, 1863-04-15
Meeting Of Colored Citizens,
FORMATION OF THE BLACK
KkEG1MENT.


1 0E"ANAElN IL
What tho Colored Men Think q
the War.
a large and an enthusiastic mass meeting Q
colorcd citizens came of on Monday evcnin,
OF thls week, at Quinn's Chapel, on jackson
stfte', Tor the purpose Of hearing war sreecl
from J. II. Langston, the distinguishes
colored orator of Oberlin, Ohio.
The assemblage WIS called to order by J
Stanley, and, on motion, John Jones was call
cd to the chair, and Il. J. Maxwell wns chose,
Secretary. Prayer was offered By Rev. Mr.
Webb, after which the chairman briefly an
nounced the objects OF the meeting, and thel
introduced Mr.. Langston, who spoke for NOR
than an hour, With wonderful power, concise
ness and eloquence, in behalf Of his coloro,
brethren In America.
The speaker remarked TINT lie un1erstoo,
the object Of the meeting to be not go niue!
for the purpose Of hearing an address, as tt
awaken all interest that should lead to the en-
li.tmcnt Of colored people in the army Of tht
Union. He was gratided to behold so large
number present, as :hcir simple prescnc. in
dicaed the Interestingly felt in the great caust
| Of human freedom.
He WAS glad we were in the midst of w1r
| for he firmly believed that the tlnll result.
Of this struggle would bcglorious-that when
| it was over, and peace again reigned through
| out The nation, the aboiniaable curse Of lin,
| man slavery would be numbered among the
| thing. that were.
Within the past three years, great ch1npes
had come upon this nation. No class OF per.
|. s0ns should be more thankful for those
changes than the colored people; for through
these important events, they were begiunio..
70 understand the meaning Of the term
d6wntrodden and oppressed. But the white
people should also rejoice. for slavery ca.
chained them rs well rs their fellow beings Of
darker hue. When Charles Sumner was
stricken down in the Senate Chamber By the
rutfiau BROOKS, The free speech Of every man
in America wns 1ssaiicd.
Several years ago the speaker had predicted
that IN less than twenty years there would be
= mighty conflict between the white men OF
the North and the South aud before that con.
h;ct ended, the slaves in the Southern States
~onid step ont Of bondage.
Thrre were significant changes taking place
in pnbic sentiment. When Gen. Butler first
went to Baltimore with an important com
Eand, he declared it was his "purpose TO mt
down an insurfections. Of blacks as we'll as
Whites" Now, Ben. Butler was an abolition
1st, and was not only in favor OF freeing The
Southern traitors
1t lad been charged that the Republicans
we're responsible for the war, and could haye
avoided it br accepting the Critteoden Cum
p5 omisc; This was absurd and false: for in
1et0 the Republican party were in a minority
N congress, and Southern Democrats them
selves Eonld not have accepted any compro
mise whatcyer.
me South was now mad, ard he hopedthcv
Mould remain so, till every one Of them was
driven into the Gulf Of Mexico, They vera
evidently given over to "harduess Of heart
and rcprobacy Of mind, and 1t was probable
They would continue on their cours.. till they
they belonged.
lhe south was simply lighting for slavery;
Tor government whose corner stone rested
on the souls and bodies Of enslaycd human
beings. >1111>A
In these days Of thrilling events, abolition
!sts were made not BY speeches, but by going
1nto the army; and but few, if any honest,
sons afforded by few months experience as
soldiers, in the rebel States, without becom-
ing Sincere haters Of slavery.
Abraham Lincoln, in his official capacity.
mad been cautious; and fur that reason lie wis
Inc man for the hour. His he.rt and head
mighty for just the work In which hc was en-
gngcd. ""@ ~"
Tle subjugation of South Carolina was q
n1eo TACT, aud only matter Of time, The
speaker had heard that there were $1,000
armed ar black men advancing upon tie rear Of
Gnaficslon Ii this were true, th7t city was
doomed, ard must soon f,ll; for tho c5lorei
people would fight. notwithstanding ali that
We Copperhcaa5 had said to The contrary, If
Charleston should fall BIZ tue hauds 0f tic
co!ored people, "uegro BLOOD" would immc-
dlately rise two or three hundred per cent.
