New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-03-20
Convrption of Colored PeopIe.

Convention of COlOred People.
There is now in session in this City Conven.
ton composed entirely of colOred citizens. The
object of the Convention is to consider the present
condition of the Negro race, and to devise means
for its improvement On Tuesday evening, Dr.
]. McCune Smith read a report from the Commit
tee on the Social Condition of the Colored Race.
II was an elaborate document, containing great
many curious facts The first question discussed
was, whether the colored people should endeavor
to organize themselves in the City, or devise
plan of settling in the country. The report made
considers the subject;
The advantages about city life thus are that larger
number be within short distances OF each other
thereby may easily organize without such dsa1vsn
sge would grow from The same number being banded
in single county. .
densed as to reached by law for removing from any
rural locality suc laws eXpatrsed Indians and Nor
We can be, II we will much better provided Tor 10
UUmauer Of education In the city than we could 10 the
country We can II choose, throw vastly more trade
o. our and OF other people, in the way OF each oher IN
the city, than we could Ia the country.
The disadvantages Of our City ieI mean those pecu
liar TO uS for eli civ life IT, aer ALL kind Of dollhouse
forcing of human bengs-are the following Oar lives are
much shortened Look at the pIeponderance Of WIDOWS
end children among US They SO far exceed he esapes
Of mere sickness benevolent societies. have been
obliged of the widows and orphans In order 10 help
3 Next The seducllons Of The City-poicy gambling,
porter houses with their billiards and cards create gang
Of szWon Of both sexes women Fastening tlougn tne
streets with their bonnes united shre's snd shoe
terum5pSgsieDa which our foes cal he tyPs
Sd CITY life shuts us from general mechanical employ
.s, colored have either too little capital or too
9th FROM the necessity Of seeking employment in the
,uie Gemesned lowered, kept down and doubt much
whether manhood ourshes very much among cll ems Of
5th The enormous combination Of capital, which is
slowly invading every calling IN The city from wstnlng
tLd ifOung palace steamers muft tend more ana more
to grind the face Of the poor In the cities, aud render
Mem more and more lie slaves ofower wages and hgher
No zane man can doubt from this any comparison Of
the ind that county lie the better choice Tor our peo
mixed country and village lie The matter OF sdacShon
the great di5GdvaniaRe Of country he might De rehe0lea
by concert OF action.
Asto the practcability of removing to the coun'
try, it was argued, that savings might be effected
by the two thousand coored families in the city,
in rigid economy of house.rent and fuel, enough
to Establish bank which would soon COLOMBO
the entire class. The topic was first illustrated
in the matter of houserent thus;
In the rear Of No II Lsurent street. back lot which
COS. $250O 1t are erected two buildings, which cost
$1,000 kTois s85Oe Interest on which a. per cent 10
$685. and add for taxes insurance and wear $OO making
fun coat $685. per year These tive buildings occupied
by twenty coored families whs pay 40 average Of -
each per month thst 81 csc per year Here is clear
profit the landlord Of 1885 year above Interest and
expense.
Here then, in the single item Of rent, twenty families
paying enough TO ht out TWO families year mos1 amply
and A6undsnlly for the country. ,,-
Again: II those buildings owned by colored Saw
ngs Institution whose surplus funds should be devoted 70
eIng colored young men on farms such Institution ar
ter paying depOsiors six per cent would have splendid
surplus for starting farmers IN other business II we
lake larger view OF this matter Of house rent the results
are amazing According the above estimate each one OF
La
SS7 per year too much for house rent.
There ars come $500 colored families in NewYork and
Il. vicinv. SAv that each family paws only SO year
much for house and that these families could by or
gspzaon reench and accumulate that per year and
We would save, in this one item, $4,000 per year
In respect to the use OF fuel, It was also shown,
that
lis next IN importance Our OOe families al
least and half uns coal each per year making Adv
iuns Al esst thirds Of these 2o00 families buy lheI
coal by The bnfhe or peck thereby paying per Ian more
hsn The market price, which I. sachce Of SoeOo per
year Then II these 1900 families combined to BUY their
own the wharf they could save by purchasing car
gees 81 each tup, al least, which Is SIY5o AAoHns
he hire OF cOs yard $500 per year and the pay OF Two
good clerks $50 each there would be clear gam Of
s. leo ulhe single matter OF coal II We would thoroughly
By similar calculations il can be shown ihs, we could
easily save $4,000 groceries snd food and Sooco on
wearing apparel; beside setting up In successful and
commanding business such men as are capable nelgen'
ard Trustworthy.
In order to accomplish these, the report pro-
posed the establishment Of mutual bank, IN
which all the depositors should be at the same
time stockholders, and which should have power
to buy and sell real estate, to discount paper, to
lend money on bond and mortgage, and to deal IN
merchandise The Doctor, after concluding the
reading Of the report, said that there were $4,000
or $50 600 belonging to colOred people invested in
savings banks in Wall st, and he then presented
the following resolution;
Rc,olrel Fiat Committee Of three be appointed, win
power 10 present the form Of Mutual Savings Institution
embracing he matters ofhouEe rent fuel and other dones
Tic wants sud that Of the conditions Of membership OF
said institution sha be pledge 10 abstain from polcyga'
bling.
A discussion Of the subject at great length took
place, in the course Of which fearful revelations
were made ofthe extent Of policy gambling among
the blacks, and the resolution adopted.