New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-10-09

A meetin. al ColoTei men Wa- held in the
. old arrnory. on Meeting street, last evening,
T. take some definite action in regard t. the
present social status OF co!orrd people, and
t" choose delegates II a national convention
In he held al Washington in December. TO
take measures TO urge upon Congress and
State legislatures the adoption of civil rights
bills. under the operation Of which col0rei
people would I've shown the same privileges
in hotels and public conveyances that are
now accorded to the Caucasian The meet
ing was called to order bv Mr.. James Jetfer-
son, and Rev. Mr.. Jackson was elected chair
man, and Messr7. Rallou and Nichols. sec.
retarles.
speeches were made BY Rev Mr.. Jackson.
Mr.. George T. Downing, oi Newport; Geo.
Henry, OF Newport; Rev. Mr.. Jones, Of
New bedford, and Rev. Mr.. Waugh, OF Prov
lenCe.
\ committee having been appointed TO
draft resolutions and an address to be sub
m'tted to the people of Rhode Island, they
proceeded with their deliberations while some
OF the above mentioned gentlemen were en-
PERTAINING the audience. After an absence
OF about half an hour the committee reap
peared, and in their behalf, Mr. Downing, rs
chairman, submitted the following series Of
revolutions
Whereas We are not permitted to enjoy
CIR civil and public rights fully in the State
like other American citizens; and are out
ragged in this respect, to greater extent, In
parts out OF the State for instance on rail-
road cars and other public conyeyances, in
common schools, in constituting iurips, in
places Of public amusement, in inns and other
public places OF refreshment, and in other
instances, and
Whereas the Constitution Of the United
states enJoins the maintaining, throughout
the States and throughout the Union, Of our
civil rights, without any discrimination, By
reason OF race. color, or previous condition
Of seryitude, be it
Re'0itsd, That we expect our State General
Assembly and the Congress OF the United
states. to be earnestly and persistently urged
to act, by our representatives In both branches
OF each body, and that the bodies shall 80 act
that we shall be protected from and not have
occasion in the future to complain of the
unjust grievances alluded to in our preamble.
Hesotse'., That we adopt the expression OF
the eolorrd people Ct the city of Newport on
The marriage question, saying That while
we are no more concerned or anxious to have
marriages between white and colored per
sons than are others, we nevertheless feel
concerned about the stigma implied in retain
ing on the statnte-hnOk of the State, law
iorb!dding such marriages, and because the
5totutt might III come cases WOtk IN Justice.
Rs9olrad, That Messrs. James Jefferson,
Thomas q. Williams. ami Rev. Mi Dunee
be committee to prepare petitions and cir
culate them throunhnnt the State, addressed
to the General Assembly Of the State and to
Congress, PRAYING Tor The appropriate lesisla.
ton to protect Us III our civil rights.
ReSotced, That We respond to the call for
a national convention to assemble 10 the gity
Of Washington an neCemhor, to urge tha pas
sage by Congress Of Senator Summers sup.
Elementary civil rights bill, by electne dele
gates to represent the state in that gathsr-
ing.
Resok'sd, That We are asserting hat the
prerogatiyc al American citizens when We
ask Tor decent representation in the dstri-
button OF office, keeping in mind merit and
general fitness; on rather that We be not
Ignored because Of au- race or color; that we
are concerned about this because among
other reasons, We know that if colored per-
sons have representation in this respect, il
will have an influence in inducing respect for
colored persons generally; TINT the ignoring
"i colored persons in the above respect hv
the city, State, and the Federal authorities
Of the state, is 80 marked A. to make il Il sub
iect Of general remark.
ResOired, That This convention i-,ur the
following address, to the white citizens of
the STATE.