Every man would then be anxious to demon
s'rste that he had little more African blood
IN his veins than his neighbors possessed.
Our Government was pledged 10 lie cause
q ffeedon-pledgcd By more than one i'm
poftant act, performed within the mast two
seaFs. among these were the abolish1nent of
slavery III the District Of Columbia: the re-
ceptlon Of Ministers from Liberia aud Hayti; |
1he official opinion Of Attorney General Bates.
declaring that negroes were citizens Of the |
hlted States; and last, though best of all, |
tie glorious proclamation of the Pfesjlent
Which the Almighty authorized him to issue
And the time Nonld sooner or later come. in |
1hc history Of this war, when Mr.. Lincoln |
,1aSo 1ssof ahothe1 fR 2roc"mation freeing
~ THIS e3clting and Important honr, franght
WIN the happiness of untold millions. It
should be known to the world where the col
o1ed pop1i1tion Of the country stand. They
mist be titherfor oragainst the Government.
IN Ohio many had said they only wanted i
CHANGE to enlist, and they were ready to fight
Tor the Government. The same voice lad
CONG up from Illinois, They should not
stand aloof from this contest and say tllcr lad
no country. They had I conn ry, and it was !
their duty to fight for it, They should bsar
their part Of the hardship and dauger necessa, |
y to put down this pro-slavery rebellion;
they should be "illing to pass through a ban.
1lsn VI bioot, if need be, that tic nation |
night at last come out purified.
Inc speaker wanted his colorcd brethren to |
60 in.o the field with him. II he were capable |
Of fghfirg the rebels, he wanted the privilege
q doing It, and should he bear i part in sonic
glorious victory, he should c1aitu lis due Dor.
ti"n of the houors thus won.
1t was true that there were no regiments Of |
codnrcd troops being organized in illinois or
ohio: but IN Massachusetts there WAS Just !
Of Governor Andrew, the col |
orr q troops would be cared for, and provided |
with everything necessary to render them ef. |
Gcient and valuable soldiers in tue great army |
of freedom. They would then discharge their |
du y faithfully, remembering that thcir future |
IN ms country depends upon their course in |
tl!'s war: Su1ne of the best colored citizens |
"i obcIln, Ohio. lad gone iato The army, and !
ats "1er The free No.th they were beginning |
10 realize, as neTer before, the importance Of |
fhls M great struggle. The colore,i people OF |
th!cago should arouse Themselves 10 action.
aid buckle on the Union ar.nor
The speech Of 31r Lansston was delivered /
in very torcible, earnest style, and was of en- |
reeted with storms of applause. Tho orator
closed his appeal to the audience Iy reading a |
very interesting letter from Il, De}any to bis /
scn, askirs the consenF Of bis faher TO enlist |
in colottd regiment Of Massachusetts,
u 6e. Aennard, next addressed the meet
Ing, endorsing the remarks Of the former
slraher, and speaking in strong terms to his |
audience to do their duty to thu Government, |
to theilsel res and humanity.
Dr. ". K Del,ny, he explorer Of Central |
A1Ilea, Icing called for, came forward and |
sEo"ed lie conditions under which colorcl |
men enlist. He believed the Government to !
be right in not making field officers Of coiorc.l |
men, lo' ut the present they were hot cligi.
bic or capable Of filing such offices, H. th:n
read and explained the law braring on That |
subject, showing that these black regiments |
will be organized, paid, and receive tie same |
Il eat'hrht rs white regiments.
esort speeches were made hy M.ssrs Chas, |
lsrEston, E. R. Williams and J. Stanley, |
SIXTEEN nitn signed the roll list, and commit
tes ~as afrointed to form a solliers' aid go |
cle;y, af1er which the meeting adjou=ncd:
Key. Dr. II. N. Bishop and tl,c Vcsfry OF |
st. Johns Church, Union Park,
Rev. II. y. Bishop, D. D, Rector of St.
Johns Parish, Union Park), Chicago, having
received Il very urgent call from Cincinnati,
and also an urgent appeal from both Bishop
and Bishop Bcdell to accept the !
taine, and the matter being 1aid before his |
gestry, d letter was addressed to Dr., |
Rfzh Sn53 h..