Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-09-25
GENERAL.
COLORED MEMS CONVENTION.
Large MestinR-Rnihusiastio Proceedings
Addresses Resolutions &c.


by the Independent Brass Band. and escorted
by large corps of pioneers, armed with axes
A special train Of cars was provided for the
delegation which left the p. W. n Depot at
~ A. NJ. and arrived at Wyoming at 1OlA AM,
the delegation having been largely augmented
by accessiOns along the road.
A large number of the colore1 citizens Of Kent
county having assembled at the depot process
sion was formed and proceeded through Cam
den to the place of meeting where il was dis
missed. Delegation after delegation kept con-
tnnally arriving in wagons, with banners erect
and flags waving, all conspiring to make the oc-
casion one OF intense interest to the coored
people.
Soon after arriving on the ground the meet
ing was called to order by ID. II. Gustus, who
read the object Of tho meeting. The following
temporary officers and committees wore appoint
ell -
President-John Lott Burton, Sussex
Secretary-Joseph H. Rogers, Kent
Committee on permanent organization-Ge-
rard Rolins, Re- ard Glasgow and William H.
Caldwell of New aatle Prlnce N Caldwell Ma
thanel II. Brinkley aud Silas Griffin, of Kent
John @. ShOcklev Jeremiah ShOckley and
Charles Wilson, Of Sussex.
Committee on Resolutions.-D II. Gustus
Rev 4, j. Steward and William II. Clayton of
New Castle, Matthias H. Horsey, Chul Iorsey
aud Thomas Reed, of Kent. John q Shockley
Il. O. Games and Charles Wilson, Of Sussex.
During the retirement Of the Committee short
and appropriate addresses were made by Prof
Day, Charles Horsey, Rev. I q Steward j. Lott
Burton, and others, all complaining of the man-
ner in which the colored people we're deprived of
educational facilities and the civil rights guaran-
teed by the amended constitution.
The Committee on Permanent Organization
having returned, reported the following officers :;
President Prof. W. Howard Day.
Vice Prosideuts-Nev. L. q. Steward, Nat. Il.
Brinkley, Charles Wilson.
ecretaries-Joseph II, Rogers, G. d. Rollins,
Jeremiah Shockley.
Prof Day thanked the Convention and made
few eloquent remarka in behalf of the objects
for which it was called. The convention then
took recess. and met ain at p. m, there
being about 20OO persons present. including
many white people, both Republicans and DEM
ocrats. After prayer by Rev. Richard Barney,
the committee on resolutions presented their re-
port, which was read.
Rev 4. q, Steward, Of Wilmington, was then
introduced az the first speaker, after which VIM
ID. Forten Esq, of Philadelphia, and one OF
the candidates At large on the Republican Elec-
toral ticket, of Pennsylvania, was introduced
who delivered one Of the most eloquent and
powerful appeals in behalf of the principles
of the Rel ublican party and justice and right
ever delivered in Delaware. I'VE regret that
our space is so limited, AZ to prevent us from
publishing synopsis OF Mr.. Fortens speech)
The following are the resolutions adopted -
still lives in this State, in its opposition TO Civil
Rights in its opposition to the Fifteenth
Amendment OF the United States Constitution;
in opposition to the Educational bill, which was
intended to do us Justice; IN its opposition to
the repeal OF the black laws OF our State in its
attempts to sometimes by violence to keep rs
from voting and in its opposition to our enroll
ment on the assessment lists Of the counties in
which we reside, therefore
Rtsoiced, That we reafiirm our demand
Fapf flna laHrs
over all the country of the entire equality Of
all American Citizens, in all civil and political
rights regardless Of color.
ResOlud. That the colored people have a legal
right, to the same fee and full education OF
their children az their white fellow citizens, aud
duly approaching the fact that on such an edu-
cation depends IN very great degree, their fur.
ther standing and usefulness ~ citizens; aud
having long ahd patiently waited and appealed
in vain for recognition Of those rights, VIC
think the time has come for us to take some
steps toward obtaining them, and well knowing
the worth of the ancient proverb that, God
helps those alone who help themselves" we
shall now ceare being suppliant and demand
through the courts those rights which have 30
long been denied us.
Res lcei. That we hail with Joy the late con-
version of the Democratic party to the Republic
can faith and sincerely hope they will be inAtru-
mental in repeating all of those black laws,
which to-day stand AZ living disgrace on the
statutes OF Delaware.
ResOlped, That all candid minds must admit.
that the nations advance, since the days OF ac-
tive rebellion has been constant and satlsfao-
tory. and now having escaped the shoals and
quicksands of treason and secession, as we near
the port if there are any on board, who would
conspre against the commanding officer Of the
Ship of State. God forbid that any of said mu-
tineers should be cOlored American citizens.
Resolved That we rally to the support OF
Grant and Wilson, with that resistle's spirit
I 4. IA
that deep sincerity With which we mourned the
| death of our maItyred liberatOr, Abraham LIN
| coin; aud with the eXult ant hope OF maklHl
| General Grant President, with our frat vote il
November next.
| William u. FUrten. l. a.. in the course of hi
eloquent remarks. read the following resolution
| which he had written for the occasion, not know
| ing that others we're prepared -
| ResOlCed. That when tue Democratic party
uses its power, Influences aud votes, to thu ex
| punging from the Statute BIoks all laws degra
| ding to nj citizens of the United s ates. anC
| joins in harmony with the great and true Repub
lican party in securing to Gus perfect civil rights
| equal school privileges, and accord to us thu
| fullest AMI ireest exercise of the most essontla
| and ilued Tightr, tue Ballot that hsn We ma,
| be led to luOh upUI them a. wearing the sW Id
| lug bands OF pent nce. and we will pledge our
| selves to Use all our influence to aid them il
| their growth toward the plane Of manhood, anC
| their redemption iIOm SlayeIy's debasiDg inilu
| ence.
AT the close of Mr.. Forten's address, Prof
| Day offered the following resolutions
| ResolUcd That this Convention Of tn
colored citizens of Delaware, extend the
thanks and greeting TO the Republican partl
and State Central Committee of Pennsylvania
for their just consideration Of true Republican
principles, by selecting our working brothe
William u FOrten Esq as a Presidential Elec
tor at large in Pennsylvania, and we believ
they will elect him, they believe in juhtic
and political equality.
ReS0iGri, That the Convention hereby elec
William d. Furten, Esq, an honorary membe
of this State Convention.
| All Of the foregoing resolutions were adopte
amidst the most enthusiastic and uproarou
demonstrations Of applause, d. II. Gustus thu
President of the cOlOred Grant and Wilson Clu
leading of and showing how to do it.
The Convention proper then adjourned bu
the vast audience still lingering around tn
stand was further briefly addressed by Rev.
Cooper Of d over, and Rev. I. G. Steward o
Wilmington.
The meeting finally adjourned, and the pre-
cession, Reforming, marched through the prime
pal streets of Camden, to the depot at Wyoming
The splendid music furnished by the Inde
pendent Brass Band, and the precision wit
which the Grant aud Wilson Club marched wit
their torches brightly burning, was much ad
mired and appreciated, especially by those VIII
had never before seen such sight The Wi
mingtOn Delegation arrived home at 10 p. M.