Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-11-25
Convention Of CoIored Citizens of Ohio.

Vice PresldentS-A. M Sumner, Hamilton
county John Malvin, Cuyahoga Co.; A. Red
man, Franklin Co.
Secretaries-Wm. E. Ambush, Cuyahoga
Coz, ]. D. Harris, Cuyahoga Co.; l. N. Troy,
Rdailton County; Horace Morris Green Coun-
ty.
Chaplain-WalIace Shelton, Hamilton couu-
ty.
On taking the chair, the President returned
thanks for the unexpected honor conferred up
on him. He hoped this Convention would not
spend itself in talk, but would take some prac-
teal action. There were legal and social disa-
bilities to be removed, and the cause of the slave
to be aided. Mere talk would not do this
People wanted to see a Convention of Colored
People do something. There had been enough
of talking Conventions, and if this one did not
do something, all hope of good from COnven-
tions would be destroyed.
Messrs. Jno. NJ. Langston Of Loraln county,
Jno. Booker of Franklin county, and Jno NAL
win of CuyahOga county, were appointed
Committee, to report Plan of Organization
for the Colored People of the State.
At the commencement of the
AFTERNOON SESSION
they reported the following preamble and re-
solutions
Whereas, The right to assemble and petition
for redress of grievances, is one of the few
rights left to the coored people of the United
States, therefore we, the eolored people of Ohio,
deem it right to inform our fellow citizens the
disabilities under which we labor, and for which
we seek redress:
We have to complain that, in country pro-
Tossing to realize in Government the grand
principles of the Declaration of l776, millions
of our brethren are publicly sod like beasts in
the shambleS; that they are robbed of their earn
ings, denied the culture of their children, for
bidJen to protect the chastity of their wives and
daughters, debarred an education and the free
exercise of their religion; and if they escape
by fight from so horrible condition, they may
be hunted like beasts from city to city, and
dragged back to the he'll from which they had
fed-the Government which should protect
them, prostituting its powers to aid the williams
who hunt them. Notwithstanding the rights
and immunities of the citizens of the several
States, we cannot visit large portions of our
country in pursuit of health, business or pleas
ure, without danger of being sold into perpetual
slavery, the shores of neighboring States be-
ing more inhospitable than the bleakest or
most savage shores that excite the mariners
dread.
To crown all, the highest tribunal of the land
solemnly denies that the great principles of
Liberty and Equality which are the boast of our
nation, were not intended to apply to us and our
unfortunate brethren, the slaves 1t decides the |
colored American sailor, or traveller, can receive
no protection from his government; that the |
National Courts are closed to us that we have |
fewer rights in our own native country than |
aliens, for the aliens may claim and receive JUS
tice from the tribunal before which we may not |
appear as suitors. Furthermore, in our own |
State of Ohio, while we are permitted partial |
freedom, we are sujected to iniqditous and bur-
1ensome legislation. We are refused the right |
to vote we are refused fair trial by jury we |
are refused participation in the emoluments and |
honors of office we are denied equal education;
hose of US who are reduced to pauperism, or
affected with lunaey, are thrust into the cells of
the felon's Jail, all of which is unjust, tending
10 destroy those sentiments of self respect, en-.
terprise and patriotism, which it would be wis
lom to foster in the people of the State
Therefore be it
ReSolUed That lift is the province of govern
nents to protect their subjects against unjust
seizures and Imprisonment violence, robbery,
MURDER rape and incest, if they should encOur-
lge and sustain industry, marriage, the parental
elation, education and religion: if it is their
luty to honor God by respecting and protecting
he rights of humanity, then should the Ameri-
an government Immediately and uncondition-
lily abolish that essence of infernalisms-Amer-
can Slavery
Resolrsd, That if the Dred Scott dctum be
true exposition of the law of the land, then
re the founders of the American Republic con-
icted by their descendants of base hypocrisy,
nd colored men are absolved from all allegiance .
0 a government which withdraws all protection.
ReSolUed, That we rejoice at the declension
f the Democratic Party in the North, and hope :
hat its defeat presages the downfall ofSlavery
f which accuTsed system it has been finn
Importer.
ResolUcd, That we say to those who would /
induce US to emigrate to Africa OF elsewhere, 2
hat the amount of labor and selfsacrifce re- 5
uired to establish home in a foreign land, T
,ould if exercised here, redeem our native land
rom the grasp of slavery; therefore we are re- :
olved to remain where we are, confident that
truth is mighty and will prevail"
ReSOlUed, That we recommend to our peo- :
lie, in addition to the education they are so
enerally seeking to give their children, to train
hem in habits of useful industry i
Resolped, That combination of labor and
apital in every field of enterprise, be our true
olicy. Combination stores Of every kind, E
ombination workshops, and combination :
arms will, if everywhere established, greatly
lcrease our wealth; and with it our power
RESOLVED, That State which taxes portion
its inhabitants without allowing them rep ,
excludes them from offices of honor
nd trust, refuses them an impartial trial by D
ury refuses an equal education to their youth,
isparages their patriotism by refusing to en-
1ll them in her militia, allows them to be hun
ID through her cities, confined in her jails, and
ragged thence to hopeless slavery, consigns
leir unatics and paupers to the common Jail,
,rfeits her claim to be called Christian or Re-
ubcan
RESOLVED, That in the vigorous and unceasing
Iercise of the rights of petition we recognize
potent instrument of elevation, and we recon-
lend the people of every city and school dis L
ict to petition the Legislature 10 repeal all such
ws, and to take the proper steps to expunge
ON the Constitution all traces Of distinction on
count of color
Resolped, That the State Central Committee
: instructed to prepare two petitions for gen
al circulation, one to be signed by whites ia
orable to equal rights and the other by the c
,lored people, male and female, young and
d, emitting none who are able to make their
ark. n
After considerable discussion, the first reso-
tion was adopted, the second and third being
id on the table for consideration in the eve "
ng, which, after extended remarks by Langs- i
n, Clark and Watkins, were also embodied "
he whole report, being then adopted, as con. il
lining the full sense and views of the meeting. at
til
ar
70
The FIRST FLOUR BARREL.-In noticing the W
tirement of WM. A. o1s, Esq, from the Pres u
ency of the Commercial Branch Bank, the p
- DC