The Colored Convention. The Reason Why Colored People say they Should Exodust.
Files
Click image to view file:
Document Viewer
Dublin Core
Title
The Colored Convention. The Reason Why Colored People say they Should Exodust.
Description
A report on the 1880 Texas State Farmers Association Convention held in Dallas published in the Galveston Daily News (February 22, 1880)
Source
From Gale. 19th Century U.S. Newspapers. ©2008 Gale, a part of Cengage Learning, Inc.
Publisher
The Galveston Daily News
Date
1880-02-22
Type
Newspaper article
Scripto
Transcription
[PAGE 1]
THE COLORED CONVENTION. The Reasons Why Colored People say they Should Exodust. Though they Steered Clear of Politics and Schemes, Yet the Bug Crops Out. The Hub Shows its Cloven Foot by the Direct Admission of President Alden, Who Claims that Texas is Really Republican, Especially North of the Texas Pacific Line. Railroad Interest Therein Developed. [Special Correspondence of the News.]
[PAGE 2]
THE COLORED CONVENTION. DALLAS, February 20.--There -- There seemed to be but one desire actuating the delegates to this body, convened for the purpose of discussing the exodus question, and that was the organization of a company of freedmen to settle in a colony in the northwestern portion of the state. The organization of an association with a capital stock of $ 100,000, cut up into 4000 shares of $ 25 each, officered exclusively by negroes, groes, is pregnant with results. The scheme presents attractions to the satisfied and dissatisfied satisfied freedman, and appeals for aid to the philanthropist, and that large, liberal class of religious fanatics who are crazed on the subject of the social, intellectual tellectual and material advancement of the negro. The manner in which the association is conducted challenges the attention of the planter, for if directed with honesty and good sense it will not only change the current of the exodus within twelve months, but infect dis- districts which have heretofore been free of the fever. The association is backed by the movement ment which has for its platform the following extract from the PRINCIPIA CLUB PAPERS.
[PAGE 3]
"The whole question of emigration, as it now stands, lies in three propositions, one of which every freedman must choose: First, he must remain as he is under the political trinity of despotism; be denied the free ballot conferred upon him by the amendments to the United States constitution; or second, he must, vi et armis (by force of arms,) maintain those rights against rebel despotism, with the "federal bayonets" in rebel hands; or third, he must quietly if he can, forcibly if he must, emigrate to the public lands in the west, preempt a farm, and enjoy the rights of citizenship under a republican form of government." While the convention evinced throughout its deliberations a purpose to steer clear of the emigration business and semi-political societies purporting to be in aid of the transfer of freedmen from the plantation to the cheap unoccupied lands of the west, yet the proceedings in the matter of adopting an organ leaves a lurking suspicion that the Texas association is but auxiliary to the national farmers association. The president of this association is the author of the following letter in reply to the charges of IMPLIED DISLOYALTY.
[PAGE 4]
BOSTON, Mass., September 15, 1879. - Editor of the Co-operative Emigrant, Clarksville, Tenn. - Dear Sir: Allow me to make a few suggestions through your columns for the benefit of whoever it may concern. We have been frequently asked why the national farmers association purchased lands for the freedmen in northern Texas. This is a fair question, and as such, is entitled to a truthful answer, which we will now give. 1. In the Principia Papers we have advised the freedmen to "emigrate somewhere," "get out of rebeldom," etc., etc. One of our Boston dailies, after giving an unobjectionable notice of one of said papers, rather sarcastically suggests that Texas is a part of rebeldom, and yet the same association has purchased large tracts of land there for the freedmen. Yes, we own up and acknowledge the corn. This is all true, but it is also true that our good-natured friend has not got us in so tight a place as he may think he has, for TEXAS IS NEARLY REPUBLICAN.
