Colored Convention. Very Important Results of the Deliberations of the Colored People In Convention to Consider Colonization and the Exodus Question — Adjourned Sine Die.

Colored Convention. Very Important Results of the Deliberations of the Colored People In Convention to Consider Colonization and the Exodus Question — Adjourned Sine Die.

A report on the 1880 Texas State Farmers Association Convention held in Dallas published in the Dallas Daily Herald (February 18, 1880)

From the Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers site, https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83025733/1880-02-18/ed-1/seq-4/.

The Dallas Daily Herald

1880-02-18

Newspaper article

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COLORED CONVENTION. Very Important Results of the Deliberation o the Colored People in Convention to Consider Colonization and the Exodus Ques-tion - Adjourned Sine Die. The convention met pursuant to adjourn-ment and was opened with prayer. The roll of delegates was called and minutes of the previous meeting corrected and adopted. The Committee on Coastitution and By-laws reported the following; CO[deletion]A[/deletion][insertion]N[/insertion]STITUTION OF THE TEXAS FARMERS' ASSOCIATION. Article 1. This organization shall be called the Texas Farmers' Association. Art. 2. The object of this association shall be to assist its members in acquiring and improving homesteads in the State of Texas. Art. 3. This association shall be incorpo-rated under the laws of Texas, and its domi-cile shall be at Dallas, Texas, for the first two years from the date of organization, and be from that time in the county in which the colony shall be located. Art. 4. The capital stock of the association shall consist of 4,000 shares of $ 25 each, to be paid in such installments as the associa-tion may direct. Art. 5. The business of the association shall be managed by a board of fifteen dir-ectors, who shall be elected annually by the stockholders. k*holders. Art. 6. The Board of Directors shall or-ganize by electing from their own number a President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary. The officers of the Board of Directors shall be ex-officio officers of the association. Art. 7. The meetings of the association shall be held annually at the place of its domocile, on the first Monday in January. Art. 8. The officers and agents of this asso association shall be required to give such surety for the faithful performance of their duties as the association shall be direct. Art. 9. The association shall have the power to make such by-laws for its govern-ment as may be necessary to carry out the objects of the organization.

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BY-LAWS. Art. 1. Each stock-holder shall have the privilege of casting one vote at all elections for the first share held by him, and one vote for every ten additional shares. Art. 2 The Treasurer shall give bond to the directors, with approved security, for the sum of $ 5,000 for the faithful performance of his duties, and may at any time be required to increase the bond to a sum equal to double the amount of funds in his hands. Art. 3. The salaries of the agents and employees of the association shall be fixed by the Board of Directors and shall always be liberal and in proportion to the amount of funds in hand, and the extent of the business operations being carried on. Art. 4. The stock shall be paid in installments of twenty-five per cent., the payments to be made twice a year, on the 1st days of July and January. The articles were voted on by sections, and after filling the blanks with the insertion of figures, were adopted as a whole.

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The chairman of the committee, explaining the first article of the by-laws, , said the object of the committee was to so frame the privilege of voting by shares as to prevent undue influence and power by parties holding a number of shares. Thus, while one share was entitled to one vote, it took eleven shares to entitle a stockholder to cast two votes. The bar separating the audience from the delegates was fixed, and the vis visitors were requested to occupy seat outside. Mr. George Hawkins, of Dallas, was elected sergeant-at-arms. Mr. Shaw, of Fannin, enquired of the Chair if ministers from counties not represented were entitled to vote. After debate it was ruled that a minister enjoyed no privileges not granted to lay brethren, who were adm admitted to seats with the understanding that they should not vote. Mr. Coleman, of Collin, offered the following, which was laid upon the table subject to call: Whereas, There is a newspaper conducted and edited by a colored man in Corsicana, in the interest of the industrial and educational advancement of the race; therefore be it Resolved, That the newspaper in question be named and designated as as the organ of this association.

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Mr. Carson, of Dallas, offered the following: Resolved. That this convention elect two agents whose duty shall be to organize a society in every county of the State, to be officered by a President, Vice-President, Treasurer and secretary; that said society shall be authorized to sell shares in their respective counties, and that all monies collected, less than ten per cent. for expenses, be turned over to the general Treasurer of the association, who shall receipt for the same. A resolution was offered to the effect that the agents be empowered to solicit donations from the friends of the "association." Mr. Davis, of Navarro, offered a substitute changing the word association to "negro." A long discussion ensued, during which, the delegates aired their voices. The substitute was changed so as to read "friends of the colored people," which was lost, and the resolution as originally framed adopted. Mr. Jackson, of Navarro, submitted the following, which was adopted: Resolved, That this convention extend the invitation to purchase shares to the e colored people of all the Southern States.

