, 1863-04-30
COL 0REE MEN On THE WAR
0.csoASlAons of lie Meeting
At Appeal 30 tf12 Coloreu
HScn Of Illinois.

PURSUANT TO call for 4 public meeting. til,
co'"rcd citizens Of Chicago assembled a
Qulon's Chapel, OH alonday evening to con
s'oef The relations They sustained to the Gov
efnmcnt, aud the obligations which restce
upon them as colorcd men in the present ro
oellion. John Jones called the meet
'hS to order, and in an able ulanne,
d"eit upon the duties which devolvod
upon them as colored. men in giving their SIN
port TO Government which had already -,
coghized their manhood, their citizenship. and
was now calling upon them to take Sand In
Tue Federal army Us soldiers in defandinn
Inc liberties Of free, enlightened and great
people, nc then nominated Joseph Stanley
rs chairman Of the meeting.
Dir. Stanley on taking the chair, thanked
tie meeting for the honor, and briefly stated
It's Objects. He said the time had now arrived
| when the colored man must decide before the
civilized world, not only how be stands, but
how he will net. II that inherent and God
given right Qibery} was worth anything, 1t
"as worth fighting Tor, and Il there was class
Of people on earth thut should appreciate
in fighting for It.
On motion Of E. R. Williams, Theodore
| Stcfrctt, Rey. a. Hall, Rev. E. McTosh, John
Jones, and J. B. Dawson we're appointed Vice
Presidents, a,ld L. B. White and John Byrd
were chosen Secretaries.
On motion, a committee Of FIVE was an
POINTED to draft resolutions of the sense Or
the meeting, The Chair appointed the Com
mlttee as follows: E. r. Williams, Il. j. My
Wm. r, Bonner. During tic absence nf Tho Tho
Committee, Rev. Mr. Troy being called for
spoke of the interest which he entertained in
reference to the cause that be had PRAYED fnr
tue privileges which they have now obtained
but not With the expectation that he would
ever He 10 sec it, Il colorcd ,ncn 60 to the
ac1uate all Of their proceedings in connec ion
With this great cause
MIR. f. R. Williams next addressed the
meeting. Ho had discovered degree Of "a
iriotism among his brethren which be hereto
'oTe 'oit had "a considered impossible, but he re-.
1oieed at 1t, and for one he declared his 1ntcn.
ton to embark in the enterprise and eudeayor
70 Prove himself worthy Of the great boon
Which The Government had seen canse to cnn-
ter Upon him, viz: that Of bcing citizen or
Inc United States, and as such, Subject to Ill
o. o., the R privileges and immunities Of an Amer
the great change which God in LIS mercy has
granted THEM, and say that the cause Of thc
Gn1on Is their cause, aud as such tley will
fight for it as long as a drop Of blood flows in
their cable frames. lie was only too Aappv to
embrace the opportunity offered him, and IRE.
sentcd himself as sacrifice on the altar Of
point the invitation should originate. so that
Ae had an opportunity to assert his manhood.
lie bad ever considered it his duty to 20. and
be should go, and When the Star Spancled ban
Eer was implanted on thu battlculents NJ
charleston, lie intended to be there and shout
victory" beneath its sacred folds.
Mr. John Jones, the next speaker, said that
ne vas . man Of deeds, not Of words; that
this action of tho eo1ored people would nut
them on record rs men or slarcs; that far
9ne he was not desirous Of bring designated
" the last appellation. He, as a colorcd man,
!Gokea M ior tls time When they could point to
the glorious Stars and Stripes aad say, t.Thera
is the fag for which and my countrymen
fought" No other words could afford him.
US cG!oTed man, more self gratiIica.
tion. He stated his Willingness to
espousc the cause of freedom, 1t matterod
nol 10 nm from what source it originated Ho
was willing to adopt Massachusetts as ia
home, provided she gave him the right which
every freeman coyeta, namely, that Of fighting
Tor her honor, aud the honor Of his conntrr'
The state Of his present residence would not
accept his services in this glorious cause, hut
ae was determined TO Participate, and for that
purpose should embrace the opportunity pro-
sented BY the noble and patriotic Governor Of
Massachusetts,. lie might say more If he sun-
posed that words would be rs cfTectual Is
blows but as they would not, he should place
his words Of argument in the mouth Of the
carnon and the blade Of the sword.
