Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-01-31
sronght 10 answer, and be would say tbe
higher the erimin NJ let the hea vier h. H.. nun
ishment ~ 1 P-1
The court adjourned .#..rr.. .. .

Il aNe W Ins SoboRkD-CoNvEkTto TtoN.-
Of eOlOred assembled her. % 10 sen s lSs .S
Interests OF their race, assembled al the ~
| teenth street Presbyterian Church, which -.
crowded 70 overfiswing, the most OF tss -
| Eregation being colored, with perhaps went
| hve or thirty whites, among whom we re ,ag-
nl1sa pas MS; & swissheim, Judge Day, and o. S,
The delegates entered about TX O'Clock ana
were shown 70 seats In the vicinity of the pIai-
form, tin front Of which the stiOnal fias was
| hung,) and Rev. IL. IL Garnett, the pastor on
| the church, called the meeting 20 order which
was organized by calling Alexander Dunlap,
| OF Williamsburg, Va, 90 the chair, and Col b.
\ ID; White, OF Norfolk, Va, 10 act as secretary
1 Dr Garnet, in well expressed address,
| welcomed the delegates, after which Messrs
Robinson, OF Alexandria, Tsverns, OF this city,
| and Hill, of Va, Were appointed a committes
| @ Illuminate permanent officers Of the con ven-
| During the absence OF the somm,,,as a..
| congregation united in singing the Psalm aBe-
lore Jehovahs awful Throne" &c which WA.
followed by prayer by Dr. GarnetI
| The committee returned and reportad the
| foliowipg nominations for officers, which were
| adopted:-R. d. Beckley, OF Alexandria- Pres
Ident w, n. Shorter, Of washIngton. DIR.
| ton, OF orktown, Va, Vice Presidents; Alex
L. Harris, of Harrisburg, Pa, and DR. ID M
lawson, Seeretsries; Rev. X. H: Garnett GAL
Z, Robinson, Committee on Business
Or Bayne, (colored) of Norfolk, was called
on and proceeded 10 address the assemblase
he said that they had come here TO knock AZ
tne door OF Congress and ask for the passage Of
| stringent laws, that their rights mient be re-
| sPecteo; he claimed that the majority of the
people South were not loyal, that they did not
1 intend the slave shall be free That MANY OF
| Uncle SAM boys combine with the seces-
| slonists, and IN scme instances officers of the
| Freedmen's Bureau, also TO oppress the hlarEs
He claimed that during the war three times
the country was fast 20 the wall, and that each
| time black men cut IL loose. IL The Govern
ment had the power TO emancipate the slaves
III mad the power TO protect them, and they
must have their rights They are willing that
| the same rule should operate with them as
| with the whites. They would not be driven
away, but would stay here and buy land.
which some of the whites at the South viii
not sell TO YANKEES. The four and half
millions in the Southern States cannot he
driven out unless the righteous men who have
fought for the rights OF the black men 60 with
them. he thanked God that they had com
menced 10 receive their rights, and n the
colored people do not hurry thew will have
their rights before they are ready. Judgement
must begin here in regard 70 free Suffrage a. AZ
had with emancipation.
DIR. Garnett, from the committee on resolu-
tions, reported the following:
ReSolred, That we the members OF this con-
yentlon assembled, pledge ourselves 20 the
most unfiinchiDg and constant LOYALTY TO this
government; and IN peace as in war, we pledge
onr lives, onr fortunes, and our sacred honors
TO the support OF its authority and the defence
and perpetuity OF our republican institutions
Resotred, That II is the sense of this conven-
ton that Government should, through Con-
gresstoRal legislation, guarantee and secure 70
all citizens, irrespective OF race color, in the
late slave States, equal rights before the law
including the right TO testify before the courts
and the right OF impartial suffrage That in
the opinion Of this onyention such legislation
and action OF the Government il absolutely es-
sential TO secure 10 the freedmen liberty and a
republican form Of government 10 those States
lately in rebellion.
