The Black Convention Newspaper Clipping
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The Black Convention Newspaper Clipping
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1855 Philadelphia National Convention Post Newspaper Coverage
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[PAGE 1]
The Black Convention. There is a convention of colored men, with a few white sympathisers, now in session in Philadelphia. The Bulletin gives the following summary of the proceedings of one day: This convention is composed of the flower of the colored people in the Northern States, and very many of its members exhibi a degree of intelligence and refinement that cannot fail to inspire respect. Upon the roll appears the names of quite a numbe of "Professors," "Reverends," and "Doctors," besides several colored men, who are either "well to do" in the world, or of those who had retired upon their means. Some of the delegates have a decided propensity for a "hearing themselves talk," and much time is consumed in mere twaddle, but most of the members are sensible, practical men; and it is rare that a convention is held in which so large a proportion of the members are better debators. We are much struck with the remark of one of the delegates—the - the Rev. Mr. Hunt, of Pa. Colored people (he said) had generally succeeded in almost everything they had tried to do, but they had failed in one thing, to wit, in trying to be white. This they never could accomplish; so long as the hair curled on their heads, they never could be white! We have some white men, politicians by trade, who are eternally trying to be black. - Sometimes it pays—and - and sometimes it does'nt. The colonization scheme, of course, was vehemently denounced.
[PAGE 2]
A letter from a Mr. Handy, of Baltimore, eulogising the Republic of Liberia, gave rise to much discussion. Motions were made to lay the letter upon the table, throw it under the table, return it to its author, &c, &c. The debate brought one the feelings of the delegates on the subject of colonization. The bitterest animosity was exhibited towards the entire system. Colonization had not a solitary advocate upon the floor, although several members objected to any action tending to throw contempt upon the author of the letter, even though its sentiments may be unpalatable. Mr. Remond made a strong speech on the subject of the letter and the colonization scheme. He found it difficult to find language strong enough to express his loathing of colonization and its friends, and more especially its colored friends. Mr. Downing, of Rhode Island, was not willing to incur the expense of three cents in sending back the letter. He moved an amendment that the letter be burnt, and called for the previous question. A great number of delegates endeavored to obtain the floor, and the President's hammer was kept busy. The call for the previous question was sustained, and on the question to burn the letter the affirmative vote was very decided. Several delegates offered matches, and others proposed "touching off" the obnoxious document. One enthusiastic individual made a motion that the letter be burned in the Convention on a pole. The minority asked that their protest be entered on the minutes. Numerous points of order were raised, but the Chairman refused to entertain them and decided that all were out of order.
[PAGE 3]
The following resolution was adopted : Resolved, That the Constitution of the National Council be referred to a Committee of one from each State, to suggest such revisions or alterations as in their judgment they may deem best. The following resolutions were offered by the Business Committee, and adopted : Resolved, That education, the great elevator of mind is what we need, and what we must have, to place us on an equal footing with other men, and we will improve such opportunities as are afforded us to secure it for ourselves and our children. Resolved, That, in the first place, our people be made to feel ths necessity of securing real estate, and that it requires union with us as a people to sustain each other; that we obtain the great object which is in our view, viz: our social, civil and political rights, and that we encourage our people in agricultural pursuits on lands of their own. A WOMAN ON THE FLOOR. During the debate upon the second resolution, Miss Mary Ann Chadd, of Canada; took the floor and spoke in advocacy of the resolution, and expressed her approval of the idea of locating in Canada. She was anxious that the colored population should turn their attention to farming. She believed that no class of the colored people are better off than the colored fugitives who had settled in Canada on farms. Before Miss C. had concluded, the hour of adjournment arrived, and the Convention adjourned, with the understanding that the speaker should have the floor upon the re-assembling of the body.
The Black Convention. There is a convention of colored men, with a few white sympathisers, now in session in Philadelphia. The Bulletin gives the following summary of the proceedings of one day: This convention is composed of the flower of the colored people in the Northern States, and very many of its members exhibi a degree of intelligence and refinement that cannot fail to inspire respect. Upon the roll appears the names of quite a numbe of "Professors," "Reverends," and "Doctors," besides several colored men, who are either "well to do" in the world, or of those who had retired upon their means. Some of the delegates have a decided propensity for a "hearing themselves talk," and much time is consumed in mere twaddle, but most of the members are sensible, practical men; and it is rare that a convention is held in which so large a proportion of the members are better debators. We are much struck with the remark of one of the delegates—the - the Rev. Mr. Hunt, of Pa. Colored people (he said) had generally succeeded in almost everything they had tried to do, but they had failed in one thing, to wit, in trying to be white. This they never could accomplish; so long as the hair curled on their heads, they never could be white! We have some white men, politicians by trade, who are eternally trying to be black. - Sometimes it pays—and - and sometimes it does'nt. The colonization scheme, of course, was vehemently denounced.
[PAGE 2]
A letter from a Mr. Handy, of Baltimore, eulogising the Republic of Liberia, gave rise to much discussion. Motions were made to lay the letter upon the table, throw it under the table, return it to its author, &c, &c. The debate brought one the feelings of the delegates on the subject of colonization. The bitterest animosity was exhibited towards the entire system. Colonization had not a solitary advocate upon the floor, although several members objected to any action tending to throw contempt upon the author of the letter, even though its sentiments may be unpalatable. Mr. Remond made a strong speech on the subject of the letter and the colonization scheme. He found it difficult to find language strong enough to express his loathing of colonization and its friends, and more especially its colored friends. Mr. Downing, of Rhode Island, was not willing to incur the expense of three cents in sending back the letter. He moved an amendment that the letter be burnt, and called for the previous question. A great number of delegates endeavored to obtain the floor, and the President's hammer was kept busy. The call for the previous question was sustained, and on the question to burn the letter the affirmative vote was very decided. Several delegates offered matches, and others proposed "touching off" the obnoxious document. One enthusiastic individual made a motion that the letter be burned in the Convention on a pole. The minority asked that their protest be entered on the minutes. Numerous points of order were raised, but the Chairman refused to entertain them and decided that all were out of order.
[PAGE 3]
The following resolution was adopted : Resolved, That the Constitution of the National Council be referred to a Committee of one from each State, to suggest such revisions or alterations as in their judgment they may deem best. The following resolutions were offered by the Business Committee, and adopted : Resolved, That education, the great elevator of mind is what we need, and what we must have, to place us on an equal footing with other men, and we will improve such opportunities as are afforded us to secure it for ourselves and our children. Resolved, That, in the first place, our people be made to feel ths necessity of securing real estate, and that it requires union with us as a people to sustain each other; that we obtain the great object which is in our view, viz: our social, civil and political rights, and that we encourage our people in agricultural pursuits on lands of their own. A WOMAN ON THE FLOOR. During the debate upon the second resolution, Miss Mary Ann Chadd, of Canada; took the floor and spoke in advocacy of the resolution, and expressed her approval of the idea of locating in Canada. She was anxious that the colored population should turn their attention to farming. She believed that no class of the colored people are better off than the colored fugitives who had settled in Canada on farms. Before Miss C. had concluded, the hour of adjournment arrived, and the Convention adjourned, with the understanding that the speaker should have the floor upon the re-assembling of the body.
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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
1855.PA-10.16.PHIL
Citation
“The Black Convention Newspaper Clipping,” Colored Conventions Project Digital Records, accessed October 22, 2026, https://omeka.coloredconventions.org/items/show/1225.