The National Convention of Colored Men. Opening Proceedings To-day.

The National Convention of Colored Men. Opening Proceedings To-day.

A newspaper article about the 1873 National Civil Rights Convention held in Washington DC published in the Evening Star (Dec. 9, 1873)

The National Convention of Colored Men. Opening Proceedings To-day. The Evening Star (Washington DC), 9 December 1873, Library of Congress Chronicling America.

The Evening Star

1873-12-09

Newspaper article

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CIVIL RIGHTS THE NATIONAL CONVENTION OF COLORED MEN. Opening Proceedings To-day. The national convention of colored citizens which assembled in the hall of the House of Delegates at noon to-day comprises a great many leading men of the race from all parts of the country. The call for this national con- convention emanated from the Pennsylvania Equal Rights League, organized in 1864 by such men as Wm. Nesbit, of Pennsylvania, who was the first president, and still holds that position; Wm. D. Forten, of Philadelphia, Pa., one of the most active and eloquent orators of his race; Wm. Whipper, the writer; Wm. Still, the Phil- Philadelphia merchant; Jacob C. White, sr., and his son, Jacob, jr., of Philadelphia; David Bowser, Alfred Casey, Ed. Venning, and the late John C. Brewers and C. V. Catto. At a meeting of the League, held at Wilkesbarre, Pa., August 19 and 20, 1873, a resolution was unanimously adopted instructing the president to call a national convention at Washington, D. C., on the second Tuesday (9th) of December, 1873, for the special purpose of impressing on Congress the absolute necessity of passing a civil rights bill. In accordance with this resolution. lution.

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THE CALL, drawn up by Wm. D. Forten, was addressed "To the colored people of the United States." It contains the following sentences: "It is true all the citizens are now equal before the law; ; all equal in responsibility to the government. The constitution of the United States has been amended, and every human being made free within its jurisdiction. These great achievements are the handiwork of the republican party, and through them it has attained a grandeur and sublimity of character the world might envy. Brothers, though all these things might be true, yet in defiance of the law as now constituted, the cohorts of tyranny, the votaries of color-prejudice, insult, degrade and outrage thousands with seeming impunity. Men and women, citizens of the United States, are denied the convenience of the common carriers of the country; ; denied equal accommodations on rail cars, steamboats and stages; ; refused entertainment at hotels; refused equal education in public schools for their children, and the hospitalities and civilities of civilized communities to a great extent denied to them. These are facts common to all sections of the country, and the strong arm of the national law is needed to correct them. The evil is national; ; the remedy must also be national. We want Congress to give us a "civil rights bill," with such penalties as will teach humanity to the imbruted and compel the tyrant to loose his hold on the poor. Men and citizens, come from every state. Come in force from every state. Come, determined on a purpose. Come, resolved that freedom shall not only be only in name, but that the practical exercise of the freemen's right shall not be limited to the white man, who pays no more taxes, bears no more responsibilities, endures no more hardships, runs no greater risks, and is no more patriotic and brave than the black. Let every state send a delegation that will press on Congress the passage of such a law as will still forever these tyrannic assumptions based alone on color. Our great President, great leader, great soldier, great patriot, great friend, Gen. U. S. Grant, has announced to the world his pledge to accomplish the end. He will most surely do his duty. Brothers, let us rally. Let us speak as with one voice, that our law law-makers may feel that nothing but this just and proper remedy will bring peace to this land, once rent by slavery, whose poison is still shown by these continued outrages on the nation's colored citizens. Let us rally in the hope that this united effort may prove so efficient that the necessity for a distinctive movement may never again exist."

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PROMINENT DELEGATES Prominent among the delegates from the states this morning were Hon. R. B. Elliot, Hon. J. H. Rainey, Hon. A. J. Rainer, Hon. R. H. Cain, of S. C.; Col. Robert Harlan, Ohio; J. B. Stansbury, Ky.; ex-Governor P. B. S. Pinchback, Gen. A. E. Barber, Hon. F. C. Antoine, Hon. Wm. G. Brown, Hon. J. E. Barton, delegates at large for the state of Louisiana; 1st Congressional district, Col. James Lewis, J. S. Dupart, Hon. David Young; 24 district, C. F. Ladd, Esq., Hon. Edward Williams, W. P. Green; 3d district, Hon. A. Williams, Hon. T. B. Stamps; 4th district, Hon. Harry Scott; 5th district, Hon. J. H. Laws, Raford Blunt, Hon. Wm. F. Southard, Hon. Wm. Murrell, Hon. Cain Sartain; Peter H. Clark, Esq., and Hon. J. Booker, Ohio; J. C. Wears, Philadelphia; Geo. T. Lowning, R. I.; Col. John Taylor, N. J.; Elder H. J. Young, N. Y.; Henry Scott, New Orleans; Henry King, H. C. Maars, Charles E. Hubert, A. B. Lind, J. Alcorn, Ohio; Joshua B. Smith, Mass.; Prof. Chas. L. Reason, N. Y.; John T. Waugh, R. I.; Wm. Whipper, Pa.; Isaac Myers, Md.; James T. Rapier, Ala.; Richard Page, Va.; Dr. H. Fitzbutler, Ky.

