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


dairy"
NATIONAL CONVENTION OF CoLoRED 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:
Presidemt-James w. c. Pennington, d. D.,
of New York.
Viee 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
mittee on Declaration of Sentiments, made the
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 be
iected as follows On the l5th 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 q 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 Eve 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
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 of said State.
Art. 2. 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, a committee of five on
Protective Unions, of five on Business Rela-
! tons, of five 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. The 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
tional 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 Protective Union for the pur-
chase and sale of articles Of domestic consump-
tion and shall unite and aid in the formation
of branches auxiliary to their own.
AT. 5. The Committee on Business Rea-
tions shall establish an Office, in which they |
shall keep registry of colored mechanics, ar
tizans, and business men, throughout the Union. |
They shall keep registry Of sll persons will |
ling to employ colored men in business, to teach |
colored boys mechanical trades liberal and |
scientific professions, and farming and also a |
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 colorcd capital,
skill, or labor--their reports and advertise
ments to be in papers of the widest circulation
They shall receive, for sale or exhibition, pro-
ducts of the skill and labor Of colored people
Art 8. 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 afs-keeping |
Of these documents, a library, with 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.
A,t 4. Each committee shall have absolute |
control over i,s special department; shall make
its own bylaws, 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 as possible shall keep . minute OF all
its proceedings, executive and financial, and
shall submit a full statement of the same, with |
the accounts audited, at every regular meeting |
of the National Council.
Art. g. The National Council shall mees 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 1t shall
have power, ut it's option, to appoint q new
committee, and shall be empowered to receive |
and appropriate donations for the carrying out
Of the objects OF the same AT all such meet
ings eleven members shall constitute quorum
In case any committee neglect or refuse 70 send
In il report, according TO article 9Th, then the
Council shall have power 10 enter the bureau,
examine the books and papers OF such COM
mittee and In case the committee shall persist
in it refusal or neglect then the Council shall
declare their of6ces vacant and appoint others
In their Stead
Art. 3. In al oases Of the meetings Of tho
National Council, o. the committees, the tray.
cling expenses (if sny) Of the members shall
b paid out Of their respective funds.
Art TO- TIE Council shall immediately e.
tsblish bureau In tbs place Of its meeting |
and tho Same rooms shall, - far ~ possible, DO
used BY the several committees for their yari-
Gus purposes. The Council shall have clerk,
at moderate salary, who shall keep record
A a.. .uA