Sound and Sensible. Good Advice to the Colored People of Texas.

Sound and Sensible. Good Advice to the Colored People of Texas.

A report on the 1880 Texas State Farmers Association Convention held in Dallas (February 26, 1880)

From Gale. 19th Century U.S. Newspapers. ©2008 Gale, a part of Cengage Learning, Inc. Reproduced by permission.

The Saint Louis Daily Globe-Democrat

1880-02-17

Newspaper article

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SOUND AND SENSIBLE. _ Good Advice to the Colored People of Texas. _ They Assemble in Convention to Talk Over the Exodus. _ Reasons Why They Should Not Desert the Lone Star State. _ Resolutions Adopted and Speeches by Several Members. _ Special Dispatch to the Globe-Democrat. DALLAS, TEXAS, February 16. – The State Convention of colored people to consider the exodus question assembled at the City Hall at 11 o'clock clock this morning. The attendance represents seven counties. Large delegations are expected on the trains to-night and to-morrow. The Convention was called to order by selecting A. R. Griggs as Chairman and H. F. Smothers Secretary. After appointing the usual committees preliminary to permanent organization, Rev. S. H. Smothers delivered the following

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ADDRESS OF WELCOME: 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 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 ness 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. [Applause.] The exodus movement is not in my opinion novel or peculiar. It is but the natural outgrowth of the changed condition of our people in the United States. Before emancipation we were among the American people, but not of them. Since the 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 fellow white fellow-citizens affects us; whatever agitates them agitates us. In this migration movement our people are but imitating the example of the whites. We are acting in the main from the same noble motives that inspired them, and are imitating the heroic enterprise which has made them.

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THE LEADING RACE OF THE WORLD. "Westward the star of empire takes its way." As the old States, both North and South, be- became overpopulated, their soil exhausted and their industries crippled, the laboring whites are leaving them by the thousands and hundreds of thousands annually, to seek homes in the cheap and fertile lands of the West. Is it not natural when those white emigrants write back to their friends and neighbors, telling of the great advantages to be found in the West, that the colored people should be moved and in- inspired to imitate them, and thus better their own condition? [Applause.] Only a few weeks ago, in conversation with a colored emigrant from Georgia, I asked him why no he left that State and came to Texas? He replied, a great many of his white neighbors were moving to Texas, and he thought whatever was good for them would be good for him. I told him that the same arguments [unclear]which which are usually advanced in favor of white emigration from old States were equally applicable to our people in those States. But those arguments do not apply to Northern Texas, and hence the Convention has been called in the interest of colored immigration and colonization, and not for the encouragement ment of emigration from the State. Kansas and other sections of the Northwest may be good countries, and doubtless less are far better than old States, but they are not equal to North Texas, nor do they offer the same advantages to be colored im- immigrants. The quarters system, both in old States and in the southern part of this State, ought to be broken up. It is a relic of slavery, and is degrading 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, [unclear][/unclear], can have very little idea of refinement, or even decency; ; but our race should not be encouraged in violating THEIR CONTRACTS,

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but, on the contrary, to fulfill their contracts before attempting to leave. If they had made hard bargains they should live closer to them. [Applause.] Much has been said in regard to the 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 oppressed as are the Irish tenants to-day. day. Capitalists look but 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. Protection which we most need is the power which education and property gives. For my own part all I ask of any man is an equal chance, and then if he can outstrip me in the race for life, let him do it. [Applause.] Gentlemen, have we not an equal chance in Texas? Do not the excellent laws of our great State protect all alike? Is not the door of our public school houses 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 cooperate with our white fellow citizens in setting 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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THE COMMITTEE ON CREDENTIALS reported the following counties represented: Ellis, Navarro, Grayson, Collin, Dallas, Lamar and Tarrant. The following is the permanent organization: President, W. R. Carson, of Dallas; Vice President, A. R. Greeks, of Fort Worth; Secretary, T. V. B. Davis, of Corsicana; Assistant Secretary, J. C. Caesar, of Ennis; Treasurer, S. H. Smothers, of Dallas. Pending discussion on the adoption of the report of the Committee on Resolutions, the Convention took a recess.

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AFTER RECESS. On reassembling after supper, the following report of the Committee on Resolutions was taken up de noro and adopted: Whereas, The world owes much of its progress to migration; and, Whereas, The migrating races have advanced in civilization much more rapidly than those which have remained 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, be it Resolved, 1. That there is a necessity for the exodus of the laboring classes, both white and colored, from the Southern States east of the Mississippi River; the poor soil and its worn-out condition in most of these States, and the general disarrangement of the system of labor, render the condition of the poor people in that section 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 paralyze their energies and impede [/unclear] their progress.

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3. That there is no such necessity for the exodus of our people from the State of Texas. She 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 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 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 these emigration movements, and advise them to act prudently and deliberately, and to provide themselves with at least means enough for one year's support in their new homes. 8. That as education is the most important and powerful elements 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 [unclear]fund[/unclear] of any State in the Union, consisting of more than 40,000,000 acres of land, which will, in a few years, be sufficient to educate every child in the State without taxation.

Dallas

TX

USA

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1880.TX-02.17.DALL