Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-12-21
COLORED CONVENTION.
A Conflict Of Authority-Professor Day
asks Is it an Honest Movement for the
Good Of the People, or is il an Attempt
at Dividing Them Which y

Under the head quoted above we find
the following in the editorial columns of
Our Mutual Progress, edited by VIM.
Howard Day.
On Tuesday morning last, we received,
from different sources, two copies Of
circular, Of the date Of December ?, 1872,
and directed TO the citizens Of Delaware,
calling state Convention at Dover, Della
ware, January 9th, 1873.
The Circular says
Our rights as citizens are not respected
In Democratic Delaware
lst. In that we are excluded from the
school provisions made by the State. Our
children do not go 10 the public schools.
ID. In that we are uniformly excluded
from the iuries of the State and Federal
Courts within the state.
Sd. An unholy prejudice fostered by this
unfair conduct Of the legal authorities eX-
cludes us from professions and the mechanic
arts, and dooms us inevitably to the hardest
work and lowest wages.
The Circular ls signed by T. G. Steward,
no. T. g. Steward, member Of the State
Central Committee not 7. G.. Steward,
Vice President of the late Colored Mems
State Convention, which inaugurated the
work for school and other rights, and
whose officers and committees ought to
have been consulted and put forward as
the movers in and supporters Of this one,
II Il be best 10 hold a State Convention at the
time named not 7. G. Steward, Pastor Of
Bethel Chdrch, in Wilmington, or as the
designated Missionary of the Bethel Con-
neciion to the West Indies to 90 as soon
as the money Is raised but simply and
solely T. G. Steward.
From information received by US, from
responsible parties In Delaware, we believe
this to be one-sided movement, when II
ought to be movement of the People -
else why Is not the name of d. II. Gustus,
(who was the main-stay of the September
Convention appended TO this Circular
at the September meetings, an Educa-
tional Committee was appointed in ac-
cordance with the Convenion-resolution
on that subject. Why are not the Resident
Committee on Education consulted, aud
4 the names of the Resident Committee on
Education appended TO the Circular Fol-
the simple reason that it might have been
decided that State Convention In January
might not be the best way TO meet the
necessities of the case and because, IL
addition, some other men than our brother
Steward, would perhaps be made proml'
nent.
Mr.. T. G. Steward can be no more in.
terested in Education In Delaware than
many others. Before lie came from the
South to take care Of the Bethel Church
in Wilmington, an Education Committee
was formed, and educational work was
accomplished. Daniel B. Anderson (whose
name ought to have been appended to tho
circular) and William Howard Day, foui
years ago went to Dover, aud carried the
memorials of the whole people to IL Demo
cratic Legislature, when IL demanded
courage not only TO present memorials
but even to 20 to Dover, when the Legisla-
ture was In session.
No action taken now can rub out thai
factor blur that record. And no Con
vention held under one sided auspices in
January, can blot out the fact that In Sep
tember last, the first State Convention
ever held in the State, was held with en-
thusiasm, ut Camden, where two thousand
persons attended.
At that Convention, the following Reso
lutions were adopted
WHEREAS, The power which was over
thrown still lives III this State in its opp0si
tiOn TO civil rights, in its opposition TO tn
Fifteenth Amendment of the United State
constitution, in opposition to the Educa
tional bill, which was intended 10 do us jus
tice, In its opposition to the repeal OF tn
Black Laws Of our State, In the attempts
voting, and in opposition to our enrollmen
Ia the assessment lists Of the counties II
which we reside.
heretofore made for the recognition by Law
over all the country Of the entire equality o
all American citizens, in all civil and politi
cal rights, regardless Of color.
] ResOiUed, That the cOlOrcd people have
legal right TO the same free and full educa
tion for their children as their white fellow
citizens, and duly appreciatng the fact tina
on such an education depends in very grea
degree their future standing and uselulnes
as citizens, and having long and patientl
; waited and appealed in vain for reeogni
tion Of those rights, we think the time ha
now come for Us 10 take some steps towar
, obtaining them, and well knowing the wort
! OF the ancient pTOverb that The Gods hel
those alone who help themselves that "
shall now cease being suppliants, and dc
: mand through the Courts those rights q
which we have been 50 long deprived.
This is a good platform to begin with
, but what is needed now is not Stat
Convention, but Hundred and Count
me estiugs. The sooner Mr.. Steward begin
these, the better. But that would b
{ work would cost money; and would no
make certain third rate selfish men 80 im
| mediately prominent.
, We say. use all reasonable means {
! protect rights and secure schools in Della
4 ware, but let il be done in the right spirit
! with no sec,aran or selfish object in yie'
e and the people will respond. But do nc
3 Let the Convention system, useful In ii
! way, be the ruin of the colored people {
e Delaware, at the sacrifice Of the work
{ be done, and the means to be used q
D home, in the Hundre IL.
e Let us suggest to Mr.. Steward the col
i rection of one misstatement in his Circulal
3 He says, We are uniformly exclude
- from the jurles of the Fedora
2 Courts within the States" This Is a mi
b take. Not uniformly" ColOred me
= have neen called for Federal Jury,
j.. Wilmington, aud within the past yea
4 Let us give credit here credit is du
f The truth is bad enough. 1t does US Il
Q credit TO exaggerate.