New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-05-16

your delegates TO the National Colored Con
yention at New Orleans, as detailed by Fred
erick Douslass, ST., in the NEW NATIONAL
ERA, would be its fullest vindication. L
orderly, sober citizens of the United States
entitled by its Constitution to equality unde
the law, cannot obtain food and lodging
public hotels, like the rest of mankind" Oh
even average accommodations on railroad
trains after paying first-class fares, we should
either acknowledge that the Constitution i;
a nullity, or should insist on that obedience
to it by all and protection under it to al
which are alike the right and the duty OF the
humblest as well as the most Influential
throughout the land.
Respectfully yours,
SCHUYLER CoLFAx.
f.. S. Atkinson and Others, Committee.
SENATOR SUMMERS LETTER.
SENATE CHAMBER, May 9, 1872.
GENTLEMEN: am glad that our coloreo
fellow-citizens are beginning to bestir them
selves for the establishment of equal rights
They must take hold of the course strongly,
and not relax their efforts until it is won
II they are really in earnest it cannot fail
But they must make their influence felt by
public meeting, by speech, by petition, by
vote. If may venture any suggestion to the
public meeting which is about to assemble,
it would be to encourage them in their efforts.
Let them insist always upon equal rights,
and others will insist also. Let them stand
firm for themselves, and others will stand
firm by their sides. Let them help them
selves, and the politicians will help them also.
One other word l am tempted to add: Be-
yond earnest efforts for themselves, / hope
the colored people will see also that their
representatives are honest. There must be
personal integrity in all oflice-holders. They
must be true and above suspicion. The
cOlored people will honor themselves if they
require of all their candidates perfect purity
OF character, and also clean hands. / say
this with a sincere desire that my friends will
make it rule of action whenever they are
called to exercise their duties as citizens.
cannot fOrbear offering my congratulations
on the signs of victory. 1t seems that at last
the principles and promises of the Declara-
ton OF independence are about to become a
reality, so that all men shall be equal in the
right of :" life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness" This is an immense consrlmma-
ton, full of peace and reconciliation. pray
that it may be accomplished without delay.
Accept my best wishes, and believe me,
gentlemen, faithfully yours,
CHARLES SUMNER.
To the Committed.
LETTER FROM ROSCOE CONKLING.
UNITED STATES SENATE CHAMBER,
WASHINGTON, May 8, 1872.
GENTLEMEN: have your note apprising
me that tomorrow evening meeting will be
held in this city in behalf of equal civil rights
for all, and asking me to say something in
person or by letter.
1t will not be convenient and it may not
be possible for me to be present, but you may
ra ct q If into in fbo oc;n
did not know till recently how much need
there is still for such demonstrations and dis
cussions as you propose.
1t was new to me that any man of intell-
gence, however biased by feeling, would pub
licly deny that receiving instruction in public
schools was the right of those taxed to MAIN
tain them. l had supposed that the drcgs of
slavery were more fully drained, but it seems
that persons can be found to insist that the
right of taxpayer to send his children to
school which he is compelled by law to help
support is not civil right, nor political
right, but no right at all. Such doctrine
needs treatment. The community infested
with such ideas needs disinfectants. The cure
is in your owHhands. The colored men have
votes of their own, and if they fail to set
themselves right it will be only because they
miss their interest and their duty. Nothing
in the conduct of colored Americans for the
last ten years leads me to doubt their sense
now. Your most Obedent servant,
ROSCOE CONKLING.
LETTER OF JOHN w. FORNEY, ESQ.
WASHINGTON, May 0, 1872.
George T. Downing, Esq:
Ny DEAR SIR: After had determined to
accept your kind invitation for this evening,
to meet my old friends at the Congregational
Church, corner Tenth and C streets, re-
ceived peremptory business dispatch calling
me to Philadelphia, and so you must do with
out me. If l could have been present l
should have given hearty concurrence to
Senator Summers bill securing civil rights to
all your people. Not so much because they
deserve it as because it belongs to them.
When this nation recognized them as citizens,
it recognized all the logic of the position, and
it has no more right to deny to them the full
result, than it has to deny the use of air, and
light, and water. What you ask cannot long
be denied. 1t may be delayed, but it must
come. All this and more should have said,
my honest counsel by the re-
marks that, while the colored people of
America owe much to our eminent public
men, they must not forget the old flag and
the tried leader, General Grant; and that in
the present mist and mystery of politics, they
should keep their eyes upon the great captain
that led them to liberty.
Yours truly, j. w. FoRNEY.
LETTER OF THOMAS J. DURANT, ESQ.
WASHINGTON, d. c., May 9, 1872.
Messrs. George T. Downing, Frederick Douglass,
Jr., b. S. Atkinson, Committee: ..s
GENTLEMEN: l received at late hour
yesterday your invitation to be present to-
night at a meeting at the Congregational
Church, corner Tenth and G streets. The
object of your meeting is deserving of every
sympathy. Under the guidance of those
grand laws of human destiny which Provi-
dence has prepared to work out the social
evOlutiOns of our race, the relations between
capital and labor in the late Southern States
has undergone change which, placing them
on a basis of more exact justice, has inspired
the laborer in all sections with hopes of fur
Their progress. The civil rights claimed by
the producers of the wealth of society, for
social liberty and independence are too surely
just, and the sentiments demanding their
enjoyment too deeply and earnestly felt to
be treated with indifference or much longer
withheld; and 1 am accustomed to look with
the highest respect ON every demand, in
whatever quarter made, which has for it's OBJ
ject the development Of this great idea.
am, gentlemen, respectfully, your obedi-
ent sevant,
1884,. THOMAS j. DURANT.
LETTER FROM SENATOR SAWYER