Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-01-10
State Convention Of oolorod Citizens.

REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS AT DOVER, YESTERDAY.
A convention of the colored people was held
ct Dover, yesterday afternoon, in which nearly
every Hundred in the Stste was represented. A
temporary organization being effected, ]. W.
Layton, Of Wilmington, addressed the meeting
In which he stated the object of the convention
was to take some definite action for securing
better educational advantages for his people
Mr. Layton further explained the ipeficiency
and inability of the colorea people to educate
their children under the present system, and
advised petitioning the General Assembly for re-
lief, to petition Congress for the passage OF the
Civil Rights bill, and to issue an address to the
people Of the State on the different subjects.
The following officers were reported for the
President Rev Solomon Cooper, of Dover
Vice Presidents, john Shockley, Jacob Bryan
and Samuel Segars Secretaries, A. X. Henry
and l.. j. Coppin. s
Delegations were reported from the several
Hundreds, and the courtesy of the convention
was extended to the clergy with .an Invitation
to present themselves.
The following committees were then appoint
ed lI- II
On Business-J W. Layton, Charles r. Hor-
sey, Lewis Hamilton. d. b. Hamilton.
On Address to the State-T. G. Stewart, Prince
Collins, Charles r. Horsey.
On Civil Rights Samuel Segars, John II.
Fisher, Caleb Millburn.
On Finanoe-James Dougley, Jacob Bryan,
George Riggs.
Mrs. F. Z. W. Harper, of Philadelphia, being
present, was introduced and addressed the con-
vention in an earnest and eloquent manner.
She explained the necessity of education, and
appealed to her people to arouse themselves to
meet this important issue, to be earnest, to be
firm and untiring in their efforts, until the good
is reached by ali. Mrs. Harper only occupied
impress her hearers with the Importance of the
work they were engaged in.
A preamble and set of resolutions were Of
fered by Rev. T. G. Stewart, detailing the duties
Of the colored people in the matter of securing
educational advantages, recommending 9 petit
tion to the Legislature for relief in the way of
appropriations, and advising general effort
being made by his people in this behalf.
Addresses bearing on the subject were then
made by Revs. Solomon Cooper, T. G. Stewart
and Charles s. Horsey.
Senator Riddle appeared before the conven-
ton and made blief and appropriate address,
at the conclusion Of which vote of thanks was
rendered the Senator for his presence and kind
ly assurance Of aid in the matter under consid-
erstion.
Adjourned till T30P.M.
At the evening meeting, the several commit
tees made their report. The committee on ad-
dress reported lengthy paper which was dis
cussed and finally adopted and ordered to be
printed in pamphlet form.
Resolutions were adopted expressing thanks
to the Delaware Association for their efforts in
the way OF moral and mental improvement Of
the colored people Of appreciation of the la
bors Of the teachers in their schools suggesting
to the Legislature the propriety of striking out
the word white wherever it occurred in the laws;
expressing adherence of the present criminal
code as relating to corporal punishment, and
declaring the whipping post and pillory blot
on the Christian civilization Of the State, and
resolution fayoring local option law.
Mrs. Harper delivered her poem ON Southern
Life, much to the delight Of the audience.
The convention adjourned sine die after adopt
ing resolutions Of compliments to the people OF
Dover for their kind hospitality and to the Off
GERS of the convention.