The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-13
CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

Civil Rights I'm New York, and Inde-
Pendsnce and Liberty I'm Cuba Asked
Tor by COlored Men-Mecting Last
Night.
A meeting OF colored men was held last night In
the Powell House, In Thompson street. to take INTO
consideration the subject OF their civil rights In
this State, affected by the bill introduced INTO
the Legislature last Thursday. Rev. William r.
Butler was elected chairman, and Messrs. THUS
and Freeman, secretaries. Mr.. Butler AZ whose
instance mainly the meeting was convened, stated
its objects and read the bill IL is very sweeping
in its requirements. 1t wipes out the Worthwhile"
In every legislative enactment or public document
In this state in which any distinction OF color or
race or condition Is now made or afnrmed. IL gives
to colored people the right to travel in any public
conveyance by land or water, to visit theatres,
lodge and board ut hotels, taverns, &C., In this
State on the same terms and conditions as white
persons are now admitted to and are treated In
those places. 1t imposes . fine Of not more than
$500 nor less than 500 for every violation OF this
act upon conviction. and is in every respect, but in
more limited sense, a copy OF Mr..
SUMMERS CIVIL RIGHTS BILL
the bill passed. and this meeting discussed the best
methods to give their influence to It's passage. 1t
meeting Should be- Called and petitions distributed
for signatures to be forwarded to the Legislature
asking Tor the passage OF the bill.
Professor CHARLES L. REASON thought such
meeting at this stage OF the movement would be
premature.
Mr.. p. s. PORTER thought it would be too expen-
sive as we'll until they had first measured their
strength and their numbers.
Mr.. WILLIAMS suggested that petitions could
better be circulated through the churches and Sig
natures obtained and then at some subsequent time
mass meeting might be held in one OF the public
halls OF this city.
MI. JOHN J. ZunE, cashier of the Freedmen's
Bank. moved that the meeting resolve itself into
committee of the whole to obtain signatures and
to further the objects OF the meeting. Subse-
quently the meeting resolved itself into the "Cit.
zens Civil Rights Committee OF New York City and
Hon. J. Milton Turner, United States Minister to
| Liberia, entered and was introduced to the COM
| pany. He made q lew remarks expressing his SYM
pathy with the movement and wishing 1t success,
which ne anticipated from the hands In which 1t Is
THE STATE COMMITTEE OF COL0RED REPUBLICANS
| are to meet in Albany on the 9th inst. to take
measures for getting the coored people OF the
petitions and otherwise and to urge Its passage.
After the adjournment OF the meeting an In
! formal discussion took place upon Cuba. Some OF
the members present did not think 1t right to
trouble themselves about the freedom OF Cuba until
| they themselves were entirely free and had OBJ
their condition was infinitely superior to that OF
the people OF Cuba and that they ought to pour
petitions into Congress and ask for American In
reference to abolish slavery in Cuba and to de-
clare the island free from Spanish influence and
control. A Cuban anti-savery society exists In
is proposed to organize o branch In this city
among the cOlored people. No action was taken
on the matter last night inasmuch as the meeting
was not called in this behalf. -