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The resolution of Mr. Coleman, of Collin, relative to the adoption of the Corsicana paper, as the organ of the association, was called up, and after an acrimonious debate was disposed of by adopting the following substitute: Whereas, There are four or five newspapers edited and controlled by the colored people in the State of Texas, and whereas, the association is not as yet extensively organized throughout the State to sufficiently support any paper at present, be it resolved, First, That this association have no particular organ. Second, That we invite the papers throughout the State to publish all matters appertaining to the association. Pending discussion, Mr. Barrett, of Kauf- Kaufman, opposed the right of the convention to dispose of the first resolution by cramming it down by the substitute. The chair charged Mr. Barrett with attempting to foist upon the convention an individual paper in which he was interested.

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Board of Directors-- - W R Carson, A R Griggs, Clem Pierce, Albert Gray, S H Smothers, J H Brenham, R W Cook, T V B Davis, J C Ceasar, D L Coleman, W T Templin, D A Jackson, S H Smith, G W Brown, A S Richardson. Mr. Collins, of Kaufman, put in an appearance and his right to participation in the deliberations of the convention was recognized. He represented one hundred and fifty [unclear]excdusters[/unclear] from Caddo, Louisiana, about to leave for Kansas, who desired to come to Texas and locate on the proposed colony, if the benefits of the association were extended to Louisianians as well as Texans. Mr. Davis, of Navarro, moved that the board of directors go to work immediately to encourage immigration to Texas by provid ng

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labor for them until next fall, when they can move to the western colony. M. Smothers, of Dallas, submitted the following: : Resolved, That the board of directors meet at once and appoint agents to go west to the Pan-Handle and select lands, and publish to our people throughout the South to come and take hold. Adopted. A letter from Dr. A. Ary, of Clarksville, Tenn., who represents a company owning sixty thousand acres of land in Texas, for the purpose of colonizing colored people from Tennessee, was read and referred to the Board of Directors. The Vice-President offered the following, which was adopted: : Resolved, That we have the proceedings of this convention published in pamphlet form, for distribution among the delegates; that the Secretary and Treasurer be appointed a Committee on Printing; that they have five hundred copies printed. Adopted.

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The committee to whom the proposition of Captain Veal was referred for report, recommended the acceptance of the proposition, provided the agents who are to examine the tract, report favorablly on the character of the land. Mr. Smothers, of Dallas, moved that the convention elect at once, two agents to canvass the lands to be colonized. The motion was carried, and W.R. R. Carson and S.H. H. Smothers, were elected as the agents by acclimation. The thanks of the convention were returned were returned to the citizens of Dallas for their hospitality, to the Mayor and City Council for the use of the city hall, and to the Galveston News, the local press of the city and St. Louis papers for the publication of the minutes of the convention and words of k kind cheer. The board of directors elected the following ing officers for the ensuing term: President, W R Carson; Vice Vice-President, T V B Davis; Treasurer, A R Giggs; Secretary: tary; S H Smothers. The directory is to meet semi-annually, in July and January, and five members shall constitute a quorum. The directory appointed W. R. Carson and S. H. Smothers general agents to organize societies in the different counties of the State, and to solicit contributions. As salary they are to retain 20 per cent of collections, provided the amount does not exceed $ 50 per month. The convention then adjourned sine die.

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labor for them until next fall, when they can move to the western colony. M. Smothers, of Dallas, submitted the following: : Resolved, That the board of directors meet at once and appoint agents to go west to the Pan-Handle and select lands, and publish to our people throughout the South to come and take hold. Adopted. A letter from Dr. A. Ary, of Clarksville, Tenn., who represents a company owning sixty thousand acres of land in Texas, for the purpose of colonizing colored people from Tennessee, was read and referred to the Board of Directors. The Vice-President offered the following, which was adopted: : Resolved, That we have the proceedings of this convention published in pamphlet form, for distribution among the delegates; : that the Secretary and Treasurer be appointed a Committee on Printing; that they have five hundred copies printed. Adopted. The committee to whom the proposition of Captain Veal was referred for report, recommended the acceptance of the proposition, provided the agents who are to examine the tract, report favorably on the character of the land. Mr. Smothers, of Dallas, moved that the convention elect at once, two agents to canvas the lands to be colonized. The motion was carried, and W. R. Carson and S. H. Smothers, were elected as the agents by acclimation. The thanks of the convention were returned to the citizens of Dallas for their hospitality, to the Mayor and the City Council for the use of the city hall, and to the Galveston News, the local press of the city and St. Louis papers for the publication of the minutes of the convention and words of kind cheer. The board of directors elected the following officers for the ensuing term: President, W R Carson: Vice-President, T V B Davis; Treasurer, A R Giggs; Secretary; S H Smothers. The directory is to meet semi-annually, in July and January, and five members shall constitute a quorum. The directory appointed W. R. Carson and S. H. Smothers general agents to organize societies in the different counties of the State, and to solicit contributions. As salary they are to retain 20 per cent of collections, provided the amount does not exceed 50 $ 50 per month.

Dallas

TX

USA

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1880.TX-02.17.DALL