Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-11-19
CONVENTION OF C0LoRED PEOPLE OF
ILLINOIS.

CONVENTION OF C0LoRED PEOPLE OF
ILLINOIS.
Frederick Douglass, in his paper gives an account
of his recent visit to Illinois, to attend State Col
ored Peoples Convention. After detailing the en-
barrassments 10 which he was subjected during his
journey on account Of his complexion he speaks of
the Convention as follows. by the way, how out
rageous are the personal insults offered to quiet
and gentlemanly colored travellers on our thorough
fares, and at our hotels. We almost marvel that
our friends ever leave home. But then we remen-
Der they are no better of there. AT home or
abroad, they are made the objects Of the scorn of
FOOLS and Of the insult of the vulgar and the un-
principled. These are the manifestations of the
genuine spirit of slavery, as well as a powerful
means of its supports and VIC feel that abolitionsts
should direct their efforts, directly to this subject
as well as to other branches OF the home depart
mcnt. It is with the prejudice and slaycholding of
the north that our work is to be done.
THE CONVENTION.
At ton o'clock Friday morning, October 7th
after snatching few hours of grateful sleep, and
being introduced to Mrs. Bonner, the lady of the
house and to her brighteyod well-bchavcd children
and having partaken of breakfast quite in keep
ing with the warm Chicago welcome-the latter as
warm Mt midnight as at cock-crow, we were ushured
into the presence of about fifty persons, assembled
in State Convention. Upon first sight of these men,
we felt at home among them, and in full sympathy
with them. Enthusiastically, they were men c
thought cultivation, and responsibility. These
men degraded? not word of it, no power can de-
grade such men. In personal beauty, in mental
development, in manly dignity, and in gentlemanly
bearing, they resembled the best samples of Amer
lean dclibcrativc assemblies. Truly thought we,
these gentlemen, notwithstanding the estimate set
upon them, have no cause to decline comparison
with the more highly-favored inhabitants Of this
highly-invorcd land In this thought we werc not
alone. The press Of Chicago, not given to cxtrav-
agant audations against the popular voice, and we
are sorry to say not very distinguished for anti-sa-
very tendencies, with one accord, set this State
Convention down as honorable to the heads and
hearts of the men engaged in its business and pur-
poses. Upon entering the Convention, and on
rising to address the audience, we mad to submit to
some little formalities, such must ever sit awk-
wardly upon our fugitive shoulders. We were
/ welcomed to Chicago and TO Illinois b, the Rev
BYRD PARKER, in speech that surprised us. II
was delivered upon the spur of the moment, without
preparation or premeditation, and as amere spec, h.
apart from its justice towards the party addressed
| it would pass anywhere. We had an eve to this
gentleman after that Speech for it was evident that
he has ability, both moral and mental There is q
responsibility resting upon this man. lie has a
work to do for his peOplc--0hr peoDle-and we look
to him for its faithful execution lie has seen some
service already, and larger service demands his
energies. After Mr.. Parker was done with u.s. the
| President of the Convention, JoHN JoNrs. Esq.
took us in hand, but with tho promptncss of an
English sea captain, commanding his men to furl.
or take in sail, upon the first appearance of storm
he commanded, us in brief, to take the platform
OF course, we obeyed. Where did these gentlemen
4 learn these ecircumlocutOry and graceful fOrmalitcs?
There was something really English in this intro
ductiOn and it carried us back, in memory. to the
scenes of cordial greeting which met ON every
hand in that land where color is no crime.
The object of this Convention was to consider
and to devise plans for improving the condition Of
the Free Culorcd citizens of Illinois The intoler.
able injustice of the black laws of that State and
especially that which was passed last winter
doubtless had something to do with awakening the
coOrcd citizens to the necessity of some such move
mcnt, ON their part. 1t would not be strange, nor
at all inconsistent with Divine Providence, if, out
of these statutes of niquty should come the very
good which they were designed to defeat 1t was
plain to every beholdcr that the Convention was in
earnest Its published proceedings will show this
l Much was said in this Convention, on the i'm.
portance of learning trades, quitting menal en-
\ Iployments, buying, and improving, and holding
land, promoting education, stimulating industry
laying aside superfuties, discounenancing any.
thing like Colonization out of the United States
supporting our papers, ana adherng to the prin-
ciple of liberty against every temptation. Able
and eloquent reports were submitted to the Conven.
ton upon all these subjects which, when published
and circulated among the colored people of the
State, will doubtless have the desired effect. Ii
was exceedingly gratifying to us to observe, in the
Convention, an earnest desire to co. operate with
our brethren throughout the Union. The idea OF
having an interest separate from the whole people
does not seem to have made much progress among
them, and we trust il never will. We are too weak
to divide, and too much unit in all our interests
to stay divided, if division possible for time
The colorcd people of the whole Union. slave and
free, light and dark, educated and uneducated
must stand or fall together. If there were any dis
position to sunder us, the terrible pressure from
without would drive us together in common fra,
ternity.