The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-07-20
NEGRO SUFFRAGE.
CONVENTION AT
Resolutions, Speeches and
Address to the Public.
speech by Judge BeIlamy s1orer.

tbs political campaign in the State,
and she has opened it with vigorous enun-
citation ofthe principles of human equality,
and taken q high, resolute stand in favor OF
arming the negroes, North and South with
the ballot, now that the muske has been
dropped and the Union maintained Sew
erai weeks ago a call for g mass meeting OF
the county was issued, to be held in Ober-
lin ON the 18th instant, with the promise
that the prominent question for discussion
would be Negro Suffrage.
The day arrived, but it dawned yesterday
through deluges of falling rain. The
weather continued unfavorable, frequent
and heavy showers preventing the influx
of delegations from neighboring towns,
which was confidently expected. 1t must,
therefore, be owned, that in point of num-
bers, the convention was not a great success.
Nor were several of the prominent speak
ers present, who were announced. Hon. b.
F. Wade, Hon. R. P. Spslding, Hon. Mar
tin Walker and Judge Bsllamy storer, were
invited to be present, and gave encourage
! ment, but none of them, save Judge ssorer,
of Cincinnati, was in attendance and adj
dressed the people. But 0berlin turned out
in numbers sufficiently large to fllthe First
Church, nearly, and the exercises proceed
ed with great good feeling, harmony n
enthusiasm. t.
At half past one O'Clock the venerable
Anti-Blavery Patriarch, Father Repealed
the meeting to order, whereupOn Pro-
fessor ]. 4. Fairchild was appointed
Chairman and s.. s. Calkins, Secretary.
A Committee on the Declaration of Senti-
mens was appointed, consisting of the fol-
lowing gentlemen: Rev. Henry COwlesI
Rev. E. N. Bartlett, Rev. F. shipherdi
Prof. J. NJ. Ellis, Hon. L. L. Rice, ]. Lee
and T. Jackson.
The committee retired, when Judge Bel
lamy Storer was introduced. It must moi
be supposed that the speeches were made
for the purpose of making converts for thu
people of Lorain are generally educated VI
to the conviction that universal suffrage j
demanded by sound policy and imPartia
Justice. The Judge evidently took thu
view of the case, for he did not enter upol
any elaborate argument in favor Of negr'
enfranchisement, but rather INDUCED him
self in a general review of the history ofth
anti slavery movement, eliminating as tn
slave oligarchy compelled it, in this blood.
war and the permanent establishment o
the Union and government on tn
wreck of the slave-system, and dwell
By the way upon the necessit.
of exercising the greatest caution in tn
process of reconstructing the rebel STATED
We must not be in haste to welcome bscl
TO the Union the citizens of rebellion
States as misguided brethren" They ar
but partially subdued. They are full {
murmuriDgs and mutterings, insolence an,
hatred. Their disease is still dangerous
They deserve the closest clinical obserVa
zion. They must be kept under tutors an
guardians until they show q fitness to b
incorporated with the States of the UniOr
AE-a-uhila the largo element of Souther.
population, hitherto slave but loyal, mut
be protected, must protect itself, mus
aid in protecting free institutions froI
fresh assaults of the bafled slave powel
and to his end the negroes must be enfran
chised. 1t an act of justice due them fc
their valiant services, and the safety of tn
Government itself demands the immediat
recognition eff the fairness of the claim an
the adoption of the measure.
His remarks were highly appreciated
falling as they did from the lips of on
who has grown old in the anti SLAYER
work. He was often interrupted by bursi
of applause.
On the conclusion of his speech, th
Chairman of the Committee offered the TO
lowing resolution preliminary toan sddreI
to the public ~embOdying the views of th
Convention on the subject of negro su
frage:
ReSoIUed, That we are in favor of cleo
ing to our State Legislature at the ensuin
election, a men who will,use their power
erase from the constitution of this STATE th
word white" and that we urge our fellO'
citizens of other counties to join US in thi
effort to relieve the State of The Odium (
wronging the soldier and citizen who he
given his life and substance to crush ther
belliOn.
The resolution was unanimously adopted
The Chairman then proceeded to read tn
following: