Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-12-05
C0LoRED PEOPLE OF CLEVELAND.


WILLIAM WELLS BRowN, in late Libcrator,
gives the following account of the condition of the
colored people of Cleveland:
spent four or Ave days in Cleveland after the
adjournment Of the Convention, and discovered
the almost only redoeming feature about that
pnestrdden city. That redeeming feature is the
intelligence, industry aud respectability of the
colored citizens. Though not large, the coored
popnlation OF Cleveland surpass in thrift the same
number in any other place in the North Indeed
they will compare most favorably with an equal
number OF whites in any portion Of Ohio. Most
of them are from the South, where they were free
but were driven out by the tyranncal and oppres.
sive laws of slavery, which they were unwilling
longer to endure. Some of them are in good cir
cumstances, and are engaged in business employ.
ing their own capital Messrs. Oliver S lIender.
son have large and well-stockcd store on Erie
street, and appear to be literally patronizel by
their white fellow.citizens. They are from Rich
mond, Va, and reside in their own dwellings.
Mr.. Oliver, though resident Of a slave State.
managed to educate his children, and to bring
them up with far more credit than most whites of
the South. His two daughters are highly cuitiva-
ted, and would grace any drawing room in the
land. The youngest is sweet singer, and per-
forms beautifully on the guitar. They feel deeply
interested in the Arti.Slavery cause, and need on.
ly 10 become better acquainted with our movement
to embrace it most cheerlully. Mr. Morris is from
North Carolina lie is merchant tailor and has
fac Of custom. lie is an educated man,
and Mrs. Morris would do honor to any society in
which she might appear. Mr.. Parker keeps a pro-
vision store and resides in fine brick house
owned By himself lie is employed on the Missis.
sippi river, and leaves the management Of the
store to Mrs. Parker, who possesses what Fowler
calls 'gOah0adativene5s' to u far greater extent
than most women. She would be fortune to any
business man. Mr. Swing and Mr.. Stanley are
tin manufacturers, and each has an establishment
of bis own. Mr. Marshall keeps q grocery, and
another man. whose namo did not learn, has a
blacksmith shop, and is doing we'll. Miss Allston,
an accomplished young lady, is teacher of music
being very proficient on the guitar and piano.
s.Stanley is teacher in Of the day schools
fand her education places her in the front rank OF
her profession.
There are many other colored persons in Cleve
tand who are doing well, and whose elevated osi
tions will contribute much to the cause Of the
slave. Amongst these are Mr.. Vosburgh and Mr..
Leech. The former rents out houses to his white
neghbors, and the latter is physician. Mr. Vos,
burgn deserves great credit for his industry
The colored citizens of Cleveland took decidedly
more interest in the late Convention than the
whites; and the respectability and high tone of
morals that characterize them have opened the
doors of the public schools to their children This
fact alone speaks volumes for the colored citizens
there; There are nearly seven millions dollars
worm OF properly owned by thlS prescribed peO.
pie in Ohio Some of their farms are the finest
have seen. Colored mechanics are numerous here,
and write this letter under the hosptable roof of
a black man who owns forty acres of land, and the
grst-mill that stands upon it, Still, this man is
shut out from the polls on election day, and his
children kept out of school by law, while Ohio has
been governed the last two years by Republican
State administration. Shame upon the payty for
like the Democrats they believe that coiored men
have no rights that white men nra hounb to ras
pec:.' There is much negro hate or what is cal
led prejudice here, against all who have drop
Of African blood coursing in their veins, and they
need line upon line and precent upon precept