Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-01-24
The Abolttionistsy Aiding the British

|
The AboIttionistsy Aiding the oBritish
We copy from the Cincinnati Gazette" thu
following account Of the State convention O
colored people held in Cincinnati: i.'s
AS considerable interest has been manifested
with regard to the large convention Of this class
of citizens, we publish by request the letters oi
U. S.sSenator Wade, and l.. d. Campbell, M. O..
in full: t..a.,.4 .,T s,t4. 4
WAsHINGToN, Dec %, 1851.
GESTLEMEN: Yours Of the 18th instant is just
received, and it gives me great pleasure to see
our colored friends actively moving in so just and
glorious an enterprise as stated in your letter.
You have to encounter q most unjust and illiberal
prejudice, which everybody knows is all wrong
but it nevertheless exists, and you must take
things as they are, and not as they should be-
The first thing then, on your part, is to- over
come this prejudice by proving that it is untrue
and unfounded. /, In order, to- do this, would
advise, as far as possible that you should with.
draw from all moneyed employments, form your
selves into communities by yourselves, where, by
cultivating the soil, and by the exercise of the
mechanical arts yon will soon attain to inde-
pendence, and, thus situated, you will have the
means of educating your children, and bestowine
upon them those advantages which they cannot
at present enjoy while scattered about among the
white people, They will thus acquire habits Of
self-respect and independence; and this will COM
pei your white brethren to- respect you, and, ]
doubt not, soon convince them that with equal
opportunities you are by no means their interiors
rejoice to see that the colored peoplehave taken
their own direction into their own hands, This
is the right way. All just men will sympathize
with them, and aid them all in their power; but
after all, their ultimate emancipation must de-
pend upon themselves. Be temperate, indus
trious, and by all means in your power promote
among yourselves the cause of education and
the result cannot be doubtful. The color Of the
skin is nothing Where was it ever known thai
virtue, industry, and intelligence were not re
spected? When these fruits of your present mos
patriotic enterprise shall be realized, those whe
defame you most will be the first to do you rev
erence. s9 EsiGaa 7fa.affa stl ai a4f ah2al
rejoice to see you organizing among your
selves Form one great brotherhood throughout
the State, so that you can all cooperate to the
same great end, and your prosperity, power and
importance viii soon be felt and acknowledged.
Wealth and Independence always command re-
specta j "a .5Tl2ss d nas8 Lso SIS 45 nos
White people, while poor and ignorant, are ne
| more respected than are you. | say again, coiol
is nothing. When you have attained to intelli
gence and independence, you win soon be admit
ted to your social and political rights. Do no
suppose, from what have, said, that l take al
colored persons to be ignorant; far from it.
know many who will compare fayorably with til,
best of the whites, but generally it is not so No
| is this to be wondered at You have laboree
under infinitely greater disadvantages: But j
is to be your chief glory that you overcome thes,
disadvantages. | feel indeed deep interest il
| your convention and have no doubt it will bt
| of great advantage to your people. l hope, you
will meet together often, and take your own des-
tiny into your own keeping. Rely on yourselves,
and you cannot fail. OF course, | have no def
mite plan of organization to recommend at pres
lent, but | should be pleased to hear from you
often, and what course of operations the Central
Committee have in view. Gentlemen, have the
honor to be, most respectfully, yours, &C.,
b. F. WADE.
Messrs. John J. Gains, William IL. Day, ant
others, Central Committee.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
Washington, Jan. 5, 1852. !
Mcssrs. .John s. Games, and Others, .r
ggr., , Central COMMITTEE, DC:
The courteous terms Of your letter of the 18th
ult., asking my opinion "as regards the present
position and future prospects of the colorcd race
in this country" require me at least to acknowl-
edge its receipt. at.#
regard the "prescnt position" Of your race in
this country as infinitely worse than it was ten
years ago The States which were then prepar-
ing for gradual emancipation are now endeavor.
ing toextend, perpetuate, and strengthen slavery.
In others, where the master then could teach 0
slave he is now criminal if he attempts to en-
tighten him. A vast amount of territory which
was then free, is now eyerlastingly dedicated tc
slavery The citizen Of a free State could ther
speak kind word TO fugitive for liberty, with.
out molestation II he does so now, he hazards
an indictment and trial for treason! These are
but portion Of the fruits (bitter as they may be
to your people) produced during the last ten
years ofthe 'age Of progress and reform, through
a war which cost our nation ttco hundred ana
thirty millions Of her dollars, and an immense num-
Der Of the precious lives Of her citizens. And |
may ada that all this has been accomplished
in the face Of the various party organizations
which have professed to labor for different results.
/ am "neither q prophet nor the son Of n
prophet" and from the lights Of the past see
nothing to justify promise Of your future pros
pects." We seem to have fallen on strange times.
Instead of seeking to reform the great evils in
our own land, and to fortify and make strong
our own liberties, our people seem deter.
mined not merely to extend our institutions over
"the chole, the boundicss continent" here, but to
reform the governments of the old world, "peace-
bly, II they can--forcibly if they must" Whilst
there exists disposition to cut out this immense
amount of work for "Young America, candor
coinpels me to say that my dim vision enables me
to see nothing that is lattering to your future
prospects"
There is, however, coming future when oppres;
sion may be over--when the principle Of the
equality Of men win be enforced. You may hope
for the glories Of that future. You may strength
en- your prospects" for them by concentrating
al your feeble powers to build up and sustain In
stitutions Of learning, which win disseminate
knowledge, and thus increase your power, which
will purify and elevate the morals Of your people
and dignity their character. Respectfully,
VI ltt a. L. ID. CAMPBELL.