The weekly Anglo-African., 1860-06-02


involved in the matter is as follows: A
well-known individual, protesting to be
member of a committee appointed by the
public to raise money to fee counsel and to
meet all other expenses connected with
the wants of the prisoners" warmly APP
pealed to the Convention for aid, &c. at
the same time setting forth unqualifedly
that the "whole burden of expenses would
devolve on the colored people," that the
abolition Society would do nothing" and
that the counsel fee for the thirty colored
prisoners would be from 5000 to $3.50 in
each case," to say nothing of other Incl
dental expenses.
On the announcement of these repre-
sensations Mr.. I. G. Wears made some ap
propriate remarks bearing on the propriety
of guarding against deception, &C., Il was
Secretary of the Convention) and at the
same time came to me and said, odd you
you not tell me that counsel had been en-
ployed by the Abolition Committee for all
the colored prisoners :" 81 did," was my
quiet but emphatic answer.
Afterwards Mr.. W. again took the floor,
and spoke warmly, ably and to the point,
as he commonly does and in concluding
his remarks assured the Convention that
he had creditably been informed that
counsel had been employed for all the
colored prisoners" calling out my name as
bis informant. In such a crisis truth for
babe that / shou'd remain mute. | knew
that counsel had been employed knew
precisely by whom employed, the exact
amount Of the fee for each prisoner, ($25
in each case) the definite amount that had
been paid for retaining fees to the several
counsel l knew too who provided beds
"a committee of young female Friends,
clothing, food, &C., for the prisoners COM
fort, likewise who looked after them and
their families, to meet their wants in every
direction. Indeed, as an individual / was
appointed both by the old Abolition Com
mittee and the Anti-Slavery Office to take
an active part in these praiseworthy duties.
Hence deliberately stated the truth in
the case, and assured the Convention, if
any doubted my word, that all the facts
could easily be verified by calling ON Pass
more Williamson, SeUenth and Arch
Streets, John II. Cavender, Fifth and
Green, or al the Anti- Slarery Office.
The head and front of my offending
hath this extent, no more!
That many hundred dollars were raised
from the various colored churches, socie-
ties, and from individuals, not only in this
city but in distant cities, in the name of
committee that really had no valid exist
ence, professedly to defend men who had
been regularly provided for, is fact that
was fully established soon afterwards, much
to the discontinue at least of the active
agents in this begging speculation.
Hence from no other source have | been
maligned one hundredth part as much as
| have been by colored men, for acting
conscientiously in this matter.
Also, previous to the establishment of
the Philadelphia Vigilant Committee, the
Colored churches and Abolitionists used to
be begged necessarily, pretendingly for
fugitives, &c, who, in most cases, after all,
had to be sent away by means furnished
by the Anti-Slavery friends connected with
the Anti-Slavery Society. Therefore, for
the safety and protection of passengers,
and to put stop to an obvious nuisance,
committee of some twenty responsible
Abolitionists, white and colored, united
together, eight years ago, to accomplish the
desired object, since which time these du-
ties have been performed by this body to
the entire satisfaction of all who are in
sympathy or harmony with the U. G. R. r.
enterprise, as far as have been able to
Judge or learn. Yet from this disafected
faction nothing but hostility and opposition
have been manifestedin various ways. The
entire begging operations have undergone
complete revolution. Not a solitary
Colored church has been begged by the
Philadelphia V. c., and excepting on one
or two occasions only, and its annualmeet-
lngs, has it received collections. The
change relative to the whites has been
equally as great. Of course the public,
who are Immediately interested in sustain
ing the Vigilance Committee and in the
elevation of the colored man generally.
are not such fools that they cannot under.
stand all about this matter.
Now, am prepared to summarily dis
patch the two articles under consideration,
in which am made to appear guilty"