New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-09-29
NATIONAL CONVENTION
Naeieaal Commemorative Holiday.

COLORED NATIONAL CONVENTION
Natissal Csmmenerative Holiday.
The st. Louis Democrat reports til,
national colored convention. which con
tinued it's session in that city last Monday
The secretary called the roll, which
showed sixty-seven delegates in attendance
from Illinois, Indiana, Arkansas, Iowa
Nebraska and Missouri.
On motion, the rules were suspended to
allow reference to the business committee
Of resolution introduced by Mr.. o. l.
Smith, Of Missouri, petitioning Congress re
remove all political disabilities from the
repentant rebels of the South. It was SC
| referred.
Mr.. g. B. Wedley, Of St. Louis, proposed
the passage of resolution recommending
the setting apart of the fourth of July in
cOmmemOratiOn of the several events which
have eliminated in the full enfranchisement
Of the cOlOred people as American citizens.
Mr.. Wedley stated that in the afternoon he
would give his reasons why this day, above
all others, should be set apart by the col.
| Ored people as national holiday. Re
| ferred to the business committee.
A resolution was introduced by Professor
0. L. c. Hughes. Of st. Louis, to wage an
aggressive warfare against the use of spirit
uOus and malt liquors, which met with the
same reference.
Mr.. Hughes also presented the following,
which was also referred:
WHEREAS. We believe the right basis of
government is equal rights for all her citi-
Zens, and all free governments rest upon
the principle of the inherent right of the
people to govern themselves as opposed to
arbitrary or despotic power, and that this
is the great underlying right. the broad
principles on which free government alone
can safely rest. We also believe all citizens
should participate on equal terms in the
choice of the principles that shall rule
them. and that suffrage is simply the ex-
the majority Of the people. Furthermore,
in the language Of the immortal Lincoln.
we believe "he who would be no slave must
consent to have no slave;" that those who
deny freedom to others deserve it not for
themselves, and under a just God can not
long retain it; therefore, be it
Resolred, That woman being governed by
the sane laws and living in this free gov
ernment where the rights of citizenship are
determined by the law of equality, we deem
it just, equitable and in harmony with the
spirit Of true democracy and free govern
ment, that she shall exercise the same pre-
rOgative as we claim for ourselves.
Resolred, further. That no law in this free
America is lust where a person is taxed
without representation, and tried by jury
less than their peers; that we believe in
equality, not of sex, knowledge, fortune,
color. strength or beauty, but Of rights.
Equality before the law is favorite and
prominent maxim in the Magma Charta of
our people. If, then, all citizens are equal
before the law, the law SHOULD be equal to
all, without favor, partiality or prejudice.
If laws bind alike. then all should alike
have q voice in their enactment.
Resolred, That woman is justly entitled to
all the prerogatives Of citizen, in the light
OF the spirit OF our government, and the
fourteenth amendment, which reads: ''All
persons born or naturalized in the United
States, and subject to the jurisdiction there
of, are citizens of the United States," and
that we demand them on those grounds
N. 5. NJ. HUGHES,
5. V. ROBINSON,
JENNIE STORY,
MARY ROBERTSON.
Rev. A. w. jackson, of,Illinois, offered a
.sOlution settling about the twenty second
September as a national holiday, COM
umOrative Of the enfranchisement of the
cored race. Referred
LETTER FROM REV. MOSES DICKSON.
hNsAs CITY, Mo-, September 2l, 1871.
l. T. 'lliams Esq:
DEA SIR regret exceedingly that l
can noueet the convention. Business over
wMcn have no control will detain me
mere. 10 will please to give my kindest re-
gard 70 "a convention. The present meet
ing OF Representatives of our people is,
JUST AT III time, one OF great importance:
tne ceoice a day to celebrate as q memo
mai OF the 0d events that have resulted
in giving Injustice, freedom and political
rghts: II ave my choice, l say, give us
the fourtn July. The reason can be
FOUND IN theleclaration of independence.
MOST impornt matter that will come
before the coiention will be to tell the
country where'e are on the political is
sues OF the day Remember that you are
I earnestly ask IL tlconvention not to DODGE
the question or tOive an uncertain sound:
In the plalnest larage tell the world in
what party cOloreAen will act. Take a
Posltlon ana Jay wn platform that all
can stand on. haHheard that it has been
suggested that the ,nvention say nothing
ABOUT the poItlcale ceiling of our people. |
Ihls must not be as nerican citizens. We !
owe u TO our commoiountry to speak out.
1t IS time. traterna, YOURS. |
1SEs 1s DICKSON.
The secretary read aetter. addressed to |
the convention by G. Qredell. of Omaha.
Nebraska, to which he esented a nlan hv
which cOl0red workingIu NAV be enabled |
to secure homes on the ,blic lands of the |
country. The colored pple, the writer
said, were left by the en,cination nrocla.
nation penniless and won't educat;on.
and, although the stateMts of the freed.
mems banks show raj and increased
progress of accumulation vet there are
many who become discoaged in their
efforts, and are driven inte1e towns and
cities on account Of the deth or scarcity
of employment, and they;ften hecome
serfs and dr0nes in the gr. hive of life.
Capitalists, with millions money. are
ever ready to loan portions Ct when thew
can do go with proper glAntee of the
principal and interest Toecnre this
bodies Of from fifty to one kdred fami,
lies could organize, with five tan soIid
men at their head. Each man ntr;hnt;nc
fifty dollars would enable thei at the re-.
duced rates for emigrants, to reh Nebras-
ka or some other Western Terrilv on cov.
ernment lands. BY psyingeiehteen
dollars they can secure home Sne hnn.
dred and sixty acres after q reence of
six months; they will get deed nm the
United States government, by pay, at the
end of the year one dollar and tVtv.f;ve
cents per acre. Failing to do this, ~ can
homestead their farms, which the " 70.
Quires them to live on and cultivater five
years, becoming theirs at the end that
time, with q clear deed from the ,arn.
ment. In order to do this, the settl 70.
| quire some means to enable them Tive
and to prepare their homes and for thnn.
port of their families. The first We apf
blowing and cultivation increases its na
| Eve dollars and more on the acre, WI
| the writer thought the settler could It.