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The delegates from this city are: Lewis H. Douglass, J. T. Settle, M. M. Holland, Dr. C. B. Purvis, Dr. J. L. N. Bowen, Dr. R. S. Watts, J. M. Langston, Thomas Commodore, J. W. Shippen, Thomas W. Chase, Wm. J. Wal- Walker, Wm. Syphax, Wm. Cotin, A. M. Green, Rev. J. Sella Martin, Dr. J. . D. Harris, and several others.

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The Philadelphia platform, and that portion of the President's inaugural address relating to civil rights, printed on canvas, were posted up on the wall on either side of the platform. AT THE CAUCUS THIS MORNING, after a rather stormy contention over the chair-manship, manship, it was decided that Hon. R. B. Elliott, of S. C., be temporary chairman, no permanent president having been determined upon. OPENING OF THE CONVENTION. The convention was called to order at 12 m., by Hon. Wm. Nesbit, of Pa. The corresponding secretary, W.D. D. Forten, then read the above call. Mr. Collin Crusoe, of D. D.C., was appointed sergeant-at-arms, with power to call as many others to his assistance as may be required, and if necessary, to call in the aid of the police. He called Hon. R. B. Elliott, of S. S.C., to the chair temporarily. Objections were made to this proceedure by a member from Virginia, Mr. Malord, but the chair took the ground that he must follow the instructions of the caucus, and he was sustained. Mr. Elliott came forward, and made a brief address, thanking the convention for the honor conferred. Mr. Sumner, of Mississippi, moved that a committee of one from each state be appointed on credentials. Mr. Myers, of Maryland, moved as an amend-ment ment that two delegates from each state be appointed instead of one; laid on the table. Mr. Lee, of Ohio, moved that the states be called, and that the delegates appoint one from each state to act on the committee; adopted.

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COMMITTEE ON CREDENTIALS. The original motion was adopted, and the chair ordered a call of the states and territories. Alabama presented the name of Robert Whitaker; Connecticut, --- Green; California, Hayes L. Campbell; Delaware, Peter T. Gregg; Georgia, S. W. Simmons; Indiana, H. G. Parker; Kansas, Abraham Williams; Kentucky, Dr. H. Fitzbutler; Louisiana, David Young; Maryland, [when this state was called there appeared to be two distinct delegations, and a discussion followed as to which should be accepted, and it was finally left to the committee when organized;] ] Pennsylvania, Rev. T. W. Henderson; Mississippi, J.H. H. Sumner; North Carolina, [Here again there appeared to be two sets of delegates, and the matter took the same course as above;] South Carolina, J.J. J. Ranser; New Jersey, John W. Stephenson; New York, Wm. F. Bulton; Oregon. Rev. Daniel Jones; Ohio, J.S. S. Tyler; Texas, N.W. W. Puney; Virginia, Thomas Bayne; Michigan, John Ferguson; District of Columbia, Lewis H. Douglass; Utah, John C. Mortimer.

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Prof. C. W. Bell, of Ohio, was nominated temporary secretary, with Mr. Needham, of Pennsylvania, and Mr. Councill, of Alabama, as assistants, and they were elected. Mr. Downing, of R. I., moved that gentlemen hand in their credentials to the committee on credentials; adopted after a lengthy discussion. Mr. Ranser, of S. C., moved that the rules governing the House of Representatives be adopted by this convention as its rules, so far as applicable. The chair stated that this question would be settled when a permanent organization is effected, and in the meantime the rules governing ordinary conventions would be observed. A lengthy discussion followed on several motions for a recess, and at 2 o'clock the convention took a recess for one hour. [At the caucus this morning for the purpose of agreeing upon officers for the convention, George T. Downing presided, and there was a stormy time. A large number of the delegates were in favor of Wm. Nesbit, of Pennsylvania, for temporary chairman, and Governor Pinchback, of Louisiana, as permanent chairman. Others wanted Mr. Elliot, of South Carolina, and during the contention Mr. Langston made an effective address, in which he appealed to the members to cast aside all personal preferences or dislikes, and unite on a capable man.]

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1873.DC-12.09.WASH