The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1865-11-17
YAe Freedmen in Council.


The result of the deliberations of "The Con-
vention OF the Colored People of Virginia"
recently held in Alexandra, is before lis in
printed form. The first claim that is set forth,
is the right to the 81 ective franchise, and on
this subject they say:
1--WE claim, then, as citizens of this State,
the laws of the Commonwealth shall give to
all men equal protection; that each and
every man may appeal to the law for his
equal rights without regard to the color of his
akin; and we believe that this can only be
done by extending to us the elective franchise,
which we believe to be Our inalienabe right
as freenen, and which the Declaration of In
dependence guarantees to all free citizens Of
this Government and which is the privilege Of
the nation. We claim the right Of suffrage"
From out of many preambles and resolu-
tons and addresses we make an extract or
two, showing that the great Inconvenience
which the majority Of them are laboring un-
der now, is fear.
"Well, the war is over, the rebellion is put
down. and we are declared freei Four fifths
of our enemies are paroled OF smnestied, and
the other fifth are being pardoned, and the
President has, in his efforts at the reconstruc-
ton Of the civil government of the States, late
in rebellion, left us entirely at the mercy Of
these subjugatsd but unconverted rebels, in
everything save the privilege of bringing us,
our wives and little enes, to the auction block.
He has, so far as we can understand the ten
dsncy and bearing of his action in the case,
RENTED us for all our political rights, to
ifrz of IUh rd OH
to your cause and flag as that which decided
the contest against them This we regard as
destructive Of all we hold dear, and in the
name Of God, of justice, of humanity, of good
faith, of truth and righteousness, we do most
solemnly and earnestly protest. Men and
brethren, in the hour Of your peril, you called
upon us, and despite all time-honorsd inter-
probation Of constitutional obligations, we came
at your call and you are saved; and now we
beg, we pray, we entreat you not to desert us
In this, the hour of oar peril.
I'VE know these mep-know them we'll
and we assure you that, with the majority of
them, loyalty is only lip deep, and that their
professions of loyalty are used as a cover to
the cherished design of getting restored to
their former relations with the Federal Gov
eminent, and then, by all sorts Of 'unfriendly
legislstion,' to render the freedom you have
given Us more intolerable than the slavery
they intended for us.
1--WE are sheep in the midst of wolves and
nothing but the military arm Of the government
prevents us and all the truly loyal white men
from being driven from the land of our birth
Do not, then, we beseech you, give to one Of
these Fwsyward sisters the rights they aban-
dsned and forfeited when they rebelled
until you have secured oar rights by the
aforementioned amendment to the Constitu-
ton.
Considering that tbs "colored troops fought
bravsly" it is a wonder that they have not as
yet recovered from their scare. One thing is
certain, the fellow who penned the foregoing
must have been engaged in the "crater
scraps." -.-
They do not hesitate in passing, to give,
what they are pleased to term their friends,
dig in the RIBS by way of reminder. Hear
what they say about our Representative L. II.
Chandler, Esq.
when the United States Court set at Nor
folk and the Grand Jury indicted dfty-seven
Of the leading traitors of Virginia, the District
Attorney, through some strange chicanery,
kept twenty of them off the list. He doubt
less has his reward in the promise of their
votes and influence to place him in Congress
These are the men who have been regard
ed as oar friends. and if they do such things,
what may we expect from those whom You re-
gard IS our enemies
We would advise the friends Of the freed
mant to urge upon him moderation in all hings.
heSouthsrn people, as yet, are not themseive
free, nor do they enjoy the full use of the
elective franchise" So soon as the special
friends of the freedman shall accord to the
South all her ancient rights, it will then be in
the power of the people of the South, and the
proper time to consider how far they will go
in admitting the black race upon an equality
with them. For the present, they are willing
to do all in their power to render the freed
man as comfortable as possible in the house
less and homeless condition in which he is
found, But "confdsncs" is plant of slow
growth, and it will require years before the
Southern people can be made to believe that
they or their children, or the freedman and
his children, would be benefited by obtaining
the right to vote.
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