Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1859-01-26
Appeal of the Colored Convention
to the Voters Of Indiana


seek not TO be conspicuous. but TO place before
you our true condition ia piain "unvarnished"
phrase, 70 which we hufhbly beg your candid
aud impartial attention
Ever sinee the fall II man From the hlissfal
estate assigned HIN in The Garden Of Eden,
evil has beea sxtant in the world, and Il has
teen the purpose Of all philan'h -opists aod re-
foruers 10 remedy evil b. sitIosing light aud
knowledge throughout the world. We ere
aware that the Northern and Southern sections
Of ,Ais Republic have been throw into per
+ feet comisolion. by their upposio. views Of
oas rue coaditon and relation TO as sovers
ment. Fut IL j. onl, ne spirii Of liberty con
tending against opposition, Justice against an
justice, risht against wrong. the Declaration
Of independence. the Ccn.,ituiion uf the Uni
Ted States pleading aud cosisnjing for the
God given. aud luaiensble tights Of all reu. i.
the laudaklr object for which our fathers
fought m he Revolutionary War. aud pro
elaiisej 10 the world. that all Inen wsre BORA
fr-.. aud equal and possessed inalienable
rights TO life. Liberty ard he pursrit Of hap
piness. tef
You will perceive frcm the following that
We are deprived Of all the most essential rights
Of Tree rnsn. According 70 The 81 section o.
the 18th article OF lhe Constitution Of the STATE
of Indiana. colored men are dsaied the right
to obtain a legal residence IN The STATE coming
from any other State. According 10 the pro
visions Of the revised statutes Of l-43. PAGE
us, oar testimony Is rejected IN courts Of JUS
tice
In the same Instrument we are exempted
from paying a school tax, consequently have
F been shut out Of the pullic schools of he
state. and VIII eontinoe 10 b.. i" case lie Law
i, not amended by the prescott or another Leg
islature to obvia'e the constitutional otjee
iions Of the Supreme Courts.
And il has been decided in some e the
courts that c5lo-sd persocs cannot be adult.
ted into the beneyolen, institutions Of The
state. /, has been done. too. In the absence
Of all law 10 sustain H. We ask The repeal of
these laws for tie following reasons The
Declaration Of Independence. The American
definition of human freedom, declares iha'
all mcn are created ilee aud equal and u i'
contrary to your own bill Of r'ghtr. your own
constitution. In,he preamble q ycqr eonsti.
tuition. aud in your b.li OF rights. you declare
the object of them to be to establish justice,
and secure the blessings OF hbeF'lT Pri"e'oiF'
ruor imOcsatic
Tie 18th article of the eou>tiiation - CON
trary to TO United States constitution la
the miscellaneous provisions. The ~ article,
section l., reads, The citizens OF each State
~hali be entitled TO all The privileges aud ia.
munigiss Of ,he sesstal Stasc-.' Ia spite Of
tbs clause "a tie United States constitution
lhe l3lh article Of this -,ate's cen.uta,ion, the
celored seioumer from Massaehusesss. though
hc be fuu groan e,uzsn Of that STATE. who
comes iu,o Indiana. l. compelled u suaer q
heavy iine aud expulsion.
Itis also a violation OF the deliberate and
recorded sentiment Of our seasrased fathers
II may bc said by some that We ate not olii
reps Of any State according TO he Dred Scot
decision. Chancellor Kent says. "naiisii,
gives citizenship" Jadge Philemon Bliss
whose learning aud abilities place hin among
, The most distinguished lawyers OF the eoanif,
la. bodily declared that There A. uoshing u
T the principles OF traditions of our Goycrumcu
, TO Justify the idea that colofed persons VII
are free and born Ia the uui,el states. are no
citizens" Nov. u.nety nine cat oiegeiy hun
d,ed free colofed pcrsons ia the United State
wefe horn thefein, and arc therefore cit
sens.
( undsrihe provisions Of the Revised Statute
h Of lsS3. page us. any ssApe la,l or half raise
d peniteu,iary hard case may insult aud abus
j. any oolored lady IA the most Waaton manne
may take he life of peaceful colored pc
l son. or commit any other depreciation. aud 1
tl,e sbsenos Of any white person, lno matter
a itwa- witnessed by Asndred respectable co
ored persoss, whsn he is arra'gIed As.oFe
cour, OF Justice to account for h.sosifages, q
that TIE prosecuting attorney can do - u e
ter "nol.s prosqa.." aud ths wreiched Gu
I, pf,, /. rels ase.,. whipped Of iOs,oe. to Il
shame II civilization sad the Legislature I'd
: pa>sed the law.
y We ask the repeal Of these lsws iii,he mar
Of the DeclarAtion 81 IndePsn deuce. in q
name Ct the fathers Of this coustry. Wsshin
ton aad JesIsf.sn. ~ the name Of the civilia
,iea and repobi icsni~m OF cLristian AmeriS
sad ~ ,he nrme OF tie eolorei patriots "
~ f,e.-hf. bieI and died ia the defence of 20
naereodepee
When ioresga enemy Wa striving 70
wade ,our shores our fa,hess were called
:. Lake Chaisplain. the SHORES Of which
er,msoned vith their blood. Our faihess VI
.hs sie,s,os of th~ ASrsitle Jersey si;,p.
p..sed oar part IN lie battles q isl7, IN
city II New Orleans. Cur blood has enrich
om ,hs ,oil Of this coon'ry and cVF tears b.
az f.4n fses.iy fsf s.. AID nov we only AK
he sssaeririlfs .es grs~t those Who fought agai
by you. !, is yoaf to,y aud oar ngh' 10 den'
AP- thg'rfepeal.
ted IL b-haf Of tie State convention. .e
sst rrati~nea aud fellow -eitirene. y0ars y
an great rssrssi.
shs y. : LANFfoP.-.,
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