Minutes of the Fifth Annual Convention for the Improvement of the Free People of Color in the United States
Files
Click image to view file:
Document Viewer
Dublin Core
Title
Minutes of the Fifth Annual Convention for the Improvement of the Free People of Color in the United States
Source
Chronicling America
Publisher
Liberator
Date
1835-08-01
Scripto
Transcription
[PAGE 01]
Minutes of the Fifth Annual Convention for the improvement of the Free People of Color in the United States, held by adjournment, in the Wesley Church, Philadelphia, from the first to the fifth of June inclusive, 1835.
A perusal of this document cannot fail to encourage and animate every well-wisher of the colored man. Its pages afford abundant testimony of the ability of this body to set before the nation a detail of the wrongs and grievances to which they are by custom and law subjected, --and and they also exhibit a praiseworthy spirit of manly and noble resolution to contend, by moral force alone, until their rights, so long with withheld, shall be restored. We believe the Conventional Address to the American People cannot be read, even by a prejudiced person, without receiving a full conviction of the entire fitness of men who can give to the world such evidences of eminent talent, patriotism and philanthropy, for all the civil and political rights enjoyed by any other body of citizens. We have only room today, for some of the resolutions unanimously adopted by the Convention. On our next we shall endeavor by the Convention. In our next we shall endeavor to give the Address entire. -
On motion of Mr. Ogden, seconded by R. Purvis, it was Resolved, That a committee of two be appointed to correspond with gentlemen in Liberia, and endeavor to ascertain the situation of those of our brethren who may have considered themselves deluded by the American Colonization Society, with a request that they publish their correspondence from time to time. Messrs. Purvis and Hinton were appointed.
On motion of Mr. Samuel Van Brakle, seconded by Nathan Johnson, it was unanimously Resolved, That the members of this convention return their sincere thanks to the theological students of Lane Seminary, in the state of Ohio, for their spirit of philanthropy, and their zeal in the cause of abolition; ; with the hope that they may be laden in the day of Eternity, with an everlasting trophy of glory.
On motion of Mr. Benjamin Clark, seconded by Mr. Lippins, it was unanimously Resolved, That this Convention hail with joy the progress of the temperance reformation among the colored, as well as white inhabitants of our country; ; and as the intemperance and slavery are closely allied, this convention recommend to our people the formation of temperance and societies, which we believe will facilitate the cause of immediate and universal and universal emancipation.
[PAGE 02]
On motion of Mr. James H. Fleet, seconded by Mr. John F. Cook, it was unanimously
Resolved, That this convention recommend to the free people of color throughout the United States, the propriety of petitioning Congress and their respective State legislatures to be admitted to the rights and privileges of American citizens, and that we be protected in the same.
On motion of Mr. Morell, seconded by Mr. Clark, it was
Resolved, That the thanks of this convention be tendered, through the President and Secretary, to the different Anti- Anti-Slavery Societies in the United States, for their untiring zeal in the cause of human liberty.
On motion of R. Purvis, seconded by W. Whipper, it was
Resolved, That we do most heartily welcome that distinguished philanthropist and friend of the human race, Mr. George Thompson, to our shores, and most ardently desire that the blessing of Heaven may crown his illustrious mission to this country.
On the motion of W. Whipper, seconded by S. Smith, it was
Resolved, That the free people of color are requested by this convention, to petition those state legislatures that have adopted to the Colonization Society, to abolish it.
On motion of W. Whipper, seconded by R. Purvis, it was
Resolved, That we regard with heartfelt admiration, the high and holy stand taken by many ministers of the Gospel and Christian Churches, in favor of Immediate Emancipation, and do sincerely request our colored churches, to exert themselves equally to promote the cause of Moral Reform.
On the motion of W. Whipper, seconded by R. Purvis, it was
Resolved, That we recommend as far as possible, to our people to abandon the use of the word 'colored,' when either speaking or writing concerning themselves; and especially to remove the title of African from their institutions, the marbles of churches, & &c.
