The weekly Anglo-African., 1860-04-21
LETTER FROM EZRA R. JOHNSON.
NEW BEDFORD, March &c, 1860.

LETTER FROM EZRA R. JOHNSON.
NEW BEDFORD, March &c, 1860.
SIRs-I received yours of the Oath inst,
and make this early reply. 1t cannot be
denied that the influence of the African
Civilization Society is working very disad-
vantageously to our people. Having for
its advocates some of our misguided but
talented and influential citizens, ithas found
friends among large portion of the clergy
and the press The politicians also find it
convenient to introduce the subject of emf
grafton of the free colored people. Lead
ing members of the Republican party are
loud in their laudations. Even MIR. Wade,
who has been considered friend OF the
oppressed, recently introduced the subject
while expounding the cardinal principles
OF the party before the United States Sen
ate, and advocated the policy of making
their platform to contain new plank IN
the coming Presidential contest-viz: the
emigration of the free colored people be-
yond the United States. 1t is our duty to
expose, on all proper occasions, the mis-
chievous Vaccinations of that society. We
should be unit on this subject. The
tendency of their movements is to create
discomfort among us, and foster the unho-
ly prejudice by revival of that wicked
visionary scheme, whose only object is the
expatriation of tho free colored people,
that the slave may be rendered more Sc
cure in his chains. The colored people of
Massachusetts are all opposed to this socie-
| ty, and have entered their solemn protest
against it, EZRA R. JOHNSON.
The reading of the letters being conclud-
ed,
| Mr.. Garnet said wish to hear the let
ter read to which these letters were in re-
ply. wish to know whether the state
ments were true which called forth these
replies. believe there were representa-
tons in it which could not be sustained.
l call for the reading of that letter. Cries
of "The letter the letter ")
Mr.. Downing-I stand here an Ameri.
can; l stand here colored man, feeling
the consciousness of having rights, and
stand up here in defence Of my rights
('Letter," "Letter.") What reason is there
for crying out Letter" when an individu-
al gets up and you don't know but he is
going to give that letter c'Letter," Let
ter.") l have the floor, and no letter shall
be read until my rights are respected.
('Letter," "Letter.") Fellow citizens, it is
out of place to read that letter now, because
we have not decided whether any more
letters shall be read or not. There are
more letters
Mr.. Garnet-I thought so. daughter
Mr.. Downing-I wish to state that the
gentleman was out of place in calling for
the letter, and he knew it. ("Letter," "Let.
terri Gentlemen, the fact is
The rest of the sentence was lost in the
cry for the letter from male and female
voices, from the floor and from the gal
lery.
Mr.. Garnet-I ask that the letter be
read. In that letter have been charged
with being a colonizationist and in league
with slaveholding. Now want that let
ter read.
Mr.. Downing moved that the reading of
all the other letters be deferred. Kisses
and tumult, and cries of "Read the let
ter.O
The President called the meeting to or
der, and said he hoped the colored men
would have more respect for themselves
than to copy after the rowdy meetings of
white men. Laughter
Mr.. Gray--If there is letter here, L
say read it, let it be what it may. Tire
mendous cheering.
Mr.. Downing want to explain the
matter. (''The letter; read it first, and ex-
plain afterwards"
Mr.. Downing stated that the letter was
not in the house, but he could state every
word in it, "Dear Sir--It has been re-
ported in Europe"
Mr.. Garnet protested against any such
proceedings. Gentlemen had read eight
or ten letters denouncing him, and bring
ing charges against him which, if true,
would render him worthy of an ignomini-
GUS death. He asked that the letter to
which these eight or ten letters were re-
ply should be read. Great confusion for
several minutes.
Mr.. Downing at last succeeded in say
ing that Mr.. Garnet's name was not men
toned in the letter. The letter was as
follows he would give his honor that he
repeated it correctly; Dear Sir-It has
been reported in Europe that the consent
of the colored people in the United States,
and of the Abolitionists, has been obtained
in behalf of the African Civilization Socie-
ty. We ask you whether the colored peo-