The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-08-12
MEETING OF COLORED PEOPLE.

At large meeting of the Free Colored
People of Baltimore convened without respect
to religious differences, and composed, in large
part of official and other prominent members
Of various churches, held at the Public School
room on East street on the 3D. instant. the fol-
lowing statement was submitted and adopted
with but single dissenting voice, and ordered
to be published:
We have inquired into the character and
doings of the late Convention of Free People
OF Color, claiming to be of the State of Mary
land, held in the city Of Baltimore and which
presented itself before the public as having de-
rived It's authority TO convene from the Execu-
tive head of the State and its authority 10 act
from the free people of color of the counties as
we'll as Of the city. Now. we are not prepared
to speak authoritatively for the colorcd people
| OF the counties, but we do know the sentiments
OF those of this city in reference to this {" Con-
ventiOn'
As we understand, said Convention " was
gotten up hy the following individuals, whom
we find named in their publications, viz
Darius Stokes Jas T. Jackson Jno Forte,
II. H. Webb, Daniel koburn James Handy c.
Perry, Frederick Harris, John II Walker, s
ID. Hutchins, David p. Jones, VIM H. White.
and few others not SO well known to us
This ColOred Colonization Society" M We
see IT also styled, consisted of very few of our
class. The proceedings of the meetings to get
it up were known to but few of our people
hence the excitement amongst them when
| those proceedings became generally known. II
it be asked, therefore, How came it to pass
that there was so much opposition ON the part
of our people! We're not the delegates claim.
ing to represent the free people of color in this
| city appointed by us! Our answer is No
| Nne-tenthS Of The coiOred people knelc nothing
Of l0hdt tcdS beng done an their name.
We hope the good people of Baltimore will
not infer, from what we have said. that our OPP
position is founded in any new attempt to dis
courage voluntary colonization. We are moi
opposed TO emigration. We only mean to say
that the persons composing said Convention =
took advantage OF our situation, and employed
unauthorized means in calling Convention
of the Free People of Color dividing the cit,
into numerous districts according to their owl
plans, and inviting strangers from the countie
to help to represent us--all of which the,
did WithOut our consent.
We should be pleased to see the members o
| this Colored Colonization Society or Con
venton" embark for Liberia The cxampl,
of their consistent action individually would b,
worthy of imitation
Had this Society" confined its doings to it
own sphere, and to its own members, we shoulC
have had nothing to say of it, But as the cas-
now stands we feel called upon to solemn,
repeat, for the information of all who dcsir
the truth, as we now do in public meeting tina
we did not, at any time, or in any manner
elect delegates" to the so-called "Coloret
Colonization Convention held in the city o
Baltimore on the Goth, 9th, and 2sth days o
July; and we furthermore declare that W
gave the said delegates no authority what
ever to represent the feelings and wishes q
our people. PHILIP ScoTT, President
JAMES GRAY, Secretdry