Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-05-10
CIv.L RIGHTS.
Inc Moss Meeting Last Night

EtWNIN0, LANGsTON AND OTHEEs-LETTERS
PROM PRESIDENT GRANT, VICE PRESIDENT
CoLFAx, SENATOR SUMNER, COLONEL Fo.yEY
AND OTHERS.
A large audience, composed in the main of our
together with a sprinkling Of whites including
Senator Wilson, j. W. lie Barnes, Fred A. Bos-
well, q. ID. Barrett and others, assembled at the
COngrt gational church, corner of 10th and G.
by r. 3. Atkinson, Lewis III. Douglass, VIM. III.
"A. Wormley, John A. Gray, j. A. Handy, Geo.
i. Downing, j. L: Doughty, ID: l.. Eaton, o. s..
Ii. Wall, Allan Coffn and others for a mass
meeting OF colored men TO express sour earnest
rights"
Wilson, who read list of the officers OF the
meeting, Frederick Douglass being announce
as president.
The list of vice presidents and secretaries
embraced the names of prominent members of
both houses of Congress, the district legislature
city government, and influential citizens.
After brief prayer by the Rev. Mr.. Walker,
Frederick Douglass, as presiding officer, de-
livered
THE OPENING ADDRESS.
The speech of MIR. Douglass was an earnest
anu eICqueht appeal Tor common platform or
nationality and equal civil and political rights
In referring to social equality, he said the col
ored men aim at no such thing-at nothing so
intangible or so undefinable. Social equality is
unknown TO the laws OF this or any other coun-
Try, and the speaker knew not what il means
is IL 10 walk the streets with other men? Is il
ride in tie same railway car? Is it to drink at
the same fountain with our white friends? If
so, then. said the speaker, 1 am in favor of So
cial equality. Appiause.l But If il be under
stood that the colOred men are endeayoring to
force their white neighbOrs 10 invite them to
their drawing rooms, TO allow them to AIRY
Their sons and daugbteTs-if this is social equal
NY then II Is wrong TO cOnfound the common
school subject with this idea. He was present
TO urge equality in our common schools, because
mere OF AL other places IL the place to start
right The common school is the basis OF our
whole system, and without it the United States
would be- little better than Mexico or st. Do
mlneo. Ii Is the basis of our republican insti-
tutions, and what the colored people desire is
10 make our nominal common school system a
common school system in reality. Until this is
done there can be no such thing as a common
school system IN the United States. Mr.. Doug.
lass concluded by saying that the mixed school
has been carried out in Massachusetts, Connec-
tcut, Rhode Island, Vermont and large part
OF New York, and ii feasible there il is feasible
here. He then. in few eulogIstic re-
marks, introduced
SENATOR WILSON.
" no was greeted with loud applause. Mr.. Will
son, in the course OF his speech, which was
brief, assured those present OF his hearty SYM
Iathy with the object of the meeting, and hoped
that during the present session OF Congress civil
rights and amnesty will become fixed facts all
over the country. In the Senate yesterday we
hstent q To the same arguments that we have
heard for thirty years He believed it our duty to
establish absolute and perfect equality on every
the events of the last twelve years he thought
triumph certain. Some who fought with us for
the glorious idea are deseTtGTs now, and are
eTdtavoIing TO constitute reactionary move
ment. But We had had with us the heart of
the country and the providence OF Almighty
God, and VIC marched from battle to battle, and
iTt m victory to victory. The day will come
speedily, and il Is our duty to toll and pIav for
II; and as sure as there is God this cause is
destined to triumph, and the republic of the
United States Will become the great democratic
and Chris iian land of the world.
Mr.. Douglass then came forward and said:
I'VE have letter from the Hon. Chas. Sum
neT, loud aIplause;l also. one from ULYSSES s
Grant, President of the United States, [Ioud az
plause, continuing for several minutes:I also
one from the Vice President, [applause.J The
following
LETTER PROM PRESIDENT GRANT
was then read:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, ID. C., Nav 9, isT2
Gentlemen: L am in receipt of your invitation
extt nGed TO me TO attend a mass meeting, TO be
held for the purpose OF aiding in securing civil
rights for the colOred citizens of our country
i egret that previous engagement will detain
me- at the executive mansion this evening, and
That shall not be able 10 participate with Won
IN person in your efforts TO further the cause in
which You are labOring 1 beg TO assure YOU,
however, that sympathize most cordially in
any effort TO sc cure for all our people, of what
ever race, nativity, or color, the exercise of
these rights TO which every citizen should be
entltlt q. I'm, very respectfully, L. =. GRANT
Loud and IGng-continued applause greeted
the reading OF the Presidents letter; also, the
following
LETTER PROM VICE PRESIDENT CoLFAx.
VICE PRESIDENTS CHAMBER
WASHINGTON, Nav I. IS9
Dor Sir: Having voted recently in the Sen
ate upCn the question of civil rights 30 which
You refer, need not make any extended state
ment as TO my views upon it, for actions aIUavs
speak more loudly than mere words. BTt If
that vote needed Justification, as it does not the
uayehl experience of your delegates to the
rational Gel, red convention at New Orleans as
detailed by Frederick Douglass, ST, in the M
toHGI Ncr Ere, would be its fullest vindication.
II orderly, sober citizens of the United States,
entitled by its constitution TO equality under
the law, cannot obtain food and lodgings ~
public hotels, like " the rest of mankind or
even average accommodations on railroad
trains, after paying fiTst-class fares we should
either acknowledge that the constitution is a
nulhty, or should insist on that obedience to il
by all, and protection under it to all which
are alike the right and the duty of the humblest
aswel a. the most influential Throughout the land
kssIecuuly yours; SCHUYLER CoLFAx.
T.. ). AT KINsoN and Others, committee
THE LITTER OF SENATOR SUMNER
was then read, amid great applause, urging the
eoiored men not to relax their efforts until
equal rights are won; asking them to stand firm
BY Themselves and Others will stand firm by
their Sides and saying that il seems that at last
the principles and promises of the Declar alton
so that all men shall be equal in the right to
" LIE, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
OTHER LETTERS
were read from Hon. Roscoe Conkliny, Hon.
Fred A. Sawyer, Hon. j. W. Forney, and Thos.
q. burant, esq, expressing sympathy with the
object Of the meeting. When the secretary
reached the letter of Senator Sawyer, he said
he must refuse to read it; some one else might do
50 but he would not Mr.. Downing then read
MT Sawyer's letter in which he stated that he
could not attend on account of the illness of a
relative, and expressed his sympathy generally
with the cOlored men in their efforts to secure
equal Political rights: He did not refer to the
object for which the meeting was held and his
letter seemed to be regarded as an evasion of
the direct issue.
MORE SPEECHES.
Mr.. George Il. Downing was the next sneaker
he read his remarks, which were mainly de yot-
ed to a recital of the outrages to which colored
people are subjected on railway trains and at
public inns.
Prof. John NJ. Langston, of Howard Uniyer-
sity, followed with an eloquent address in favor
Of the passage of Senator Summers supple
mentary civil rights bill. His speech was mainly
devoted 10 a defence of the sections of the bill
referring TO common carriers, inn ke epers and
common schools. He closed ny saving that of
one thing the cOlored people mi ght feel assured
that the moment Mr.. Summers bill passes il will
be approved by the President of the United
States. lApplause.l
Mr.. Douglass then said IL might De interesting
TO know that to-day the Vice President, in cases
OF a tie, voted four times in favor of the prnci-
pie for which colOred men were contending
loud applause.l