American watchman and Delaware advertiser., 1827-02-02
baltimore, Dec. IA, 1896.
MEMORIAL OF THE FREE PEOPLE OF
COLOUR.

COLOUR.
a,am meeting or arespecia5le number Of coloured
sersong convened a, Bethel Church. December Z.
1896 for the purpose of considering the propristy
Of promoting an emigration TO the African colony
Il Liberia, the Keserend VIM. Cornish was called
ID the Chair. and Robert Cowly appointed secretary
lhe meeting icing organized, slter que oehoera
lion the following resolution and memof'ss "e'e
cad ana adopted.
The nroceed,nes we're then ordered to be signed
s., the Chairman and Secretary, and published.
December llth 1896.
Al yery numerous meeting Of respectable free
people Of colour held at Ire African Church, Sharp
street, on Monday, i III December, 1896, on mo
lion OF the Reverend Lewis G. Wells, Mr.. James
Deayer was called to Tie chair, and Rtmus Heiyey
appointed Secretary.
memoris,o the white people Of Baltimore was
then presented 10 he meeting being the same adopt
ed al the Bethel Church on the n inst. and alter
lie same mad been read and discussed, i was a.
dopted add ordered to be part Of the proceedings
q The meeting, signed by tie Chairman and oecte
iafy and published,
a MEMORIAL. from the free people OF colour
10 the ctzers OF Baltimore.
We have hitherto beheld, in silence, bu. with the
4tensest interest, tile efforts OF the wise and PHI.
sn,htopic III cur eehalf II il became Us 10 be 81.
lent, i, became Us also feel the livees anxiety and
gratitude. fhe time has row arrived, as we be
we've, III which yolr work and our happiness may
Sc promoted by Tie eX preston Of our opinions
Nye hsse therefore assembled for that purpose ON
:sesy quarter Of the city and every denomination 70
offer you this respectful address with all the weight
aad influeace which our number, character and
cause can lend II.
We reside among you, and ye are strangers "a
lives. and yet not citzens surrounded by The Tree
nrIs ard iIcz iu.tit
world and yet enjoying none Of the immunltles Of
freedom. This singulatlty in our condition has not
failed 10 strike US as wei as you bu. we Know II Is
.rremediable here. Our dt7stence Of colo, the
seTvitude Of many and mos, OF nur brethren, and the
prejudice. which those circumstances have natu al.
iy occasione6 i! mol allow US 10 hope, even II we
could desire, TO mlnge with you one day, IN the
benefit, Of citizenship, As long as We remain
smong yoe, We most Gard shal9 be content 10 be a
dis,ine. case, cxpostd th- ind.gnisle. ard can.
gets, physical agd mofal,to which our situation
MAKE. Us li.be. All that may expect. is 4
merit by our pescea5e and otderIy behaviour, your
consideration ai.G the protection q your laws.
Il IS not 9 5e N 1,ed . ~ tia, we are here
i94f ancestors demonstrated against the introduc.
aan d tae EfSt & uur .acs, WHO were brought
amones. yon ana !, v-s ,,.s mother country tia
.nslssj on .hsir a3mlsA5n, tha' her colonies and
she might praf., IS she "A ugtt By their toinPul-
Gu tea9 an sdsaGsage 10 hefseif The colonies
ffown u 4om4nhood, burst from her dominion
sna i TREY have a. angry recollection u ih-r unior
ana rapture 4 must be a, the sight Of the bantfu
institution which She has enlaed upon hem
How mucn you regret is existence among you
Is shown by the severe laws you have enacted aeaes
NE s..se-srale, aud BY your employment q . nsss
force for lis suppression ioQ have gone stiil fur
iher Eol content with checking the increase o
H. II
now you might best exterminate the evil lselt
This delicate and important .qbJee has Produced
great variety 81 opinions but We find. ever IN ha
diversity eonsola,cry proof 81 the Interest wit
which you regard the SUBJECT, and oi your readiness
% ADOPT thal scheme which nay appear 70 b best
Leaving out all conslde atoms of generosity hu
nani'y aad bensvolence, you have lhe sttonges
geasona 70 favor aud facilitate the wllhdtaps! iron
among you ol such as wish 10 remsye II i'll con
sists. il the frat place, with your republican ptn
cpies and with the health and moral sense Of h,
body polltic, ,ha, ihere .hout be in he midst 0
Ynu an extFaneols mass OF men, united 10 you onl,
By soil and clnale, aud l.resocsbiy excluded from
your institutions Nor is il less f5r your adyan
ssge in another point Of view Our places might
IN your opinion, be better occupied By men oil you
own co,cr, who would increase the slFeng h OF you
country. 10 lie pursuit o livelihood aud the ex
srcise Of induslrieua habits, neces Sary exclud
from employment many Of me wh,es--your feilo,
citizens, who would find il easier II proportion a
we ieparl, 70 provd. fer themselves and their fam
les
El. i 3o,t have every reason 10 wish for our re
moyal how much greater are our inducements I
remove Though we ce no. slayes, We nc
free We do Hst and never shall participate 10 tn
ensieblc privileges which We continually witness
Peyond a aere subsistence, and the impulse OF re
gon, Il re IS nohiag 10 srous- US TO he exercis
Of o. lacues, excite us to the a.ainmey
81 er lence. fhouph under the shield Of VOC
law se are partially protected, no, totally OF
-, ID nevertheless our situation will al
n inevitably have the effect Of crushing, n,
Z rinninr lhe canan iiies thai f,nd has niYen ~