"The National Council of the Colored People."

"The National Council of the Colored People."

Account of the meeting of the National Council of Colored People

Newspaper

Frederick Douglass' Paper

19th Century U.S. Newspapers

2 Dec. 1853

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The National Council of the Colored People. This body met in the City of New York, on Wednesday, Nov. 23. Present, James McCune Smith, of New York, President; Stephen Smith, of Pennsylvania, Treasurer; John Peck, of Pennsylvania; Geo. T. Downing, of Rhode Island; J. B. Sanderson, and Win. C. Nell, of Massachusetts; Amos G. Beman, of Connecticut; John Jones and J. D. Bonner, of Illinois. Wm. C. Nell was appointed Secretary, pro protem. The Chair decided that, as the present meeting of the Council was not assembled for any of the purposes (requiring a quorum of eleven members) described in Article 8 of the Constitution, there were a sufficient number now present to transact business. The following Committees were then appointed by vote. On Protective Unions--J. McCune Smith, George T. Downing, Jeremiah B. Sanderson, John I. Gaines, of Ohio, Jehial C. Beman, Connecticut. Committee's Bureau in New York City. On Business Relations—Stephen Smith, Wm. Day, of Ohio, J. W. Lowis, of Vermont, A. C. Rice, Rhode Island, W. C. Munroe, Michigan Bureau, in the city of Philadelphia. On Publications—William C. Nell, H. C. Smith, Vt., J. T. Brittan and H. B. Smith, Ind., John Freeman, Mich. Bureau in the City of Boston.

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On Thursday, Nov. 24, the Council held a Morning Session. The vote for officers of the National Council, submitted to the meeting and agreed to, were as follows: President, J. McCune Smith; Vice President, no choice; Recording Secretary, Wm. H. Day, of Ohio; Corresponding Secretary, Fred. Douglass, of New York. The location of Bureau was fixed at New York City. A letter was read from Frederick Douglass, stating that his absence was caused by illness. It was recorded, and a vote expressive of high confidence in his earnestness, faithfulness and ability as the advocate of human rights, adopted. A vote for Vice President was taken, and on the fourth ballot, James D. Bonner, of Illinois, was declared elected. A petition from I. Theodore Holley and others, and an Executive Committee appointed by the colored people of Canada, in Convention, June, 1853, praying for admission into the Union. The prayer was granted by unanimous vote. The mode of admission of Canada, or any State, was reported by George T. Downing, and adopted, as follows: An election to be held for a Council of the State, or Canada, on the 7th of February, 1854, the Council to meet on the 8th of March, following, and elect members to the National Council, in accordance with Art. I of the Constitution. A Committee on a Manual Labor School, appointed by vote, as follows: Fred. Douglass, J. D. Bonner, John Jones, Amos G. Beman, John Peck.

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The location of the School was fixed on to be within a radius of one hundred miles of Erie in the County of Erie, Pennsylvania. -- The President was made ex-officio a member of the Committee on the Manual Labor School. In the afternoon session Wm. H. Day, Recording Secretary, took his seat. The minutes having been read and approved, Mr. Day offered a series of resolutions and protests against all the proceedings. The resolutions, on motion, were all lost. The council then adjourned to meet in Cleveland, Ohio, on Wednesday, May 17, 1854, at 12 A. M. The Committee on the Manual Labor School met on Friday, Nov. 25, in the City of New York, and organized themselves under the Act for the Incorporation of Academies and Schools, Laws of the State of New York, for the 1851, cap 554. The Committee appointed Frederick Douglass as their agent to receive and solicit funds for the school. A Committee consisting of Fred. Douglass, A. G. Beman, and J. McCune Smith was appointed to draw up the plan of the School, with its laws, &c. John Peck, of Pennsylvania, was elected Vice President, John Jones, of Chicago, Illinois, was elected Treasurer, A. G. Beman, Secretary. Adjourned -- N. Y. Tribune.

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We were quite too unwell to attend this meeting of the "National Council." The thought of this absence aggravated our illness, for we have never looked forward to any occasion with so much interest, as to this first meeting of the National Council; not that our presence was of much importance in shaping the measures and directing of the action of that body--for for the Council is composed of men eminently qualified, by wisdom and experience, but because we desired every man to be in his place on that occasion, and to start together in the great work before them, with a full knowledge and understanding of each other. This we deemed important to the future efficiency of the organization. It was also our desire to see and enjoy the society of these chosen men, but the "fall bit" fell, and we were stopt. The good opinion of our humble endeavors in behalf of our people kindly expressed by the Council, is most gratefully appreciated, and the duties which they have assigned us shall have our best efforts for their fulfilment. The work of establishing an Industrial College is an arduous one, but the ability of the Council to accomplish the work is undoubted. Once let there be a firm resolution, an earnest determination on the part of the Council to do this great work, and

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friends will be raised up for it both at home and abroad, and the united intelligence of all genuine friends of humanity will be freely tendered to the movement.--EDITOR - EDITOR

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1853.NY-07.06.ROCH