Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-12-21
South Carolina ColOred Convention.

The Convention of the Colored citi-
gems of South Carolina, which was in
session in Charleston some two weeks,
adjourned on Saturday the I'd inst Its
proceedings are said to have been
marked With great earnestness and to
have secured the respect of all who Wis
tied the body. The spirit of the Con-
vention is set forth in its resolutions,
petitions and memorials-all Of which,
tbs said, were written by, colored men.
The following are the resolutions and
petition to the Legislature of the State.
The address to the people Of the State
and memorial TO Congress are omitted,
as being but repetition or enlargement
of these.
The following resolutions from the bu-
siness COMMITTEES were unanimously
adopted: sl2E AEfsFsEa Ht
Whereas, knowledge is power" and
"a educated and intelligent people can
neither Re held in nor reduced to bond
age, therefore,
Resolved, That we will insist upon the
establishment of good schools for the
thorough education of our children
throughout the State; and that to Ahis
6QQ We Will nUCI6lI IA OuE
means, and will earnestly and persist.
emily forward every means calculated to
elevate us to the rank and position of
an enlightened and Christian people.
RssotUed, That we solemnly urge the
parents and guardians of the young and
rising generation, by the sad recollec-
ton of our forced ignorance and degra-
dation in the past, and by the bright and
inspiring hopes of the future, to see that
schools are at once, if not already, estab-
liahed in every neighborhood, and when
90 established, to see 10 it that every
child of proper age is kept in regular
attendance upon the same
ResoiUed, Thst we appreciate, with
hearts Overlooking with gratitude, the
noble and sef sacrificing spirit mani.
tested by the vbrions phiianthropic and
Christian associations of the North in
providing teachers and establishing
schools among us; and that we can
only best testify such gratitude by heart.
lily cooperating with them in their great
work of love and humanity.
II wae also
Resolrsd, That We earnestly solicit of
the General Government the continu-
Ance of the Freedmen's Bureau until
such time as full protection shall be
guaranteed to US by the Constitution
and laws Of the State.
Rssolped, That we have full faith in
the stability of the National Govern
ment, and that we cheerfully accept our
share of the burden of taxation, trust
ing that the day is not far distant when
We shall receive its natural equivalent,
the right of representation.
Upon the subject of their rights the
Convention thus petitions the Legisla-
ture: AGA lsEaE
We ask that those laws that have been,
which apply to us on account of our
color, be. repealed, and that in future
none such be enacted. We do not pre-
sume TO dictate to you, gentlemen, but |
we appeal to your own instincts of justice |
and generosity 9Why should we suffer
or account of the color an ALI Wise
Creator has given us2 - Is it possible
that the only reason for enacting strin-
gent and oppressive laws for us is be-
cause our color is of darker hue2
We feel assured, gentlemen, that no
valid reason can exist for the enactment |
and perpetuation of laws that have Pc
culiar application to us. We are now
emancipated. But we are still, gentle
men, to certain extent in your power,
and we need not assure You with what !
concern we are watching all your DELHI |
erations, but especially those that have |
reference to as;
CHARLEsros, S. c.,
x1azif November "a, 1865.
70 the Honorable The Senate and House
of Representatives. of the State of
&outk Carolina, in General Assem- |
by met: -
GENTLEMEN: We, the colored people |
of the State of South Carolina, do num-
bly, appeal to you for justice.
The last four years of the war have
made great changes in our condition
and relation to each other, as well as
in the laws and institutions of our
State. We we're, previously either
slaves, or. If free, still under the pres
sure of laws made in the interes. and
for the perpetuation Of slavery.
But the events of the last four years
have destroyed Ithie state of thines.
Oar State has been called upon 10 re-
model her Constitution froun-its very
foundation and 6rst principles; and as
we have been, and are still, deeply AZ
fscted By all the changes in interests Of
vital importance to MS we have resolved.
in the Convention which we have called
together 10 consider orr interests. to
petiion you honors for justice.
We would ask your honorable body
for the right of suffrage, and for the
right Of testifying in oourta ef Law.
Ikess two things We deem necessary 70 ]