New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-12-05
t0iOred Wen OF Pennsylvania
visit the President.

The NEW NATIONAL ERA, going to pres
last week little earlier than usual, was no
able to give the following address presente,
by a delegation from the Pennsylyani,
Equal Rights League to the President OF
Tuesday Of last week:
To His EscNUc"cy, The P,rsidesi ofMe Unite,
States:
The undersigned are officers of the Penn
sylvania State Equal Rights League" organ
lied ten years ago for the liberation, cduca
ton, elevation, and enfranchisement Of the
oppressed of this country, and devoted tC
the PRONUNCIATION and maintenance of the
principles now represented blythe great Re-
publican party, and by your ENcellency, it,
earnest and impartial leader.
This organization is composed ofthc eight.
cen thousand voters of the State, who
through the instrumentahty of the Republican
party, acting in conformity with your Elk.
cellency's historic and patriotic recommenda.
ton, have been enabled to WELD their votes
in solid unity for the preservation of these
principles, vital to the perpctuation of oul
country and to the overthrow of dislovalt,
in spirit and in act.
we come to you, President Of the United
States and leader of the truly patriotic, the
truly American in principle and in practice
luily assured OF the kind feelings YOU enter.
tam toward those who are still oppressed
sun the victims Ola prejudice so irksOme, 50
!nt"ierant, as to demand at the hands OF
Congress action to the extent of fines and
penalties. In your Excellency's ipauoural
address to the nation you promptly and etfec.
lively recommended the passage of the fif.
teenth amendment which has had the effect
OF making all the people free, all citizens
equal before the law" and history will
chronicle this as the great event of these
most eventful DAYS.
We come now. your Excelleucy, most re.
specially to solicit you, as you are the first
President Of the United States constitution.
ally elected, the first Executive Officer who
has the right to govern by and with the con-
sent OF the governed; and your reelection
SIR, is the first in this country in which ali
the citzens--all the people--have been per.
mtted to participate. Our solicitations are.
that you will again make the nation hear
your great voice; that you will again WELD
your influence; again make your power felt /;
again arouse the nation to full conscious.
ness OF performing its full duty to its most
unprotected but faithful supporters. bv in
sorting in your annual message to Congress
request kindred to the famous fifteenth
amendment" by the recommendation Of the
passage OF such laws as will require that all
the citizens of this country shall be protected
from insult and outrage on the highways of
the nation and secured in all their "public
rights"--that all may have the full benefit
OF the unfalterin2 loyalty which. at the fear
iul price OF life and suffering, we gave to our
country; the full benefit of our taxes which
we fully, freely, and uncomplaininrly nav :
that your Excellency will ask Congress- to
pass such laws as will protect US in the at.
tempt to exercise and enjoy our civil rights.
To this end we approach you, on behalf OF
the eighteen thousand voters of this STATE.
and OF the true and loyal sentiment of the
country.
And we will ever pray, &c.
Ofiicers-William Ncsbit, Altoona, Presi.
dent; David i. Bowser, Philadelphia, first
vice president; Jacob c. White, Philadel.
phia, recording secretary; William d. For
ten, Philadelphia, corresponding secretary.
Members of Executive Board-Granville
S. Woodson, Pittsburg, third vice president !:
William Howard Day, Harrisburg; George
White, Joseph C.. Bustill, Jonathan Davis.
James Cnderdue, Philadelphia Aaron l..
Still, Reading Cassius NJ. Brown. Harris
burg.
MIR. Forten, in presenting the address, ac-
companied the same with few remarks
upon the subject, to which the President re.
Piled that, so far as was in his power, the
laws should be executed to prevent any dis
elimination on account of color, race, or pre-.
yious condition OF scrvitude, and assuring the
delegation that he would recommend such
additional legislation as would secure to the
whole people equal privileges and immuni-