On the motion of R. Purvis, seconded by F.A. A. Hinton, it was unanimously
Resolved, That, in proportion as we find the spirit of Colonization dying, prejudice diminishes. Therefore, we desire the friends of human liberty never to cease smiting the monster until its ghost has ceased to delude the philanthropy of the nation.
On the motion of Mr. Morell, seconded by Mr. Clark, it was
Resolved, That this Convention recommend to our people to discountenance and refrain from witnessing the pro-slavery farces and exhibitions, commonly known as Colonization meetings.
[PAGE 03]
On the motion of Mr. Powell, seconded by Mr. Purvis, it was
Resolved, That this Convention place no confidence in a society recently formed in Boston, called 'The 'the American Union,' believing it to be only Colonization in a new dress, or a wolf in a sheep's clothing.
On motion of W. Whipper, seconded by R. Purvis, it was
Resolved, That our duty to God, and to the principles of human rights, so far exceeds our allegiance to those laws that return the slave again to his master, ( (from the free states,) that we recommend our people to peaceably bear the punishment those inflict, rather than aid in returning their brethren again to slavery.
On motion of J. Cornish, seconded by Mr. Morell, it was
Resolved, That this Convention, in the name of the people it represents, present its special thanks to the Ladies constituting the Female Anti-Slavery Societies throughout this country, believing their untiring ex- exertions and irresistible influence to be a most powerful ful auxiliary in the great cause of emancipation.
On the motion of W. Whipper, seconded by R. Purvis, it was
Resolved, That the Christian forbearance practised by our people during their persecution by those mob riots of 1834, merits the praise and respect of the whole Christian world; ; and is a most successful refu- refutation of the pro-slavery arguments advanced in this country, by men who are governed by inveterate and warlike dispositions.
Resolved, That their peace, quietude and humility, during that period of excitement, have, in point of civilization and Christian kindness, placed them far a- above the agitators, abettors, or actors of that humiliating ting and degrading persecution.
Minutes of the Fifth Annual Convention for the improvement of the Free People of Color in the United States, held by adjournment, in the Wesley Church, Philadelphia, from the first to the fifth of June inclusive, 1835.
A perusal of this document cannot fail to encourage and animate every well-wisher of the colored man. Its pages afford abundant testimony of the ability of this body to set before the nation a detail of the wrongs and grievances to which they are by custom and law subjected, --and and they also exhibit a praiseworthy spirit of manly and noble resolution to contend, by moral force alone, until their rights, so long with withheld, shall be restored. We believe the Conventional Address to the American People cannot be read, even by a prejudiced person, without receiving a full conviction of the entire fitness of men who can give to the world such evidences of eminent talent, patriotism and philanthropy, for all the civil and political rights enjoyed by any other body of citizens. We have only room today, for some of the resolutions unanimously adopted by the Convention. On our next we shall endeavor by the Convention. In our next we shall endeavor to give the Address entire. -
On motion of Mr. Ogden, seconded by R. Purvis, it was Resolved, That a committee of two be appointed to correspond with gentlemen in Liberia, and endeavor to ascertain the situation of those of our brethren who may have considered themselves deluded by the American Colonization Society, with a request that they publish their correspondence from time to time. Messrs. Purvis and Hinton were appointed.
On motion of Mr. Samuel Van Brakle, seconded by Nathan Johnson, it was unanimously Resolved, That the members of this convention return their sincere thanks to the theological students of Lane Seminary, in the state of Ohio, for their spirit of philanthropy, and their zeal in the cause of abolition; ; with the hope that they may be laden in the day of Eternity, with an everlasting trophy of glory.
On motion of Mr. Benjamin Clark, seconded by Mr. Lippins, it was unanimously Resolved, That this Convention hail with joy the progress of the temperance reformation among the colored, as well as white inhabitants of our country; ; and as the intemperance and slavery are closely allied, this convention recommend to our people the formation of temperance and societies, which we believe will facilitate the cause of immediate and universal and universal emancipation.
