Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-12-20
CIVIL RIGHTS DISCUSSED.

MnNORIAL TO CoNsRRss ADoPrRD-rKB
COURSE OF THE PRESIDENT CRITICIZED.
The mass meeting OF colored citizens ut the
15th-street Prssbyterian church last evening,
TO consider the civil rights question, was largely
attended by prominent colored men. The
meeting was called TO order about TX o'clock,
by Mr.. George L. Downing, on whose motion
TIE FOLLOWING osFICRRs wRRs ELECTED:
Robert Purvis, president; John A: Gray WIN.
Syphsx, DIR. j. l.. N. Bowen, William II. A.
Nermley, A. T. Augusta. NJ. D.; John II.
Brooke, John p. Sampson, William j. Wilson, j.
z. Cook, John I. johnson, Y. g. Barbados.
Freeman, and Rev. j. II. A. johnson, vice pres
idents; Richard w. Tompkips, William E.
Matthews, W. O.Wsgoner, and +. Douglass, jr.,
Mr.. Purvis, ON taking the chair, said the
meeting was held for
Two FOLD PURPOSE,
first, to raise money for the relief of the father
Of the late Osborn p. Anderson, the last of the
John Brown raiders, and second, to discuss the
subject Of civil rights. He alluded 20 the raid
emancipation of four million colored men. He
used the term men, for women were not yet
emancipated, and he wished it understood that
called. (Applsuse.] He then suggested that
before the meeting proceeded to discuss civil
rights that they raise at least 5000 for the pur-
pose of aiding Mr.. Anderson to remove the re-
mains OF his son TO the family burial ground in
West Chester, Pa.
Addresses we're made, urging liberal contri-
buttons for the purpose. by George i. Downing,
Il. ID. Murray, j. p. Sampson, Bishop Green,
X. j. Hinton and Mrs Mary Ann Shsdd Carey,
and a collection was taken up. While Colonel
Hinton was speaking, Senator Wii5on,
The VICE z RKsIDRNT.RLxCT,
entered the room and WAS received with loud
and continued applause. The chairman, Mr..
Purvis, introduced the vice president elect
an abolitionist OF forty years standing. General
Wilson was received with applause, and said he
only wished the kind words OF the chairman
were we'll deserved and he had simply come to
the meeting to show that he was still deeply,
interested in the cause to which for forty years
he had given his head, heart and hand. He I'M
derstood that this meeting was in furtherance
OF the cause of civil rights. During the cam
paign he had spoken at 131 meetings and to not
lees than 600, 900 persons. and In those speeches
he had expressed his belief in the perfect eguali
ty of all men and the duty of the nation to make
had met agreed with him. He had come out of
the campaign with the conviction that il Is their
duty to do all in their power py their pledges.
and, II necessary, by their lives, to make all
men equal under the law. The sdministr alton,
too, which will be inaugurated on the fourth
OF March next, believes in this principle.
he did not know that there was any need ct
agitating the question, for about all of them at
the Capitol were pretty well pledged to it.
After all the promises recently made he did not
anticipate seeing any tagging behind, but the
issues of the war would be carried out. If any
thing should excite the respect of even those
opponents, il was the manner in which the COT
ored people OF the land had conducted them
serves. de hOpe0 they would all labor on and
struggle, so as to destroy the prejudices and
passions which they had encountered, and that
We should yet have not only in law, but in re-
ality, a natiSP viii ch respects humanity. What
little influence he had by voice or vote should
be given to the cause in which he had so long
engaged, for he believed that every man, white
or black, ought to be willing to grant to others
the privileges he enjoyed himself. Applause
LETTER FROM SENATOR SUMNER
was read, expressive OF his regrets at not being
able to attend the meeting, and expressive of
his most hearty sympathy with its objects. APP
plause.
Mr.. Downing, from the committee en-
RESOLUTIONS,
reported a series: That we cal on Congress to
enforce by appropriate legislation in accord
ance with the constitution, and in the interest
Of freedom, respect for our civil aud political
rights as citizens of the United States. That
when government, based on the equality of
all and demanding of all equal allegiance, nun
ishiDg alike all for violation of its laws assumes
TO educate the people, IL should not be as
classes, not inyidouslv, not with any proscrib-
ing arrangements tending to degrade one class
OF citizens in the estimation of another; but in
schools where every child may strive beside his
FELLOW for honorable education, with the con-
sciOrsness that be Is not regarded by govern
ment regu alton because Of his race, or color or
tor any other accidental circumstance as unfit
to associate with any other child of the com
monwealth. That Inasmuch as the constitution
specifically declares that all persons are en-
TITLED to an impartial jury, it is therefore the
legitimate right of Congress to make such
sons the benefit of this just and wise provision.
That that is not an impartial jury which is con-
stttuted TO the exclusion of any person OH ac-
count of race, color, or previous condition of
servitude. That our right to enjoy the pri vi
leges furnished by common carriers and public
inns is 20 clearly admitted to common law aud
as our constitution fOrbds any discrimination
baced on color, race, or previous condition of
servitude in the enjoyment Of the rights and
privileges % citizens, is so well known, we do
not feel that more than the mere citation to
hnc 1ad tn lnnI .p0NF
that We are Disseminated against because of
our race and color by inn-keepers and by COM
mon carriers, ts necessary 20 cause the needed
legislation to secure us against TIE Injustice
That while we hold it as principle that no
one OF our rights, however trivial, should be
with impunity because it sets
an example for a disregard of an other, even
It may be to the forcing into our social circles
those we would not have there-an outrage we
would oppose with fo-ce-still we give promi-
nence to the fs ct that We are prescribed in the
impanneling Of juries, and that we desire
appropriate legislation by Congress to secure us
In these rights, as well as in others outraged
That the frequent assertions made in evasion of
our civil rights secured us, to the effect that
We ask legislation in disregard Of domicili lry
rights are false. We emphatically deny them.
4 hat the thanks of the colered people of the ma
ton are due the administration for its Just ac-
OF all we demand of Congress,
as exhibited in the Doble defense of the Cadet
Conyers, indicating. as 1t does, q commenda-
and his advisers to respect our rights, which we
pray Congress to emulate by speedily granting
our prayer to be protected in our rights. That
our thanks are eminently due to Hon. Charles
Sumner and Hon. Henry Wilson for their earn
est and persistent adhesion to the great princi-
pies of justice and equality, which have distin-
guished them and singled them out as the great
CD smpions OF impartial justice to all men.
That each vote cast by the members of Com
gress who favored recognition of our rights.
and the needed legislation to cause these rights
to be respected In the land, gratefully remsm-
bered by U.s."
MIR. Downing also submitted the draft of
MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS,
framed IN the same spirit as that which per-
vades the resolutions, protesting as men and
Americans against the continuance of proscrip-
ton. Reference Is made to the principle OF
equality for all before the law as affirmed at the
late national conventions at philadelphia,
Baltimore and Cincinnati; and it Is asked:-'In
the face Of these pledges, are We to be outraged
much longer? Shall we distrust? The rights
We ask to be nationally protected in are fully
TO US in some portions of the l -ogr-
tions as moral, as Intelligent, and an every
manner as high toned as any other-with no
evil consequences, without opposition. In other
portions our rights iu the management OF public
in inns, and by common carriers,
and other wise, are outraged. Although the
constitution specifically guarantees the right of
an impartial jury to all the people, we are in
many parts OF the Union denied this right.
n n - l.