in Fannin county, who were pretty much like those in Dallas county. He read a letter from Chas. Hunter, of Navasota, who gave a gloomy description of Kansas. He was heartily disgusted and anxious to get back to Texas. The colored man who cannot succeed in Texas need not go any where in God's creation with a hope of succeeding, and especially to the Northern States. The President said that they wanted State agents, and not only them but agents to work among their people in other States. It was time that their people should cease to be gulled by white men, who misrepresented things to them.

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Mr. Griggs, of Dallas, moved that the proposition of Mr. Veal be referred to the Committee on Resolutions, and that other land dealers be invited to make propositions. Carried. The following Committee on the Constitution was appointed: : S. H. Smothers, T. V. B. Davis, A. R. Griggs, B. A. Jackson, J. C. Ceasar, C. Pierce, S. H. Smith, A. T. Richardson, S. R. Andrews. Convention adjourned until 10 o'clock this morning.

Dallas

TX

USA

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1880.TX-02.17.DALL