New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-02-25
THE IEG.L RIGHTS ASSOCIATION.

THE LEGAL RIGHTS A>SoClA'ioN.
SON. Jew years ago certain colored persons VINO
- ,ogri,yeI by being excluded and, indeed, vo-
l. ntly elected from sone ~ the cars oi hnhoerof
the cl,y railroads brought tnen grievances before toe
Coutts After the customary And seemhgy inevitable
tro,rac-d ,ardre-s of this branch OF tue Ccamocn-
,,, Ofcr and after all the ~ ufiing pr,crtsn s,ioos
inc6 nj 20 Tie las delay, the matter manly sehed
the Supreme Court, and Judge k"ck"eA loeis nsds
n. d. cion in substance that colored per cns nave
the same nix hts in public conveyaoces I'd ths Guy "a
those OF fsirer epidernis For the purpose o; pro-
yidr the sn.w If war To carry on THIS ana o,ner
legal contests, and prosecute theu ound neesssay
TO that immaculate tribunal OF the 1851 reso,
as the COur. of Appeals, an organization OF Soi"co
persons has been perfected, under tae style OF the -
sa Rights Association of which society there 10 ie'
u ale branch.
Justly considered great triumph for the c"'ored n-
lsbiants of the city, and was regarded as stroog
pOin; gained toward the ultimate recogGii'on by the
community of the full measure 81 their eluA rgnts.
IN. anniversary of that judicial octum has, there
fore been celebrated each succeeding year wth much
oyali,y and elee by the ubiant ladies ard ,sn,enen
Of the Legal Rights Association.
The female branch Oi toIs organization led Their
annual OlitcatiOn Monday evening az Spring street
Hall the bills of the evening announ ed a grand
entertainment the constituent parts OF wtlch we're to
be conve rsstion, prOnlenGdng. supper ana " TWO or
ihree short and Interesting dScourses 10y prominent
persons" There music provided, and the
proceed pgs were TO BE- Intellectual rather than sss-
tory. mn . o.,,.s,a ,,s
y q
ioyous visitors but unfortunately the respIeDdency ot
tie festive scene was very much marred ~ conse'
auence OF scarcity of gas, that odorous counlodty
being affected by the cold weather To most n'ohVe-
Mo, ex,ept The pipes were not thawed al hall past
twelve until which tnAe allow candles lssncI 10 gas
fixtures and stuck in bottles did their little Utmost az
summation. -,
early part of the evening spent IN promenading
and copver saioD and At l. o'clock meeting was or
ganized by the choice Of Mr. JoHN W. HCSIER as cnaI-
man. lie read the programme Tor the evening, aho,
previously announcing that owing TO the a;"ness OF
the hour the speeches must be very short he called
on the Rev. Mr.. Freeman of Brooklyn, to begin.
Mr. FRrEM.N eulogied Mr.. Peter 5. Porter very
highly aud spoke in praise of the decision oi Judge
Rockwell stating that be was particularly promo that
that de cison was made in his own City OF Brooklyn.
The Rev. Dr. PENNINGToS referred to the encour-
sgements colored men have to proceed IN men YORK,
ard to continue their legal action. He said taat law,
public sentiment and the rules and regulations ~ tho
pubic conyeyancss in all foreign countries were WIN
them. The Directors OF the Snth-avenue k4iitoef
have no right 10 exclude colored people nom 'heir
cars The public do not demand it, and do not desire
it. He said that be bad trsyeled much himself ana
could say from hs personal observations tnat tho
general spirit of the travelling public against 'us sn,
cuson OF negroes from public conveyaoces OF any
descriItion But then, he remarked, there are some
d scours gements. Ii is old adsge that whom men
irjure they hate and they must therefore De pre-
par ed to meet the btteres opposition from the direct
of these railroad companies. Inc managers OF
these corporations would attack the feelings aod tne
motives Of the colored people, charge them WIN peing
revolutionary and with forcing themselves where toey
were lot hked of intrudirg themselves where they
were not wanted, on purpose to gain notorety and
create confusion. And whenever coored people came
into the Courts false witnesses would be povidedto
testify against them, and every possible effort would
be made by men having money to keep them under
and ride them down. Therefore, not only the encour-
aging but the adverse circumstances must be kept IN
mind. The colorcd people had already had three
judicial decisions in their favor, and are now within
one Court Of the ast one-the Court OF Appeals.
Mr.. THOMAS DOWNING was next called upon, ana
be begsn by remsrkpg that he much out Of his
lement in trying to make speech as some gentlemen
were in trying TO force upon them false law lie went
On to remark that the Association had gained much;
could not in any Of the public conveyanccs of the
city, and now We can ride in nearly all The main
fcuty was that the expense Of ali this had TO be
borne by few only, and these few had been obliged
TO put their hands in their pockets and 70 the very
bottom Of their pock cts, too, while the great majority
stood aside, and did not contribute Mr.. Downing
said there 600 blacks in the City Of gYork,
and that they ought to give at least 81 piece for the
glorious purpose of securing their rights His closing
remark was striking, ana perhaps, on the whole, has
pretty strong smack Of truth in il. There are said
he, lGO negroes in the State OF Newfor and We
Lad wanted to secure the elective franchise enough to
have contributed 81 piece there would have been
100000, which If it had been sent to Albany and put
in the hands OF the right Of the Legislature in
the right way, they would have secured them the:
franchise long since. l tell you, he said, important
measures are always carried through the Legislature
by the liberal use Of money, and money will do any
thing.
Mr.. PETER s. PORTER had a written speech which
he curailed somewhat, the strong point of which
was, That since the decision Of Judge Rockwell the
five cents OF a colored man good those of
white man; whereas before If q colored man wanted
to ride certain distance be must hire hack az thirty
times the cost that white man could 90 the same
dista1ce for.
The speeches having been concluded and having
been duly applauded, the party adjourned to the sup
per rooms 10 parteke of the refreshments provided by
the caterer Mr.. Tunis Campbell. The table was laid
with eleg ance and taste and most bounul sappy Of
delcacies was provided. There was some more
speech-makiDg and a great deal Of jovialty and at
very late hour indeed the party separated
This was the third Anniversary meeting of the fe-
male branch of this Legal Association, and the
bers think they have accomplished much-enough to
afford them encouragement 10 perseverc in their deter
mination TO obtain the very fulness Of what they
claim a. their rights, or have decision from tho
highest Courts that shall settle the matter for ever
Renewed efforts viii be made henceforth for the col
lection Of moneys TO prosecute the actlons tina, al
ready in the Courts, and to promptly bring before
competent Judicial tribunals any other persons who
may wantonly outrage American citizens because Of
couplenop. These annual festive gatherings do very
much to keep alive the interest in the Society ard %
nmulete the members thereof to persevere in their
undertaking.