The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-20
CAMDEN AFFAIRS.

THE MASS MEETING OF CoLoRED MEN,
Last evening, a number of the colored men of
cur city assembled in mass meeting at the new
Liberty Hall, Lombard street, below Eighth,
for the purpose of selecting delegates TO repre-
sent them in the National Convention, to be
held in Washington, January 10, 1867.
temporary organization was effected and a
committee of three were appointed to select
officers for the meeting. During the absence OF
the Committee Mr.. Bassett explained the OBJ.
jects OF the meeting, which have been set forth
above. Dr. Connell was then introduced, and
spoke as tolloWs:-
Mr. President:-I came here this evening in
response to the call in the papers. l hoped to
find the hail filed TO overlooking, but my hopes
have only been partly realized. / think the
steps you are taking are decidedly right-right
iii all the relations that right bears to the rights
OF man. Nor do think that under the present
circumstances, there Is aught in the world to
discourage you in the efforts that you are
making. Everything, on the other hand, is
encouraging.
deem it, sir, that the present is Gods own time
for the accomplishment of the great object of
re-establlshing the colored men of our State
and country in their legal rights. They know,
as well as | do, that the coored men of our
land have been robbed of their rights. They
now simply ask to have them restored. For
the first time in the history of our national eX-
istenCe, Massachusetts, that good old State,
who has always been true TO freedom and the
right admitted into her halls of legislation, by
the ballot, two colored representatives. Gap
plause.)
In the District of Columbia, within very
short time-probably the next election at all
events - colorcd men long resident there in
the very mart of chattelism in the past-will be
admitted by act OF Congress 10 the right OF fran
chise. What Massachusetts has done, Congress
is doing in the District of Columbia.
The prejudces that remain III the minds OF
some portions of our communities Will certainly
be broken down, as it Is true that truth will
always overcome error. (Applause.) / canuor
understand why a respectable, educated, intel
ligent, moral, and religious cOlored man, who
pays national, State, and municipal taxes, has
not an Inherent right to the franchise. He is
vastly superior in position 10 the man who
emigrates from foreign land, and who is the
sworn toe to freedom and the right, and who
cannot read the ballot put INTO his hands, ana
who always votes against the rights OF liberty
! say l cannot understand why these men ar.
permitted to exercise the elective franchise ana
the loyal black man, who fought ior his cOun-
try's flag, Is denied il.
Political parties are desirous OF securing
these foreign votes. Men are not landed upon
our shores seven weeks, before the ballot is, by
surreputlous means, put INTO their hands;
while those born and educated upon the -oil OF
Pennsy ylVania ale compelled 20 stand bphinG
these white emigrants on the day Of election.
(Hear! heaTD 1t was great doctrine that
France announced but she didn't understand
it to be Il universal doctrine liberty, equality
and fraternity. She meant, when she made that
announcement, liberty for the privileged
equality tor the wealthy, and fraternity for
those who could shake hands with Mammon.
We understand that word "libcrty" to mean
liberty to every man, liberty everywhere, liberty
of mind, liberty of the conscience, and liberty Of
ties to extend through the length and breadth
OF the land. The word equality is not merely a
word OF sound or of tinsel, but is what 1t means
in its natural acceptat on. Fraternity expresses
a true brotherhood of feeling, that one G0d, one
Father one Redeemer has made us brothers, to
take each other'lby the hand, and be brothers
| in truth and in fact. We are to extend these
three words TO the colored man, and with
! shoulder to shoulder heart TO heart and hand