Delegates from Boston to the National Convention—Unnecessary Distinctions Made in Our Taxlists—Philadelphia Correspondents and the National Convention—Politics—A New Society to Be Formed.

Delegates from Boston to the National Convention—Unnecessary Distinctions Made in Our Taxlists—Philadelphia Correspondents and the National Convention—Politics—A New Society to Be Formed.

Frederick Douglass' Paper

19th Century U.S. Newspapers

1855-10-12

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Our Correspondents. For Frederick Douglass' Paper. From our Boston CORRESPONDENT. Delegates from Boston to the National Convention - not Unnecessary distinctions made in our Tax lists - Philadelphia Correspondents and the National Convention - Politics - A new Society to be formed. Boston, October 1st, 1855. Frederick Douglass, Esquires: : Dear Sir:- :-- An adjourned mass meeting was held in the vestry of the 12th Baptist Church last Monday evening. Dr. J. S. Rock was chosen Chairman, and J. B. McCrea, Secretary. The Committee appointed at the last meeting reported the names of Robert Morris, Esq., Rev. L. A. Grimes, and Dr. J. S. Rock, as delegates to represent us at the National Convention, was to be held in Philadelphia on the 16th inst. The report was unanimously accepted - the above named gentlemen were also empowered to grant credentials to others in the name of the citizens of Boston. It is quite probable that Mr. R. Morris will not be there, and Dr. J. S. Rock is sick - so that the duty will fall upon Rev. L.A. A. Grimes, who, being a gentleman of of leisure, will, no doubt, be there. It is quite probable, that Mr. Lewis Hayden, Mr. J. B. McCrea, Mr. W. C. Nell, and Mr. John Stephenson, will also be appointed as delegates. There still remains among us the barbarous custom of designating men by their color. - There is, on our tax lists, the word "colored" after every colored man's name. We have often wondered why our Mayor and Aldermen keep up this invidious distinction. We have no doubt but that it is serves as a guide to keep colored men out of the jury box. Six years ago, every colored man's name was proscribed in our City Directory. Mr. Adams was the man who caused its abolition. Now we call upon our city authorities to bury these shameful distinctions on account of color, 'now, henceforth, and forever." The time has come, when we should know men by their principles and practice, and not by their color.

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We suggested the name of our esteemed friend, Mr. Franklin Turner, of Philadelphia, some months since as an invaluable correspondent for your paper, and we had hoped, ere this, that his fiery words of living truth would have rekindled the flame in our own bosom, and inducted us to renew, with redoubled energy, our exertions in favor of Freedom; ; but unfortunately we fear that he did not hear us; ; we call on him again, from behind our hay-stack, to come forth and write his sermons for us to read. I know he is not a Methodist, yet I am puzzled to know how he can resist a call to preach! -- There are many others there, whom we esteem as warm and enthusiastic friends of Freedom, who, we think, would be willing to set apart one hour each day for this cause. There are our good friends, Messrs. J. C. and T. J. Bowers, Dr. J. H. Wilson, Mr. Isaiah Weir, Dr. J. J. G. Bias, Rev. Wm. T. Catto, Prof. Charles Reason, and others, who are heart and soul in the work, and anxious that our car of Progression should proceed. Will some one "lay his shoulder to the wheel?" What arrangements are being made in Philadelphia for the Convention? The public houses are shut against the colored persons in that city. Where are the delegates to go? Are there any boarding houses, or houses prepared to accommodate the delegates? We know that the colored people in Philadelphia are proverbial for their hospitality, and it is quite probable that every necessary arrangement will be made. But will it not be much more satisfactory for the delegates to know where they are going? Where is the Convention to be held? "Little Wesley Church," and the "Philadelphia Institute" have been suggested. Would not "Franklin Hall," or the "Methodist Church" up town, be more comfortable?

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Our political warfare has commenced, and we have entered into the campaign in earnest. Rockwell and Brown are the men of our choice; and in November we expect the friends of Freedom to roll up 60,000 votes for the Re-publican ticket. If Gardner is nominated by the Know Nothing Convention which meets on Wednesday in this city, and if he accepts that nomination, it is quite probable that he may re-ceive 30,000 votes. The Hunker Whigs have called a Convention, which meets to-morrow in Worcester ; they will probably nominate a man who may secure 15,000 votes, and the Demo-crats and Anti-Maine Law men having united upon a man in favor of Rum and Slavery, it is quite probable that they will secure 40,000 votes. The main issue at least, you see, will be between Slavery, Rum, and Romanism on the one hand, and Freedom, Temperance, and Protestantism on the other. We hope the Republicans will not allow the Temperance or the Catholic question to distract their ranks. - Let us make the single issue of Slavery the only issue on our part, in this campaign. Let minor differences be waived, and one grand rally once made in favor of Freedom, and against the aggressions of the slave power. - We are considered a fanatical Temperance man because we go for removing the cause of so much pauperism and crime, disease and death as exists among us; ; but now we are willing to waive our favorite hobby for the sake of strik-ing a death-blow to General Pierce's Administration. Let every man, no matter how he stood before, whether a Temperance man or an Anti-Temperance man, whether a Roman Catholic or a Protestant, whether a Soft Shelled Whig or a Hunker Locofoco - let us all unite upon one platform to establish a party of uncompromisingly and sternly on the side of Freedom.

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We are about to establish a society to protect ourselves against the host of swindling imposters who go about begging money to buy their relatives, or for other charitable purposes, and whose object is merely to get a dishonest living at the expense of the little sympathy there is for the colored people. We propose to organize a society whose object it shall be to investigate all claims for sympathy, and if found worthy, to recommend them, and to caution the public against any persons soliciting aid without the proper credentials. There are now a host of lazy scamps who, under the pretense of buying themselves, or their relatives, or as agents of some charitable association, or religious denomination, go about and do us much injury. Many a worthy object of charity is obliged to suffer because so little confidence can be placed in the mass of those who solicit aid for benevolent purposes. Our society is designated to remedy the evil by exposing the guilty, and by protecting and aiding all persons found worthy. We request our colored friends in all cities and towns, in the Eastern, Middle, and Western States, to organize such societies among themselves, and inform us of their proper officers--We - We expect to be able to send you, at an early day, an account of the organization of this contemplated society, and a list of the officers. S.

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1855.PA-10.16.PHIL