Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-05-18
PREAMBLE.

Union Commission, the American Freed
mems Aid Commission, the Michigan Freed
mems Aid Commission, and the Freedmen's
Aid Commission of Western Pennsylvania,
and adjasents parts of Ohio, and West Vir-
ginia, having substantially the same object
in view and desiring a more perfect union,
they do therefore adopt the following con-
stltution
Article 1.-The organization shall be
known as the american Freedman's
Union Commission"
Article Its object shall be the relief,
education and elevation of the Freedmen of
the United States, and aid and cooperate
with the people of the South without dis
tinction of race or color, in the improve
ment of their condition upon the basis of
industry, education, freedom and Christian
morality. No schools or depots of supplies
shall be maintained from the benefits of
which any person shall be excluded on ac-
count of color.
Article S.-The Commission shall consist
Of the persons hereinafter named: their as
sociates and successor may elect associates
who shall be nominated by the Branch in
which a vacancy may occur; shall have
power TO appoint, and remove at discretion
its own officers, and shall audit their ac-
counts.
Article The Commission shall COM
prise recognized Branches, the Presidents,
Corresponding Secretaries, and Treasurers
of which shall be er o1fcio members Of the
Commission. Each Branch shall be indie
pendent of other Branches in the collection
of money, goods and the selection. super
vision, and payment of teachers and agents,
but any Branches may, if they deem neees-
sary, combine in a separate department.
Article 5.-The officers of the Commits
sion shall be a President, three Vice Presi-
dents, a Treasurer, and one or more Secre.
taries.
Article 6.-The Executive Committee
shall consist of three representatives elect
ed annually by each branch, one of whom
shall reside near the centred office, together
with the President, Vice Presidents, Secre-
tacies and Treasurer of the Commission.
Five shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business. In the absence of
the regular member any duly authorized
representative of the branch NAV act in
his stead The Executive Committee shall
decide, subject to the revision of the Com
mission, all questions relating to the gener-
al policy and action of the Commission and
shall nave power to fill vacancies IN its
own body, provided that a vacancy occa-
stoned by the death or resignation of the
representative of any Branch Society shall
be filled by such BrBneh.
Article Teachers and agents shall be
accredited in the name of the American
Freedmen's Union Commission, their ere
dentials being attested by the President
and one of the Secretaries, and counter
signed by the Branch from which they is
sue.
Article S.-Each Branch shall report
quarterly to the General Treasurer all mo-
neys received and expended, and all goods
received and distributed.
Article 9.-Contributions from Europe,
the Pacific Coast, and other common souoces,
shall 60 into the General Treasury, unless
otherwise directed by the contributors.
Funds in the General Treasury shall be dis
tributed by the Executive COMMITTEES to the
Branches, or otherwise applied for the pur-
poses of the Commission. The General
Treasurer shall make to the Commission an
annual exhibit Of all receipts and disburse-
ments.
Article 1O.-The secretaries of each
branch shall report quarterly the amounts
collected and disbursed, and the work done,
to the general secretary, who shall combine
the statistics and material facts of all the
Agencies recognized by the Commission. in
annual report, which shall be published
with the annual exhibit Of the Treasurer.
under the direction of the Executive Com
Article 1.-THE Commission NAV be
together by the President or the Ex-
Committee.
Article 12.-This constitution may be
amended at any regular meeting Of the
Commission, notice Of the amendment in
or printed having been given at
4 previous regular meeting Of the Com
and furnished to each branch, and
printed with the notice of the meeting.
After the adoption of the constitution
,criatim it was adopted as a whole.
The following resolutions were then pre-
lented and adopted:
Resoloed, That copies of the constitution
Is now framed, be SEN to all organizations
cooperating and others engaged
n the same work, with q respectful invita-
ion to unite under the constitution and
lect members of the Executive Committee.
nd to report their action to the General
secretary, Rev. L. Abbott, of New York.
ReSolued, That the General Secretary is
as soon as he shall be notified that
majority of the associations here repre-
ented have approved of this constitution,
declare the union contaminated.
A motion was made and carried recon
leding Hon. Schuyler Colfax as the Presi-
ent ofthe new Commission.
AvOte ofthanks was rendered to the citi-
ms Of Cleveland for the liberal hospitality