New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-09
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE COLORED
PEOPLE


PEOPLE.
FIRST DAY-MORSING MEETING.
Tho Third Scmi-Annua Meeting of this body was
held at noon yesterday in DR.. Pennngtons Church
The Council was called 10 order by DIR. J. Mccrve
Smith. the PRECEDENT Mr.. GEORGE T. DowSissd
Rhode Island was appointed Secretary.
Mr.. SMITH then read the following
ADDRESS.
GENTLEMEN: You are assembled 10 fulfill the duties
imposed on vou by a Convention OF the coorot
Ieonle assembled at Rochester in July sj3 by whiA
Convention YOU we've duly appointed - for the pupce
"of improving the character, developing the liset-
"eence, maintaining the rights, and organizing {
Union of tie o0lorod people OF the free SlAtes.'
The hundred and seventy Thousand souls who compose
the free colored PEOPLE of the free States occupy apo
son in regard to human progress, OF greater import
ance and responsibility than any Ike number OF nd
yiduas on the face of the globe. The great question
of human brotherhood is brought 10 direct test in oar
persons and position; the praccabity of democratic
Institutions their ability TO overcome tic lust yesse
of tyranny in Tie human heart, the yinslblly OF cwb
by Christianity, the power OF The gospel te di.en.
thrallment of three millions OF bleeding ana crushed
slaves; all these issues lend their weight and nt
their decision yery greatly If not entirely on the ne
coOIed PEOPLE of The free States. This weight OF re-
sponsibiy is enough TO make men shrink therefron;
but We cannot avoid II If we would. The influence u
our land and lis institutions reaches 10 the utterox
parts of the EARTH and 90 where may, will ind
American prejudice at least the odor of il TO con
tend again ST. Ii * eusies az well as manifest, TO M
and contend with here at the fountain eadi nor en-
we Coase affecting there great issues by nacuVityi
case IL going on whether we labor or not and our n
tctviiy will only help deciding against us and th 81,
aud true principles, which 1t would seem No
Providence Of God that we are set apart 10
III held. Although we may not readily see il, our
position il not O hopeless one; II u full OF prom
&c. 1t sometimes happens IN great moral, u
II great physical battles, that certain dYnpn
Of men by simply maintaining n fixed position even
without striking an active blow will oonduoe 10 tho
victory; in like manner, By simply maintaining cur
numbers and senses and our Christianity dn.iff
he waves OF oppression and practical lnhdoliy tbst
have vHnly beaten against US, we have done our ~
pointed service Ia the land where we dwell, But the
hour las come for Us TO take direct and forwu
movement. We feel and know IT, Just as in 1871
there spontaneous movement among our breh-
rem of that generation, with voice 10 oppose ~
Colonization movement 20 in this year 1855, through
out the length of the land do feel reused 10 take
active aud energetic part IN the great question Of LIB
erty or Slavery. We are awakened, rs never befor,
to The fact that If Slavery and caste to DO removed
from the land must remove them, aud move thg1
oursevesi Others may aid and assist II they viii, b,s
tie moving lower rcsts with ~. Gentlemen, the a.
ncOn of this nowly-awakeDed power rests greatly
with ecu. Uutramnlcod by any OF the Influences ihs.
curb or srniien other benevolent ordebceiiye organ
izaOns, you may bring forward discuss and adopt
such plan of movement Gs may seem best. One q
two primary considerations are all will venture.
First il is important that you thoroughly organize ~
the co'ored peope; we cannot spare me ald OF
single man, or woman or minor SipaDe OF thinia-
ing Then you should sdoPt means to lay your
plans of ORGANIZATION or cooperation before every
Individual among our people. 1his can be done
bv the agency of lecturers and of the Press
We must dstn lily keep before the people the fact that
our eho,s consist IN something beside the decarati
of sentiments We must act up 10 what we declare
And SO closely does oppression encompass. US that We
can act constantly IA behalf OF our cause by simply
maintaining for ourselves the rights which the laws OF
the land guarantee 10 in common with all citizens.
From the mere act of riding in mblc conveyances up
10 The immediate aud entire abolition of Slavery ia tho
in the slave States the laws Of he land and the Con-
stiution of the country are cletly GA our sde And
that man is q traitor TO Liberty and q foe TO our HUI
manity who maintains or eyenadmts that we any
other human beings may be heR IN slavery on account
of the color of skin, tor any s0n short OF the COM
hitting Of crime. And from themere act OF riding In
public cOnyeyances, up 10 The Iteration OF every slave
in the land do our duties ea5tnd-embrering full
and equal participation, poueay aud socially in all
the rights aud inmuniGes OF American citizens. II
these our duties weighty, We have the means tn
perform them. Our cause il lneparably wrapped up
with every genial reform moving over the land
Freedom, hand in halfnfh labor
On the hN FOREHEAD head. Il hsneishbor
No MAI wrteth ssfe!
Tie States which have bgslated IN behalf Of the
Temperance reform have also made movements 70.
ward recognizing our rigbs as cuzens Thereon. bu,
efforts on our own part I've helped toward tins good
esult; in Massachusetts, mainly by efforts Of some col
red citizens one q mEber OF this Council. the last
vestige of caste IN Pabic Schools has been aoo'-
sled. In COnneoSut, on the petihol OF he'
colored citizens led b. member OF THIS Coun-
H. beth Houses Of the Legislature have s deno
their share toward ganting Us equal suffrage ana r'
Governor has receriy strongly recommended tng
In New-York though the efforts OF sSe Toancj
this Council ard lie President of our s'ae
aided BY the moving oloquenoe OF anosI 80 %
our Council Tie Legislature passed "a Ds.t tssutv
suffrspe-a vote ior which during ihe Ras. s"e"1y
years we have peitioaed and struggled 10 yam. III
Pennyvanaa and able sS SIs oeea an da not
,.,hnt -. srns Of success Even Illinois, hitherto
covered viii deeper o%y il S ess 81 Than Sar sss IT
81 o,arss,;o ooored citizens have not been IN vair
Genten these cheering and grand F,,u' A sSod I'd
colored ,sn. had almost said OF Eve. What may We
not do we the hearty earnest and ,'I hundred
operation OF ten thousand such men II q a. WHICH
cooIed men have struck these blows under gI ION
SIaveceracy reels and staggers how easily T' have
tfousaud overthrow that arocious 8, ssnl sent
the men and the spirit and favorable pnI organ,rs
ment; lei US address ourselves to the "ofA "