Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-12-13
BLACK MEN INTEND TO HELP
THEMSELVES.
COIOred Delegation in Washington
10 watch the Proceeding OF Con-
gress.

At a convention of the colOred men of
New England, held recently in Boston, it
was resolved that the interests of their race
required them to keep a delegation in
Washington during the present session of
Congress, to note the proceedings Of the
National Legislature and labor with those
Senators and members of the House of
Representatives who may be willing to
give the black man his rights as a free
man; and in pursuance of this resolution
the convention chose Capt. George T.
Downing, of Rhode Island, its delegate,
and voted to him $4,000 at once t6cover
the necessary expenses of his mission. The
colored men of Ohio, also, recently took
like action, and chose Mr.. John NJ Lang
ston to press their claims at the federal
Capital, and the colored men of Louisiana,
aided by white mems votes, have duly
elected a member of the House of Repre-
sentatives, whom they hope to see admitted
to seat on the floor of the House, and to
him also purse Of $4,000 has been given.
1t is now proposed that New York shaft
send delegate in the person of Frederick
Douglass, and that fund of $4,000 be
raised here TO defray his expenses, and the
leaders in this movemeat-among whom
are Rev. Sella Martin, Prof Charles L.
Reason, Thomas Downing and others
speak with confidence of their prospects
of success
With this object in view, a meeting of
colored men was held on Monday evening
last, in the vestry of Shiloh Church, in
Marion-streets, and an adjourned meeting
Is to be held at the same place at 7:3O this
evening. A numerous attendance is an
ticipated
The colored delegates that are to go to |
the capital are to be paid, it will be OBJ |
served, a greater sum than is drawn by |
any Congressman east of the Mississippi |
river, and the natural inquiry is, why are |
they to be so literally supplied with mon
ey? The reply is that the delegates are
not only to dwell in the Federal City and |
treat with Congressmen upon subjects
that they may deem of interest to black
men, but they are also expected to estab-
lish a bureau of information and relief, or
a headquarters to which the blacks of the
whole country, and especially those of the
South, may send for counsel and such
bureau, it is obvious, cannot be inaugura-
ted and maintained in a city like Wash
lngton at any trihing cost. 1t is probable
that the delegates may be constrained TO
practice rigid economy from the begin
ming, even with ten thousand dollars each
and when the progress of re-
in the South shall have
brought the late slaves up to full realiza-
ion of their new status-whan IL shall
nave become necessary TO prepare plans
or the education of the race, and for Sc
,uring TO them such rights rs may be Sc
,ured within the next decade-a paltry
orty thousand dollars annually, to be ex-
pended by four men, will be nothing COM
1ared to the amount of money that the
Washington bureau will require. Among
he first duties that will devolve upon the
Washington delegates will be the urging
# the appointment of colored men as min
sters plenipotentiary to the black repub-
les of Hayti and Liberia
The colored men here intend to collect
he required funds from among their own
ace; but, of course, they will not reject ,
ny contributions which white men and
women may tender. They have men of
bundant wealth. and the leaders iii the
de, not mHaU 10 f;IiI