Resolred, That we are unalterably opposed TO
foreign colonization, and would resist 70 The
utmost any attempt at compulsory emigration
or removal to any place IN this country or out
M mr. of nnr fra ...h,
ditional provision made by the Government 20
provide homes for the homeless in any portion
OF our own country, would meet our cordial
appreciation and cooperation.
Mr. calvin Pepper, white lawyer, argued
that the interests Of the Unionists in Virginia
and the colored people were identical, and
unless the black men got their rights the Ioyal
whites will not be able TO live there and the
whites OF Norfolk were represented He had
been depuuzed by the legal white men OF Nor
folk 10 represent them, as also by the I-ovnI
League. He claimed that the State goyernment
did not give the protection needed 10 loyal
men IL colored people were accorded their
rights, all would be well; but as IL is now, be
had recently been told by over one hundred
colored people that they dared not 20 TO their
MONIES. la Surry county, recently, colored
people had been sold in direct violation OF law:
that Is their services Were sold. He fthe
speaker) had property in Virginia. but n the
night OF suffrage, &c, rs given 70 the black
men IL would be yalueless. He believed that
the time will come when the President will he
found among the foremost in protecting the
rights OF the colored men. IApplausel
Ii Is not true that the colored people will not
Work, Tor they are now the most thrifty. On
two farms near Norfolk ten times more pro-
duce WAS raised now than formerly Ibev
never had the least idea Of starting an insur-
reeuon, but they art, and have been, law-abi-
ding. If they are gwen the right of suffrage
the loyalty of the Soul is established forever
Northern men are leaving the State. afraid ef
their lives, and recently he had received mes
The people disregarded the United States an
thoriues, now wear more gray suits than they
did three months since, and they believe that
tneS WIZ yer nave me power to trample on the
Col. White here arose, when DIR. Bayne in.
trodpced him as the editor of the True South
trner, published at Hampton, a minister OF the
gospel, and formerly one Of Uncle Sans men,
VINO Wore the shoulder straps. Col White
moved TO amend the second resolution 90 that
II will read as 10 extend the right of sufYrare
70 All citizens who have been loyal TO the Union
during the rebellion. =
Mr.. Pepper opposed the amendment. ana
said that the colored people, II they could be
made safe, would be in favor Of universal am
nesty.
Go Col; trsht White proposed to substitute for nis
Judge Day arose to speak, when some Of the
eolored folks IN the gallery commenced TO hiss,
but they were checked. Judge Day expressed
his appreciation of the amendment, and that he
wanted to see the grey coats taken of.
The amendment TO insert the word uloyal''
before citizens was adopted.
Rev. VIM. Thornton, of Hampton, a fine
looking bright mulatto, made a few remarks
IN which ne stated that the white mans blood
had been poured n his veins, and he had
many time in youth seen his young brother
going TO school, while he had TO work in the
held TO help TO support him, and now, after
his old master had gone in the rebellion, he (the
speaker) was the best looking. He spoke Of
meeting, IN Brooklyn, in ls62, a oolored man,
VINO was opposed 10 emancipation, because
the Southern slaves would eat the bread and
butter OF the North, but the tables had turned,
and now the Northern colored men were COM
ing South, to eat their bread and butter. The
people South do not want 10 come North, they
are well able TO live in Virginia, but want their
rights, and meant 10 have them. Tney intend
ed to buy land, and will form land assoeia-
tons to buy land. (Applause. a.
The resolutions, alter few remarks by Dr.
Garnett and others, in opposition 70 coloniza-
ton, Were adopted, as also a recommendatiou
for the appointment OF a National Executive
Committee of five. ......
The convention then adjourned.
u, s. SUPREME Court, Jan. 3O.-w. L. Allen
ana Lyman fireman, Esqs., Of New York, A.
A. Hosmer, Esq, of Washington, ID. G. Charles