Journal of freedom. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1865-186?, 1865-10-21
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VOICES OF THE COLORED MEN-THE
ADDRESS. sc

Inc report OF the COMMITTEES or tEse
Constitutional Convention, to which was
referred the Address of the Freedmen,
will be found in this issue. What the
interested parties think of it may be in
ferred from the following communication,
written by one of our. most intelligent
colored citizens. As regards other points
mentioned in the communication, they
deserve attention, not only on account OF
the truth Of the statements, but because
of the strength and clearness of the ar
guments. As the first communication
that we hve yet received from any OF eur
colored friends, we hail it as well worthy
of a g1ace in the JOURNAL:
MIToR JOURNAL OF FREEDOM lin
l.goking over the report of the committee
(which was appointed by the white Con-
v~ention on the Address offered to them
by our people, it seems to me that that
committee has refused to take any re-
sponsibility and have not taken the mat
ter. in hand at all. Thus it seems ap-
parent that we, the colored people, are to
be left alone as We now are. 1t seems
that this committee have left us In an al
most despairing condition. We appeal
ed to them, stating our situation, and
asking conventional provision whereby
our race could live, but they have done
nothing for us.
1t seems that some of us and most of
us are ignorant. We admit that, and
we are refused the elective franchise en-
mass on that account. The Northern
States give the colored man privileges on
account of education, with Massachusetts,
at the lead. We are refused convention
al provision on account of our being poor
and indolent. The greater, portion of
us In the State are poor, very poor, but
some of US may own twenty-five, fifty or
a hundred acres of land, and if We are
not allowed rights to protect our proper
ty, what is the condition we are left in ?
The Northern States allow the .colored
man to vote on account of property, with
New York at the lead. We are denied
conventional provision on account of the
negroes blood. Ohio's law gives to the
negro, or rather to those who have the
misfortune to be two-thirds white, all
rights the same as any one Or anybody,
and we do not belive that they have ruled
or ruined the State.
Our new relations, in cur judgment,
will not ruin the country that is, If, in
our destitute condition, we are to have
protection, proper rights, and the
proper craftsmanship, which will look
our present and future condition and
what we are capable of face to face. It
IS also Construed hat we will not work,
and when We make a bargain to work
will not keep it. Look at the thou
sands of us who have been raised up in
he back woods who have never seen a
or the capital, or the court house
# the county in which they were reared,
nd some who never saw a railroad car
nd engine. They are now free to 90
where they choose, according to the proc
amation of President Lincoln and the
laid by President Johnson on
Thich the Southern States, late in rebel
on, will be admitted back into the I'm
IN and under the flag and constitution
the United States. Cant be reason
expected of them, knowing that they
free, that they will remain fast where
hey are without first satisfying the plain
nd simple curiosity to see all these
The colored man knows he has
is obi ged to work. He has got to
ct his living, and we do venture to speak s
I all that fair compensation will have |
| at work. The colored man cannot !
w remain as he is in his ignorant con- t
Look around US See the COL 9
ed boys and girls going to school; yea s
g grown men and women desiring 10 9
intelligent !; some striving to .
axe money to become property holders, {
d every. one, according to his or her b
cans of ability, striving to become a Q
IN OF intelligence to be worth what ! !
er ne can to the community. Look at :
IS and then say are they not men as d
Ter men, according to the circumstances p
der which they have labored these hun 81
Ids of years. 81
Some talk, too, of emigration and col +,
cation. and drivinr re -