[PAGE 5]
2. Texas, though called the valley of rascals when knocking at the door of the union for admittance into the family of states, has made wonderful progress in civilization, and although it has belonged to rebeldom, it has now become nearly, if not quite, republican. We are informed by parties who are well posted on the subject, that already northern Texas, by which we mean all north of the line of the Texas and Pacific railrod, is largely republican, and when the present national administration, and when the present national administration came into power, it only needed about 50,000 more republican votes to place this vast empire state in the republican column. As emigration has been pouring in there for the last three years, it is safe to say that Texas no longer belongs to rebeldom, and therefore we are not counseling our colonies to go from one part of rebeldom to another, and what emigration has not done in that direction the last extra session of congress has; but, 3. If our colonies who now reside in the cotton belt prefer to go into states further north and a colder climate, they can go, but we do not encourage it, because we know it is not for their interest to do so, and therefore we have secured for them the very best lands in the cotton belt. If the question should be asked in another form, why we made our selection of lands on the Dallas and Wichita railroad, we answer: THE INCORRIGIBLE PLANTER DOOMED.
[PAGE 6]
4. It is because the Dallas and Wichita railroad has offered us better terms than any other road with which we have been in correspondence. We sell these lands at the original state price of [unclear] $ 150?[/unclear] per acre, and look to the railroad for our compensation. By this arrangement each purchaser of a farm who makes his first payment and gets his bond or deed is entitled to all the appreciation on his land from the price he pays upward, whereas in the older states further north and colder he would have to pay a much higher price for his land, the appreciation of which goes into the pockets of speculators and not into his own, as we propose. We have been trying for more than forty years to make better men of the planters, and at the same time improve the condition of their laborers. The planters have not taken our advice, but their laborers have, and their condition is growing better, that's all. We have never been into a southern state to entice laborers away from their old homes, but we have offered them better terms and better facilities for acquiring homes of their own and reaping the fruits of their own toil. If the planters can offer them still better terms and better homes, we have not the slightest objection. Yours, respectfully, J. W. Alden.
[PAGE 7]
THE [unclear]BEG UNDER THE CHIP, so far as the national farmers association is concerned, is the holders of bona-fide and prospective railroad land grants to the Dallas and Wichita railway, and the projectors of the mysterious Texas Trunk railroad, which is to connect Colorado with the gulf of Mexico, via Dallas and Palestine. This is manifest by the following extract from the latest principle papers, No. 11, which is being circulated in districts affected with the exodus fever.
[PAGE 8]
"The rivers of Texas were evidently intended by the Creator for irrigation and not for navigation. The products of this vast empire state must, therefore, be provided with other channels of transportation across its territory, and it is vastly more economical to build railroads than to deepen its water-courses. The projectors of the Texas Trunk railroad from Colorado to the Gulf of Mexico must have comprehended this fact when they joined the indefatigable manager of the Dallas and Wichita railroad in that magnificent undertaking. The energy and skill with which the plucky manager is pushing; this enterprise place him in the front rank of railroad men, and add an important factor to the network of roads in the largest state in the union in territory, and prospectively in wealth and population. The syndicates now being formed of English and American capitalists comprehend these facts, and show their wisdom and financial sagacity in embarking in an enterprise of so much promise to not only their investments but the wealth of the country as well. To carry out these plans another organization is necessary under the laws of Texas, and is in the process of organization with a capital of [unclear] $ 5,000,000. The Dallas and Wichita road will form an important link in this thousand miles of road in Texas.
[PAGE 9]
THE FOSSILS LEAVING TEXAS. Dr. A. Aray, over whom the colored convention nearly came to blows, prefaces the above with the following: "Let it be remembered that Texas is not one of the old slave states; she was stolen from Mexico by southern pirates and their allies for the purpose of planting the [unclear]upas[/unclear] of slavery in her soil, , but 'manifest destiny,' as expressed in the result of the war of the rebellion, has subverted their purpose and the forever consecrated her to freedom. The 'fossil' slaveholders are leaving and seeking more congenial haunts in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. Texas is destined to be the theater of a great forward movement to the history of our race - the corner-stone of what will be, to us, a new civilization. Let us, then, leave this country - wherein we are, in the battle of life, limited by prejudices and oppression to what we can achieve by the use of our finger-nails and our teeth - and 'emigrate to a better land' where we can cultivate our own farms, sit under our own vine and fig-tree, and enjoy the fruits of our labor, and the free exercise of our political rights, and organize our own townships, schools, etc., and send representatives of our own to congress, instead of submitting to a representation of bulldozers."