Mr.. q. ]. Maxwell next occupied the stand
Tie considered it the duty Of every tnan, white or
Hack, to respond TO tie call to offend tbc Gov.
crrment which our fathers fought for in the
Revolutionary war, for his ancestors fought far
Tie Independence OF this government, and llc,
f,osu r. ~
fight for its continuation, aud when Tie forcss
o1 Gen. Hnnter should assault Charleston. he
should endeayor to be there to assist in storm
ing the entrenchments Of city in which so
many OF his fellow men has suffered from the +!
CALLING bonds Of human slnyerY
Mr.. John Byrd being the next sneaker.
eaid the question Was: Will the colored
men Of this country fight? That ia to hc DE-. |
ridcd By them Il SO, why do they lipger? IF |
We must take part in this struggle, let ug |
prove Pr, II By acting: Let it be said Of us as Of
deeds which were not recorded by historians
OF their actlons.h But let us make history
Tor ourselves; let Ms respond by laying down
our lives and fortunes upon tic bleeding al
tar Of our country, for NC are people, rising
from degradation, and must make !. nation:
tEen show ourselves worthy By taking M
arms, and the Government viii acknow1edre
us as good men and worthy citizens.
. at. =. 9. Freeman stated that he was not
lighting man, but when the previous sneaker
LAD buckled on Ills ar1nor and had stepped
into the ranks, he Wou}d be found by his eide
in assisting to drive the rebels into the Gulf
Of Mexico.
The Committee on Resolutions made t1o
following report, which was unanimously
adopted:
WHEREAS. The Government Of the United State,
wing manifested willingness to accent the ser
slses OF GoloIed men In assisting to pnt down re-.
beon PEI that is war!ing sgaipst the liberties of
WHEREAS, Those libertics, now IN ia ieopardv h..
long not only to the white man. but ara fhe i;1hc-
en- aud God.giFen rights Of the black man; there.
Rtso'rfd, That We, as colored men and American
citizens. ever loyal to Government that has o.
lives and our sacred honors to answer and oher ali
demands and sum1nonecs sent b. the GoYernment nti
70 a1d and assist in defending the common Iber.
lles Of tue entire nation.
Eeso!rfd,, That We shall watch with pride the
eolosea regiments now forming in Massachusetts.
under thc Supervision OF Gov. Andrews May thew
enemies Of the country, where thcy csn rcfntc th
base and foul assertion that the colorc1 men Ar.
Incapable =; Of ashtng.
Retosrfd, That the State OF Illinois, with her
small colored population. mnst and
shall be the banner State in this great wotE s,rr
y, ices must be made when duty demands It: and as
standard which ie the pride Of every freeman.
Atso|ftd. That this war Is not only 4 white |
man = put "a solo'ed mans war That military
public ia base1 prove that liberty to one class ~
people and slavery to the other must be fatai ami
I, ssi5petise to the Government, unlcss enjoyed bg
H<sclefd, That In Gov. Andrews Of Massachu.
m9 4no tue statesman. patriot, friend Of frer-
1om and humanity. May the loyalty which he hsa |
'hoNn 70 Inc Government, place him arst in fhe |
rsai1s 81 INC american people, and lastly. in tho
executive chair OF the nation, 49, '1o
Nts@rtd, That we will fssue an n,ne,1 ~ +ho
citizens Of the State of Illinois, asSin" them ~
cooperate With the Government In e1conrarin.1
,oiose0 en!lstrents for this holy cause-and NAV
li!inols With all her coascrptivc hate send forth
II @ o. o1aek men to l.ep share the glory
GesHtfd, IhAt committee Of dyc be snno;ntod
o Solicit and encourage men to enlist In the rc,s-
Meuis nov forming in Maseachusett ana fiat
'oded men to represent her in this Onward march
II freedom. "
4 committee Of five was then appointed IN
"a address, consisting Of John Jones. =
'latt, j. Stanley, H. Bradford, II, L. Lewis.
committee on recruiting was also an
'olnted. consisting of E. X. Williams. II 7 ;
laxwcn, L. lsbell, J. Early, E. II. WalEcr .
he meeting then adjourned The following
the appeal prepared By the committee:
orR COUNTRY AND DUTY.
Colored men Of Illinois. This appca1 ia ia vo,,
i,se ,a eaT bnt for moment, Our country. The
elovcd land OF our birth, ia now in the mIi.t NJ
lsil s Wal eanscd By the most Infamous rebellion
M aiions e1ietenss peophs Or tseatenet
sch: u rendered doubly so when il is rememhered :
LAY nc solc object is to establish the endless
onea:e of,s OF onr race by constitution whici
ae vec y b Alexander + Stevens
African slavery is and ssIi H. s
u ceFuer stone Of the Southern eociat er.tem | r