New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-09-27
THE coLoRED NATIONAL CONVENTION.

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ents who attended its sessions gave sketches at the
time but subsequent information leads us to believe
that they failed to assign its due prominence to the
most encouraging aspect Of this first assembage IN
representative national council of our fellOw-ctzens
of African descent What seemed to strike them most
forcibly was the oratorca ability and skill in debate
there exhibited. They represented, and concurrent
testimony from various quarters cOrroborates their
statement that this Convention, though smaller body
demonstrated quite much talent Of this sort as an
ordinary House of Representatives This however, Is
little more than we looked for The feryid consttu-
ton of the African is adapted to Oratoy his affection
ate nature is developed beyond that of the white and
lis capacity for expression-mere command of words
seems also in excess 1t must be considered. more
over that this body undoubtedly included the very best
specimens of the darkhued citizens while the House
of Representatiyes-we. We are not prepared to say
as much in its behalf
The rita question in regard to the Convention rea
ted TO its practical ability-tO its power TO detect the
essential wants in the condition of the people whom it
represented and the courage energy and
tcOuld bring into action for supplying them That its
members could talk well was of small consequence, if
they could not concert wise plans and combine hearth
~
and the desire for personal distinction and official prOmi
nence which might be expected TO be active and ex-
acting in a class which has such opportunities for
nduging in those lsxures the free negroes. If one
will reflect how many escapevalyes whites have for
gas, he will the better estimate the risk Of explosion
where the vents very few those provided for the
man of color Think of our militia system for example,
and how disastrous it would prove, if all the cOncet
and lust of command, that are blown off harmlessly
through that channel should be pent up to swell and
tester until they found relief when met to organize
combinations for carrying the serious business of
life. Think what glorious chance this Convention
presented for men to show off their vanity, their love
of power their pigheaded obstinacy, who had seldom
O chance before and the merit of refrainng will ap
pear enormous. That the Convention should be able
to suppress such manifestations of individuals and
rive harmonious conclusions upon points involving
much sectional Jealousy, is creditable proof of its
genuine force as well OF kindness of nature in
which the black is unquestionably superior.
white Convention would have broken up in an inextln
guishable row, upon half dozen occasions through
which this passed safely
fthe Convention had done nothing more than 10
compel the respectful admiration of all who witnessed
its proceedings where their opinions and sympa
thies were cold if not adverse the aspirations by
which it was animated, it would have accomplished
great good for its constituents This much it assured
" did there is no conflict of judgment or of tesmO
ny upon it. 1t is impossible, in the nature of things,
for the written record to be equally effective Never
theless we think it will be impossible for any one,
however prejudiced, TO peruse this pamphlet and not
be- sotened BY the melancholy earnestness with which
the disadvantages weighing upon the free blacks are
recognized and impressed by the manly sefreliance in
which they rally their unasssted energies to sur
mount them Nor unless his opinion of the ntelectu-
al power of the negro is much above that in common
vogue will he fail to be surprised by the degree OF
ability manifested in several OF the Reports OF Commit
tees, embodied in the proceedings.
The specific thing actually effected b. the Conyen-
ton is the appointment of National Council of twenty
members two from each of the ten States represented,
(the members for NewYOrk are DIR. J. McCune Smith
OF this City and Frederick Douglas of Rocheser) TO
be increased hereafter by the election of additional
members, in the proportion OF one to five thousand
of the colored population of each State, 10 be sp-
pointed by State Councils which are themselves to be
chosen by the vote OF every coored inhabitant who
shall pay ten cents as poll tax.
al Council is the establishment of an Industrial College
for the education of colored youth the mechanic
Its immediate charge is assigned to a Committee Of
Five, who are 70 constitute the Board of Trustees.
There is also Committee charged with the establish
meDt of Protective Union with auxiliary branches
for the purchase and sale OF articles of domestic con-
sumption Committee OF Business Relations. which
is establish and maintain an Office for the registry Of
eoored mechanics artisans and business men through
the Union. OF all persons willing 70 employ eolorel
in business or TO teach colOred BOYS mechanical
trades and farming and OF coored men and youth seek
ing employment or instruction to report on any ave-
OF business which they NAV deem inviting 10 col
ored capital skil labor and 10 receive Tor exhbi-
ton or sale products OF the ALL and labor of colored
people; finally, a Committee on Publication. Each
Committee Is To have absolute control over its special
department and 10 MI vacancies subject 10 the con-
frmaiiOn OF the Council. In short the object IL the
establishment OF the appropriate executive depart
ents of general association OF the freenen Of color
10 deveoPe their industrial power and thus amelorae
their economic condition, the necessary preliminary
Of their social elevation.
Poverty, ignorance and degradation, saws Freie-
rc Douglass, in admirable letter TO Mrs Stowe en-
bodied in the proceedings. constitute the social Dis
ease of the free eOlOred people. While the whites
are not unwilling to give their black fellow brothers
in humanity opportunities for general education
in the Common Schools and even for special edaca
ton in the liberal professions, yet they have obstinate
~ barred TIE doors against education in the mechanic