The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-10-11
GRAND ABOLITION MOVEMENT.
Manifesto of the Black Convention
HELD IN OHIO.

To THE CoLoREp PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES
FELLOW CoUNrRYmEs ~ der a solemn sense Of
duty, I'M PRED by our relation to you fellow suf
ferers under the multiplied and grievous wrongs to
which We rs people are univ rsslly subjscted-we,
portion Of your brethren assembled In National Con-
yeBtop at Cleveland Ohio take the liberty TO adress
you On the subject Of our mutual improvement AMI
social elevation.
The condition Of our variety of the human family
has long been cheeress II not hopeless in this
try. The doctrine perseveringly proclaimed in high
colored men to rise from gnora and de basement,
to intelligence and responsibility in this country has
made deep impression upon tho public mind gene.
rally, and IL not without its effect upon us. Under
this gloomy doctrine, many Of have nix under the
pail If dependency, and are making no effort to re-
la from this d-spond that would deliver you It is
from this slumber would rouse you The present
US Of Re Ss aSoys
Swallowed us has passed away. We deal In the
language of brilliant encouragement, and speak of
success with certainty That condition has bee n
gradually improving Is evident to ALL aud that shall
yet stand On common platform with fellow
country in respect to political social rights
is certain. The spirit of the age the voice of nspi
raton-the deep longings of the human soul-tha con
fct Of right and wrong-the upward tendency of the
complete and ample of the final triumph Of right and
wrong, Of freedom over slavery, and equality over
our eyes to the present we'll to deny and oppose
God on the human seul.
Great changes for the better have taken place,
are still taking place The last ten ycars have Witness
ed mighty change in the estimate in which
people are regarded both in this and other lands
England has given liberty to nearly Million and
France has ema ncipated three hundred Thousand OF
our brethren, and our own country shakes with the
agitation Of our rights. Ten twelve years ago,
educated colored man was regarded curiosity, and
the thought Of . coOred man a author, editor law
Heaven Is no longer the There those
among u.s. whom we arc not ashamed to regard gen.
ah bS % H. o. DC
our land. Mountains Of prejudice have been removed,
and truth and light dspelling the and dark
ness OF ages The time was when We tremoled In the
presence Of white and dared not assert,
ask for rights but would be guided, directed and
On We
We were not only slaves, but our ignorance made
willing slaves. Many of us uttered complaints against
our rights; thought they went too far and only
making our condition worse. This sentiment has
we begin to see our wrongs clearly and comprehend
our rights as fully, and we'll as white ntry
men This is sign Of progress and evidence which
this connection glowing comparison of past with
prese ntsconditon. showing that while the former
was dark and dreary the present is full of light and
hope 1t would be easy to draw picture of
present achievements, and erect upon glorious fu
ture
But fellow countrymen, it is not so much our pur-
pose to cheer you by the progress have already
made, as it is to stimulate you to still higher attain
ments. We have done much, but there is much more
to be done. While have undoubtedly great
to thank God, and take courage for the hopeful
not without to over the sad condition
which Me yet occupy We are yet the most oppressed
people sin the world In the Southern States Of this
Union, held slaves All over that wide region
our paths are marked with blood. Our backs yet
Scared by the LASH and souls yet dark under
tho pail of slavery Our sisters sold for the pur.
poses of pollution, and brethren sold in the
market, with beasts of burden Shut up in the prison
hSu.s Of all rights deprived
existence, and placed beyond the limit OF human
regard Death moral death has pslsed souls in
In the Northern States not SLAVES to ivdu-
ais not personal slaves: yet in many respects
enough removed from the actual ,coSdition of the
slave to make us largely responsible for their continued
snsn S or their speedy dsversnSs from
in the scale Of human improvement, in that pro-
portion do we augment the probabilities of
rymsn t is more fSan mere figure c Of speech Ss
to say that We are as people, chained together We
are one pssop,sMoas in general complexion one in
one rises, al must rise and falls all must fall
Having now our feet on the rock of freedom we must
"a to consider while his brother Is saVs
ssS saS .
ing too holy, 10 plaoe too sacred to make room
ts feel b. the Sc
work for men &AR aHggs We ask you to devote your
aelf to this sssnsiosthe first, and
full means of saf.inprovement. In the careful study
oft, you will lS~D yOar-own rights and comprehe nd
your responsibilities and scan through the vista
of coming time Jour high aud God. destiny
Many Of the brightest and best of number, hays
become such by their devotion to this cause aud tho
society Of white aboitoniss. The latter have been
willing to make themselves Of reputation for
sake and In return let show ourselves worthy Of
their zeal and devotion. Attend antislavery meet
hate slavery and love those who laboring for
its overthrow. Act with white abolition societies
wherever you can, nd where you cannot, get up
cietes among yourselves, but without exclusiveness
1t will be long time before gain all rights aud
although it may seem to conflict with views Of hu
man brotherhood, we shall undoubtedly for many
years be compelled to kve institutions Of a complex.
ona character, In order to attain this very idea OF
human brotherhood We would, however, advise
brethren to occupy memberships and stations among
white Persons and in white institutions Just so fast as
our rights are secured 30 US.
Never refuse to act With white society or insttu
ton because 1t Is white black one, because it is
black: But act with all men without distinction of
lor. Ely so acting, We shall nd many opportunities
for removing prejudices and establishing The rights OF
all men. We ssy avail ourselves OF white institutions
not because they Whites but because hey afford
more convenient means Of Improvement But we pass
from these suggestions to Others which may be deemed
important In the Convention that addresses
YOU there been mnch said upon the subject Of labor
and especially those departments OF it with which
class have been long identified. You will by
the resolutions there adopted that subject that
the Convention regarded those employments though
right in themselves as bein nevertheless degrsdi pg
to us as class and therefore, counsel you 70 abandon
them as speedily as possible, and to seek what
are called the more respectable employmeuts.-
While the Convention do not incucate the Ioctr ne
that kind Of needfol toll is in itself dishonorabls,
or that colored persons to be exempt from what
called mental epployments, they do mean to say
| that such employments have been long and uni
yersany filed by colored men, TO become a
badge OF degradation, in that it has established the
conviction that colored are only ut for such en-
| ployments. We therefore, advice you by all means
to cease from such empoyments as far rs practicable
by pressing into Others. Try to get your sons
mechanical trades; press then ia;o the BLACKSMITH
shop, the machine shop, the joiners shop, the wheel
Wi, hts shop the coop1rs shop aud the taio g shop
Every blow OF the siedse hammer, welded by sable
ann, is a powerful blow in support of our
| Every colored mechanic is, by virtue Of circum
stances elevator of his race Every house built 10y
black men IL strong tower against the allied hosts
Of prejudice. IL Is impos sblc for to attach toe
much Importance TO this aspect of tbe subject Trade
are important. Wherever a man may be thrown by
Infortune. If he has in his hanis useful trade he l.
uteful 20 his fellow and viii be esteemed drcofi
ingy; and OF all In the world who need tea les
| arc The most needy