THE COLORED CONVENTION. The Reasons Why Colored People say they Should Exodust. Though they Steered Clear of Politics and Schemes, Yet the Bug Crops Out. The Hub Shows its Cloven Foot by the Direct Admission of President Alden, Who Claims that Texas is Really Republican, Especially North of the Texas Pacific Line. Railroad Interest Therein Developed. [Special Correspondence of the News.]
[PAGE 2]
THE COLORED CONVENTION. DALLAS, February 20.--There -- There seemed to be but one desire actuating the delegates to this body, convened for the purpose of discussing the exodus question, and that was the organization of a company of freedmen to settle in a colony in the northwestern portion of the state. The organization of an association with a capital stock of $ 100,000, cut up into 4000 shares of $ 25 each, officered exclusively by negroes, groes, is pregnant with results. The scheme presents attractions to the satisfied and dissatisfied satisfied freedman, and appeals for aid to the philanthropist, and that large, liberal class of religious fanatics who are crazed on the subject of the social, intellectual tellectual and material advancement of the negro. The manner in which the association is conducted challenges the attention of the planter, for if directed with honesty and good sense it will not only change the current of the exodus within twelve months, but infect dis- districts which have heretofore been free of the fever. The association is backed by the movement ment which has for its platform the following extract from the PRINCIPIA CLUB PAPERS.
[PAGE 3]
"The whole question of emigration, as it now stands, lies in three propositions, one of which every freedman must choose: First, he must remain as he is under the political trinity of despotism; be denied the free ballot conferred upon him by the amendments to the United States constitution; or second, he must, vi et armis (by force of arms,) maintain those rights against rebel despotism, with the "federal bayonets" in rebel hands; or third, he must quietly if he can, forcibly if he must, emigrate to the public lands in the west, preempt a farm, and enjoy the rights of citizenship under a republican form of government." While the convention evinced throughout its deliberations a purpose to steer clear of the emigration business and semi-political societies purporting to be in aid of the transfer of freedmen from the plantation to the cheap unoccupied lands of the west, yet the proceedings in the matter of adopting an organ leaves a lurking suspicion that the Texas association is but auxiliary to the national farmers association. The president of this association is the author of the following letter in reply to the charges of IMPLIED DISLOYALTY.
[PAGE 4]
BOSTON, Mass., September 15, 1879. - Editor of the Co-operative Emigrant, Clarksville, Tenn. - Dear Sir: Allow me to make a few suggestions through your columns for the benefit of whoever it may concern. We have been frequently asked why the national farmers association purchased lands for the freedmen in northern Texas. This is a fair question, and as such, is entitled to a truthful answer, which we will now give. 1. In the Principia Papers we have advised the freedmen to "emigrate somewhere," "get out of rebeldom," etc., etc. One of our Boston dailies, after giving an unobjectionable notice of one of said papers, rather sarcastically suggests that Texas is a part of rebeldom, and yet the same association has purchased large tracts of land there for the freedmen. Yes, we own up and acknowledge the corn. This is all true, but it is also true that our good-natured friend has not got us in so tight a place as he may think he has, for TEXAS IS NEARLY REPUBLICAN.
[PAGE 5]
2. Texas, though called the valley of rascals when knocking at the door of the union for admittance into the family of states, has made wonderful progress in civilization, and although it has belonged to rebeldom, it has now become nearly, if not quite, republican. We are informed by parties who are well posted on the subject, that already northern Texas, by which we mean all north of the line of the Texas and Pacific railrod, is largely republican, and when the present national administration, and when the present national administration came into power, it only needed about 50,000 more republican votes to place this vast empire state in the republican column. As emigration has been pouring in there for the last three years, it is safe to say that Texas no longer belongs to rebeldom, and therefore we are not counseling our colonies to go from one part of rebeldom to another, and what emigration has not done in that direction the last extra session of congress has; but, 3. If our colonies who now reside in the cotton belt prefer to go into states further north and a colder climate, they can go, but we do not encourage it, because we know it is not for their interest to do so, and therefore we have secured for them the very best lands in the cotton belt. If the question should be asked in another form, why we made our selection of lands on the Dallas and Wichita railroad, we answer: THE INCORRIGIBLE PLANTER DOOMED.
