The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-05-08

ed the meeting. He was not taken by SURPRISE it
amovement for the promotion Of our glorious cause
The preamble states broad fact that compelled
to occupy degraded position by corrupt church
But this is a very tame statement We are
"a condemned people-an insulted people-but
outraged people-weighed down under greater oppres
ed as a degraded people il we go to the church, we
despised there and made to take obscure place
blood In the State, taxed equally with all
other men, pay for the education OF the whites but
when it comes to rights and privileges we are regard
ed so and degraded that, by State enactment,
are not trusted even TO carry mail bag twenty
yards the street. to lift it off from the top
of stage coach. An ignorant lrshman however but
just come to this country, and totally unacquanted
with our institutions, is, the moment he lands
shores thought fit to be entrusted with the mail bags
We never tried by peers but by enemies.
On steamboats,, in hotels, in the streets, al
ways reminded that we are degraded people Our
children are driven away from the schools which we
pay to support. We compelled to be- by potent
circumstances, hewers of wood and drawers of water
everywhere outraged, ill-treated insulted But the
worst part Of all is that contented under these
circumstances. He ashemed! ashamed! ashamed
of his identity with those who were thus indifferent
with oppressed towards QIear, hear) Our white
friends may do much for but must do much for
ourselves Equality and responsibility only be at
tanned by our own exertions We require respect-not
merely sympathy. We have right to respect, if be-
ing under the hoof Of oppression, we are not manly
enough to rise in our own cause, AMI do
something to elevate ourselves from degra-
ded position The colored people, do not appre-
ciate sufficiently the instrumentalities which have
brought about great change in public opinion They
coored people occupy better position but they
say, What has Frederick Douglass done for us They
do not understand what the Downings, the Remonds,
the Van Renssaaers, the Sweets, have done by moral
force He had doubt the time coming when the
coored man would occupy the same platform with the
white man. The sword might be required at the South
but it not necessary at the North promote the
elevation Of colored people Coored people
beginning to exercise their gifts. They in
position to be heard But have no organization
among ourselves in the Ishmaeltish situation in which
The clergy to blame for the apathy of the
colored people to their The text, Seek ye
first the kingdom Of heaven and its righteousness,
&C. has been grossly perverted by the ignorant coored
clergy that the people wait for God to help them
Great aughter) 1t is ridiculous and absurd notion
to expect God to deliver us from bondage. We must
elevate ourselves by our own efforts. Mr.. Douglass
concluded by stirring appeal to his colorcd brethren
to from their lukewarmness and apathy.
Mr.. II. H. GARNET then addressed the meeting In sup
port of the resolutions and particularly advocated the
necessity Of supporting the press which devoted
their cause especially the RAMS Horn, whose able and
talented editor was present among them.
After some further remarks collection for the sup
port Of the colored then taken up and the
resolutions having been unanimously adopted the
ing adjourned.