The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-07-28
NATIONAL CONVENTION OF coIoRED MEN.

truth is lame and needs the aid of drome-
dairy"
NATIONAL CONVENTION OF CoIORED MEN.
This body met at Rochester, New York, on
the 9th instant, and continued in session three
days We find the proceedings in full in Fred
erick Douglass's Paper The following were
| its officers
President--James w, C. Pennington, D. D.,
of New York.
Vice Presidents-Wm. H Day Ohio; Amos |
| G. Beman, Connecticut; VIM. C. Nell, Massa-
chusetts Frederick Douglass, New York JAS |
C.. McCrummell and John B. Vashon, Pennsyl- |
vania John Jones, Illinois,
Secretaries H. Clarke, Ohio; Charles |
B. Ray and VIM. J. Wilson, New York Chas
S. Reason, Pennsylvania
Frederick Douglass, Chairman of the Com
following report
For the purpose of improving the character,
| developing the intelligence, maintaining the
rights, and organizing Union of the Colored
People of the Free States, the National Con-
vention does hereby ordain and institute the
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE COLoRED
PEOPLE"
article /. This Council shall consist of two
members from each State represented in this
Convention, to be elected by this Convention,
and two other members from each State, to DO
iected as follows On the 18th day of Novem,
Der next and biennially thereafter there shall
be held in each State poll, at which each
colored inhabitant may vote who pays ten cents
as poll-tax and each State shall elect, at
such election, delegates to State Legislatures,
twenty in number from each State, at large.
The election to be held in such places and un-
der such conditions as the public meetings in
such localities may determine. The members
of the National Council in each State shall re-
ceive, canvass, and declare the result of such
vote. The State Council thus elected shall
meet on the first Monday in January, 1854,
and elect additional members to the National
Council in proportion OF one to five thousand
Of colored population Of such State; and the
members of Council thus elected to take Office
on the 9Th day Of July next, and all to hold
J Office during two years from that date at the
, end of which time another general election by
, State Council shall take place of members to
constitute their successors in Office, in the same
numbers as above The State Council OF each
State shall have full power over the internal
concern oil SAID State
: Art g. The members of the first Council
shall be elected by this Convention, which
shall designate out of the number, President
Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Cores
ponding Secretary, and committee of five on
Manual Labor School, q committee Of five on
Protective Unions, of five on Business Rela-
tons, of Eve on Publications.
Art. 3. The Committee on Manual Labor
School shall procure funds and organize said
school in accordance with the plans adopted
by this National Convention, with such modif-
cations as experience or necessity may dictate
to them. Tho committee shall Immediately
incorporate itself as an academy, under the
general committee OF the State Of -, and
shall constitute the Board Of Trustees of the
Manual Labor School, with full power to select
location in the State designated by the Ma
tiona Council, to erect buildings, appoint or
dismiss instructors in the literary or mechani-
| cal branches. There shall be farm attached
| to the school.
Art. a. The Committee on Protective Unions
| shall institute q Protective Union for the pur-
chase and sale Of articles Of domestic consump-
ton, and shall unite and aid 10 the formation |
Of branches auxiliary 10 their own.
Att 5. The Committee on Business Rela-
| tions shall establish an Office, in which they
shall keep registry of colored mechanics, ar
tixsns and business men, throughout the Union.
They shall keep registry Of all persons will
ling TO employ colored men IN business to teach
colorcd boys mechanical trades liberal and
scientific professions, and farming and also
registry Of colored men and youth seeking en-
ployment or instruction. They shall also re-
port upon any avenues of business or trade
which they deem inviting to colored capital,
skill, or lsbor--their reports and advertise
mcnts to be Ia papers Of the widest circulation.
They shall receive, for sale or exhibition, pro-
ducts Of the skill and labor Of colored people.
Art s. The Committee on Publication shall
collect all facts, statistics, and statements, all
laws and historical records and biographies Of
| the colored people, and all books by colored
authors They shall have, for the safe keeping
| of these documents, q library, with a reading
room and museum. The committee shall also /
publish replies to any assaults, worthy Of note,
made upon the character or condition Of tho
colored people.
Art T. Each committee shall have absolute |
control over It's special department; shall make
its own by. laws, and, in case Of any vacancy
occurring, shall I'LL up the same forthwith, sub
ject 10 the confirmation Of the Council. Each |
committee shall meet at least once month, or |
as often RS possible shall keep minute of all
its proceedings executive and financial and
shall submit q full statement Of the same, with |
the accounts audited, at every regular meeting
Of the National Council
Art. s The National Council shall mee. Mt |
least once in six months, to receive the reports
Of the committees, and TO consider any new
plan for the general good, for which It shall
have power, ut it's option, to appoint new
committee and shall be empowered 10 receive |
and appropriate donations tor the carrying out |
of the objects of the same. At al such meet
| ings eleven members shall constitute Q quorum
In case any committee neglect or refuse 70 send |
in it, report, according 10 article sth, then the |
Council shsll have power 10 enter the bureau,
examine the books and papers Of such COM
mittee, and In case the COMMITTEES shall persist |
in il refusal or neglect then tho Council shall |
declare their oi6oes vacant and appoint others
ia their stcsd.
Arf. g. In al cases Of the meetings Of the
National Council, OF the committees the tray
cling sxpenses liz aDy) Of the members shall
b paid out Of their respective funds.
AT. 10. Tue Council shall immediately e.
tsblish basssu In tbs place Of lie mseting
and the same rooms shall, ~ far ~ possible, be
used by the several committees for their yari-
Gus purposes. The Council shall have clerk,
at moderate salary, who shall keep record
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