[PAGE 02]
On motion of Mr. James H. Fleet, seconded by Mr. John F. Cook, it was unanimously
Resolved, That this convention recommend to the free people of color throughout the United States, the propriety of petitioning Congress and their respective State legislatures to be admitted to the rights and privileges of American citizens, and that we be protected in the same.
On motion of Mr. Morell, seconded by Mr. Clark, it was
Resolved, That the thanks of this convention be tendered, through the President and Secretary, to the different Anti- Anti-Slavery Societies in the United States, for their untiring zeal in the cause of human liberty.
On motion of R. Purvis, seconded by W. Whipper, it was
Resolved, That we do most heartily welcome that distinguished philanthropist and friend of the human race, Mr. George Thompson, to our shores, and most ardently desire that the blessing of Heaven may crown his illustrious mission to this country.
On the motion of W. Whipper, seconded by S. Smith, it was
Resolved, That the free people of color are requested by this convention, to petition those state legislatures that have adopted to the Colonization Society, to abolish it.
On motion of W. Whipper, seconded by R. Purvis, it was
Resolved, That we regard with heartfelt admiration, the high and holy stand taken by many ministers of the Gospel and Christian Churches, in favor of Immediate Emancipation, and do sincerely request our colored churches, to exert themselves equally to promote the cause of Moral Reform.
On the motion of W. Whipper, seconded by R. Purvis, it was
Resolved, That we recommend as far as possible, to our people to abandon the use of the word 'colored,' when either speaking or writing concerning themselves; and especially to remove the title of African from their institutions, the marbles of churches, & &c.
On the motion of R. Purvis, seconded by F.A. A. Hinton, it was unanimously
Resolved, That, in proportion as we find the spirit of Colonization dying, prejudice diminishes. Therefore, we desire the friends of human liberty never to cease smiting the monster until its ghost has ceased to delude the philanthropy of the nation.
On the motion of Mr. Morell, seconded by Mr. Clark, it was
Resolved, That this Convention recommend to our people to discountenance and refrain from witnessing the pro-slavery farces and exhibitions, commonly known as Colonization meetings.
[PAGE 03]
On the motion of Mr. Powell, seconded by Mr. Purvis, it was
Resolved, That this Convention place no confidence in a society recently formed in Boston, called 'The 'the American Union,' believing it to be only Colonization in a new dress, or a wolf in a sheep's clothing.
On motion of W. Whipper, seconded by R. Purvis, it was
Resolved, That our duty to God, and to the principles of human rights, so far exceeds our allegiance to those laws that return the slave again to his master, ( (from the free states,) that we recommend our people to peaceably bear the punishment those inflict, rather than aid in returning their brethren again to slavery.
On motion of J. Cornish, seconded by Mr. Morell, it was
Resolved, That this Convention, in the name of the people it represents, present its special thanks to the Ladies constituting the Female Anti-Slavery Societies throughout this country, believing their untiring ex- exertions and irresistible influence to be a most powerful ful auxiliary in the great cause of emancipation.
On the motion of W. Whipper, seconded by R. Purvis, it was
Resolved, That the Christian forbearance practised by our people during their persecution by those mob riots of 1834, merits the praise and respect of the whole Christian world; ; and is a most successful refu- refutation of the pro-slavery arguments advanced in this country, by men who are governed by inveterate and warlike dispositions.
Resolved, That their peace, quietude and humility, during that period of excitement, have, in point of civilization and Christian kindness, placed them far a- above the agitators, abettors, or actors of that humiliating ting and degrading persecution.
Convention Minutes Item Type Metadata
Convention Type
National Convention
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
USA
Start Date
1835-06-01
End Date
1835-06-05
Provenance
Library of Congress
Event ID
1835.PA-06.01.PHIL
Citation
Whipper, William, “Minutes of the Fifth Annual Convention for the Improvement of the Free People of Color in the United States,” Colored Conventions Project Digital Records, accessed October 22, 2026, https://omeka.coloredconventions.org/items/show/2431.