Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-07-23
DRlaYan Tenlperance Union.

This ASSOCIATION of colored people met at PoughkeeP-
sic, ~ " on the 9TH inst, correspondent VINO was
present writes to us:-"Our convention was glorious
affair. We had tent that would hold 5000 people
seated, and not one half were able to gain admance
There were SEVEN chartered steamers, ten bands OF
music, and at least 10000 colored persons present
Among the speakers were Rev. H. H. Garnet Presl-
dent of the Union Horace Greedy, editor Of the N y
Tribune; Van LOOM Burr, of the Missouri peDitenta-
ry; Morrill, Ray, &c.o
Among several letters read on the occasion we no
tice one from LAWRENCE BRAINERD Esq, of St. Al
bans, our excellent candidate for Governor which we
cannot refrain from publishing
ST. ALBANs, June Doth, 1886
Rev. II. II. GARNET--Dear Sir: hear with much
pleasure of the proposed meeting of the Deevan Tenn
perance Union at Poughkeepsie The efforts which the
free coored people making for the improvement OF
their much injured race must meet with the heathtul
cooperaon of all who are not interested to pepetuate
their ignorance and degradation in order to pepetuae
prejudice at the North and Slavery at the South That
your efforts have been already attended with so much
success those who have observed your condition and
watched your improvements, know, and rejoice to Wit
ness--Your present meeting proof that you are
fuv sensible of the great blessings which attend the
progress of the Temperance reformation. trust you
will long continue to find in your "Unlon" not only
band of strength, but the source of many wide eX-
tended blessing to your race. The value of education
connected with good morals and religious teachings
am also happy to hear is and more attracting your
attention It will furnish you with the sure means OF
overcoming the obstacles and breaking down the pref
udces which retard the improvement and elevation
of the coored people. When consider that the col
Qred people have all been once in the lowest and most
wretched condition to which human beings can be re-
duced in slavery; when think how many difficulties
the free coored people have to encounter and over
come that they are usually born in extreme poverty
are denied in early life almost all the advantages O
education and religious teaching, are mostly brough
up in ignorance and not unfrequently among VICIOUS
and degrading associations, that upon arriving at ma
tury whatever their talents or their Wishes they are
by an unreasonable prejudice against their color, no
only excluded from all those higher pursuits which
kindle ambition with the prospect of fame and power
but from the ordinary cangs OF lite which turn
sh the great mass Of mankind with the strongest IN
citements to industry: when reflect that public
prejudice attaches to their color odium such as hu
name laws could hardly visit upon crime, | wonde
that so many among them peaceful, moral, TEN
perate industrious and respectable as they are.
would seem as if hope would die and the race D
crushed into remedess degradation.
When therefore, | hear and see the noble exertlon
which the colored people THEMSELVES are making 10
their education and religious teaching and for tn
promotion of temperance and good morals, | rejoice
for feel that there is in common nature an elastl
principle of sefpresevation and sef-elevaton whlc
no burden of tyranny could break down. And | re
oice especially that the colored people have found an
are using the great secret of successful action-Se
help You have but to go on in your honorable caree
and you will attain to all the blessings we most valu
G in social and domestic life.
Your Improvement will compel public opinion to res
pect you it will wiring from the reluctant politician tn
admission of your political rights, and achieve (shoul
other means ai) the emancipation Of your race Re
G siding in State where the colored men have Away
enjoyed equal political privileges with the white; a
ways accustomed to them at the polls, cannot BIT
be surprised to the great and enlightened State
y New York so panic struck at the terror Of Negr
vote That you bear true allegiance to your natlv
country you have shown by your valor in defending
While | remember that colored seamen contributed
g the glorious victory of Plasburgh, cannotthnk we
/ of the New York Statesman who would deny them til
If privilege of voting--at least at PLATTSBURGH.-
With my earnest wishes for the promotion of the GOO
cause in which you engaged,and for the emancip
ton and elevation of the Slave remain your trier
Re and fellow-worker, LAWRENCE BRAlNERD.