The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-08-11

Appeal u the Colored Conven.
zss ase 0oA ~ vanuo10kea% as4se
We, the delegates of the colored people of
the State Of Virginia, In edfsankisS assem-
bled at Alexandra, Virginia, TO act and ad-
wise what is thought best to be done for the
interests of the colored people of the State,
and to give expression of our feelings and de-
sircs, do hereby appeal TO the conscientious,
sympathetic, sad just Judgment Of the Aneri
can people, solemnly declaring that we desire
to live upen the most friendly end sreesAe
terms will all men; Wa feel no in-wM or bfe.
judice to our former oppressors are willing
and desire to forgive and forget the past, and
so shape our future conduct as shall promote
our happiness and the interest of the commu-
nifty in which we live; and that we believe
that in this State We have still many warm md
solid friends among the white people, bnd
that this portion of them will do all they can
- our improvement and elevation; that for
this they have our kind thanks and our DON
stant prayers that the Lord of Hosts may
bless them. and strengthen them that they may
strive - give us, as . paople, that which Il
just and right before God and the civilized
world
Bat, while We are free to acknowledge all
that We have said above, we must, on the 9th
er hand, be allowed to aver and assert Chat
We believe that we have among the white peo
pie OF this State many Who are our nmt m
veserase enemies who hate as a 4 class
and who feel no sympathy With or for Us !:
who despsse US simply because We are black,
and, more especially, b De we have been
made free BY the power q the United States
Government; and that they-the class last
HentAonedr-will not, in our estimahoa,s be
willing to accord to us, as freemen, that pro-
lection which all freemen must contend for
if they would be worthy q freedom: anA
that, while We confesst hat the state Of things
which now exists was not of our making.
yet we believe il was the intention, and is The
will Of God, that it shall he as it is, and Tor
which we give him our everlasting thanks
We have ever been people of docility and
obedience, though We have felt for years that
the condition of slavery was curse upoa US,
imposed by might and not by right, yet We
have submitted without any act of ours to
avenge ourselves upon those who had SO long
oppressed US, as q race Of men. Many OF
them treated us as brutes of the field. In all
this We confess we see the hand of ah all
wise sod. who has seen ht TO stir the pas.
sions of His African children until he saw fit
to stir the passions of the two sections of the
country-that both North and South should
suffer for the sin OF slavery. This having
been done. il has left us in state of chaos
and disorganiza.ion and while we sympa-
thize for the conditon of the country. we do
beiieye and recognize in it the hand of an all
wise God, and believe He will do all things
right.
In this state of chaos and disorgsnization
are we assembled here to-day, to appeal to
the citizens OF the State of Virginia and to
bp tNff fhnt 6. IL
protectien which we so much need, and for
which freemen in all ages have contended.
We, in our present condition, are without
protection, 80 far rs the laws Of the State are
concerned, and but for the strong arm of the
military. we feel that We have nowhere 10
look for that protection which is essential
for the safety OF our persons OF our property,
our wives or our children for while We had
in our former owners their protection. we
have now in them none, and we are left to
the assaults Of the vile and vicious to do with
us rs they please, and We ore left without
redress
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 Ia
eaual rights without regard 70 the color Of his
skin; and wc believe ttis can only be done
which we believe to be our inalienabie rights
IS frecmen, and which the Declaration Of
independence guarantees to ali free citizens
OF this Government, and which is the privi-
lege of the nation. We claim the right of
suffrage:
]. Because we can see no other safe guard
for our protection.
2. Because We are citizens Of the country
and natives Of this State.
3. because We are as we'll qualified to vote
who shall be our rulers as many who do vote
for that purpose who have no interest in rs,
| and know not our wants.
| T.. Beca1se our representation rs heretofore
felt In COhgeess was not in accordance with
our own wishes, and therefore we feel that 1t
IS right and our privilege to vote for the man
rha shall SO represent u.s.
| 5. Because We believe that the time has
come when TIE colored people are 10 be felt as
power in this GoveSnment either for good
or evil, and that there is no way 80 calculated
to make him subservient for good Is to make
him good and loyal citizen.
| 3. Because we believe it will be the means
OF restoring the balance of power which shnll
harmonize the conflicting elements which are
now SO rife in the South fas
I. Because we believe that if the white
men viii look At the subject in its proper light
they will see the necessity Of grsntHe us this
lrisilege, as they viii fnd in us friends that
will ever vote for men who shall be true to
the State and loyal to the United States, and
because nothing short Of equality in law will
ever secure to US the wants which every free
man needs and must enjoy if he will be at
peace at home and in the community in which
he lives. With these considerations We do
most respectfully and earnestly appeal first to
the citizens of Virginia that they give eat to
our humble petition, that in the reconstruction
of the laws Of this State they do, in the prayers
Of this convention and before Just God, so
harmonize their laws as there shall be no dis.
tinotion before law on account of color, and
that every man may expect justice before the
tribunals Of the State, and then shall right
eousness 60 forth as brightness and truth, as
lamp that burneth.
i orR WRONGS AND RIGHTS.
As branch of the human family We Have
! for ages been deeply and cruelty wronfed,
and BY e people with whom might constituted
I right. We have been su6dued, not by power
ofideas, but BY brute force, and deprived Of
not only many of our natural rights, lbutI de-
barred the privileges and advantages freely