[PAGE 6]
4. It is because the Dallas and Wichita railroad has offered us better terms than any other road with which we have been in correspondence. We sell these lands at the original state price of [unclear] $ 150?[/unclear] per acre, and look to the railroad for our compensation. By this arrangement each purchaser of a farm who makes his first payment and gets his bond or deed is entitled to all the appreciation on his land from the price he pays upward, whereas in the older states further north and colder he would have to pay a much higher price for his land, the appreciation of which goes into the pockets of speculators and not into his own, as we propose. We have been trying for more than forty years to make better men of the planters, and at the same time improve the condition of their laborers. The planters have not taken our advice, but their laborers have, and their condition is growing better, that's all. We have never been into a southern state to entice laborers away from their old homes, but we have offered them better terms and better facilities for acquiring homes of their own and reaping the fruits of their own toil. If the planters can offer them still better terms and better homes, we have not the slightest objection. Yours, respectfully, J. W. Alden.
[PAGE 7]
THE [unclear]BEG UNDER THE CHIP, so far as the national farmers association is concerned, is the holders of bona-fide and prospective railroad land grants to the Dallas and Wichita railway, and the projectors of the mysterious Texas Trunk railroad, which is to connect Colorado with the gulf of Mexico, via Dallas and Palestine. This is manifest by the following extract from the latest principle papers, No. 11, which is being circulated in districts affected with the exodus fever.
[PAGE 8]
"The rivers of Texas were evidently intended by the Creator for irrigation and not for navigation. The products of this vast empire state must, therefore, be provided with other channels of transportation across its territory, and it is vastly more economical to build railroads than to deepen its water-courses. The projectors of the Texas Trunk railroad from Colorado to the Gulf of Mexico must have comprehended this fact when they joined the indefatigable manager of the Dallas and Wichita railroad in that magnificent undertaking. The energy and skill with which the plucky manager is pushing; this enterprise place him in the front rank of railroad men, and add an important factor to the network of roads in the largest state in the union in territory, and prospectively in wealth and population. The syndicates now being formed of English and American capitalists comprehend these facts, and show their wisdom and financial sagacity in embarking in an enterprise of so much promise to not only their investments but the wealth of the country as well. To carry out these plans another organization is necessary under the laws of Texas, and is in the process of organization with a capital of [unclear] $ 5,000,000. The Dallas and Wichita road will form an important link in this thousand miles of road in Texas.
[PAGE 9]
THE FOSSILS LEAVING TEXAS. Dr. A. Aray, over whom the colored convention nearly came to blows, prefaces the above with the following: "Let it be remembered that Texas is not one of the old slave states; she was stolen from Mexico by southern pirates and their allies for the purpose of planting the [unclear]upas[/unclear] of slavery in her soil, , but 'manifest destiny,' as expressed in the result of the war of the rebellion, has subverted their purpose and the forever consecrated her to freedom. The 'fossil' slaveholders are leaving and seeking more congenial haunts in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. Texas is destined to be the theater of a great forward movement to the history of our race - the corner-stone of what will be, to us, a new civilization. Let us, then, leave this country - wherein we are, in the battle of life, limited by prejudices and oppression to what we can achieve by the use of our finger-nails and our teeth - and 'emigrate to a better land' where we can cultivate our own farms, sit under our own vine and fig-tree, and enjoy the fruits of our labor, and the free exercise of our political rights, and organize our own townships, schools, etc., and send representatives of our own to congress, instead of submitting to a representation of bulldozers."
Convention Minutes Item Type Metadata
City
Dallas
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
1880.TX-02.17.DALL
Citation
“The Colored Convention. The Reason Why Colored People say they Should Exodust.,” Colored Conventions Project Digital Records, accessed October 22, 2026, https://omeka.coloredconventions.org/items/show/1626.