Journal of freedom. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1865-186?, 1865-10-07

= s.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Convention met pursuant to adjourn
ment. President in the chair Prayer
by the Chaplain.
The Committee on. Invitations report
ed through their Chairman that they
had obeyed their instructions, Governor
Holden had excused himself from accept
ing on the grounds of i'll health and
pressing business. General Ruger ex-
plained that it would be impossible for
him to attend from the fact that he had
just returned after an absence of ten days
from his headquarters, and that he there
fore was behind-hand in his business
Col. Whittlesey was present, having &C
cepted the invitation; Col. Clapp was
out Of town.
Col. Whittlesey was invited to address
the meeting, bat not wishing to, inter
fere with the accomplishment of busi-
ness, he declined, and designated Mon
day evening at early candle light as the
proper time. It,was agreed by the Con-
vention that they would listen to him
with pleasure at that time.
A letter from VIM. w. Coleman, Esq,
Of Cabarrus county, was presented by a
delegate. Mr.. j. r. Good moved that
the letter be received and read. He
stated that he knew Mr.. G. to be gen.
tleman and statesman, a member OF
the North Carolina Legislature in 1855,
and now County Solicitor of Caharrns
and a true friend to the negro. The let
ter was received and read rs follows:
CONCORD, N c., Sept. 27, 1854.
To the Secretary Of the Freedmen's Con.
Ue4ataOn
The delegate from Caharrus (the bear
er) has presented me with AZ circular al
u.,catinv the claims of the freedmen t"
| ca nal rights before the law. concluded
that the best way of acknowlel grng thu
receipt of the same and OF expressing my
sympa pathy with the objects of Your Con
v.ntion would be TO address you short
letter setting out in brief my views upon
the question with my reasons therefor
| In the first place you should BE allow
|
There was only one Sta refused vou
this right in its organic law at the ad"p-
ton of the Federal Constitution. Con
gress has recogl lied it over and again,
and many of you recollect when free per-
sons of colored NCted in North Carolina:
The great and good men who founded
the government felt it no degradation
that the ballot-box, was open to free per
sons of color, nor did General Jackson SC
regard it when he called them Efellow'
citizens In his Louisiana campaign
Rut further, it Can easily be shown, by
the severest logic, that if you are not tt
be allowed equality fore the law, ther
the principles laid down in the Declara
ton of Independence upon which ou
J government is based are words "full o
sound and fury signifying nothing
!, You are four millions of people, th'
hone and sinew of the Southern States
IF thew are ever to recupprate and iegali
the important position they once held II
the commercial world, it will be due t
vour energy and industry. But you ma
we'll ask how this is to be expected if yo
are denied the rights of freemrn, if yd
are still to remain a prescribed ana az
;, graded race? If .ou are to have no oth
: er motive to in lite you than bare strue
gle for physical existence-if you are
l. feel no weight Of responsibilities
y mnyed by no feelings of honor and pa
81 riotism-are to entertain no hopes te
e The elevation and advancement OF you
y children to a highePstandpoint than 70
7 now occupy, then indeed I do not 81
!: I with what heart you can go to work
q !; rebuilding the future of these shattere
!, 4 States.
= But then you will pay tax to the su
- port of the government. Yeur bretnre
in Louisiana have been paying one +
oel number of years on property at the
- sessed value of fifteen millions OF do
- - lars. Is the colored man to have
~ ~ voice in the appropriation OF his none,
:. And this too in b government clalmn
= 60 be republican and founded after sew
= years war upon the principle OF taxatl
hp and representation
of Nothing could be more prepostero'
- nnless il be to refuse men the right
-. 20 suffrage who have undergone all mani
'ks of hardships and dangers for the sake
1er the government; who have voluntee
nal in the ranks Of its armies and rlsl
their lives upon the battlefield to pa
tain It's integrity. There is someth
St0 more than u jingle of words ia the 90
en- lation of ssbaIlotand bullet.
81. Bnt there is even more terrible Gala
am ty that you, may be doomed TO bear
the denial of outrage. mean tho de
!. of iastice in our courts of law. u you
nce ~ to ho Odrnitfad tn the witness ST