Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-12-09
CIVIL RIGHTS.
the NATIONAL CONVENTION or coIoRso MEN.
Opening Proceedings To-day.

which assembled in the hall OF the Honse of
Delegates at noon todsy comprises . great
many leading men of the race from all parts
of the country. The call for this national con
vention emanated from the Pennsylvania
Equal Rights League, organized in 1864 bysuch
men as VIM. Nesbit, OF Peunsy lvania, who was
the first president and still holds I'd At position;
VIM. ID. Forten, OF Philadelphia, Pa, one OF
the most active and eloquent orators Of his race;
VIM. whiPper, the writer; VIM. Stin, the Phil
adelphia merchant; Jacob Z. White, ST., and
his son, Jacob, jr., OF Philadelphia; David
Bowser, Alfred Casey, Ed. Venning. and the
late John &. Brewers and G. V. Cato. At a
meeting of the League, held at wiIkesblrre,
Pa, August 10 and 70, lSIS, a resolution WAS
unanimously adopted instructing the president
TO call a national convention at Washington, u.
c., on the second Tuesday tsth) of December,
1853, for the special purpose of imsressng ON
Congress the absolute necessity OF passing a
civil rights bill. In accordance with this reso-
luton
THE CALL,
drawn up by VIM. ID. Forten, was addressed
ITO the colored people of the United States
Ii contains the following sentences:
at Is true all citizens now equal before
the law all equal in responsibility TO the gov
eminent. The constitution OF the United States
has been amended, and every human being
made free within its jurisdiction. These great
achievements are the handiwork of the repub-
lican party, and through them il has attained a
grandeur and sublimity OF character the world
might envy. Brothers, though all these things
be true, yet in defiance of the law as now con-
.
color prejudice, insult, degrade and outrage
thousands with seeming IMMUNITY. Men and
women, citizens of the United States, are de-
MED the convenience of the common carriers OF
the country; denied equal accommodations on
rail- cars. steamboats, and stages; refused enter
tainment at hotels; refused equal education IN
public schools for their children, and the hOspi-
taties and civllities of civilized communities to
great extent denied to them. These are facts
common to all sections of the country, and the
strong arm of national law is needed 70 correct
aui is L. fh.Ar a
also be national.
We want Congress to give us a " civil rights
bill, with such penalties as will teach humanity
to the imbruted and compel the tyrant to loose
his hold on the poor. Men and citizens, come
from every state. Come in force from every
state. Come, determined on purpose. Come,
resolved that freedom shall not be only in name,
but that the practical exercise OF the freemen's
right shall not be limited to the white man, who
pays no more taxes, bears no more responsible
titles, eDdures no more hardshlps, runs no greater
risks, and is no more patriotic and brave than
the black. Let every state send delegation
that will press on Congress the passage of such
law as will still forever these tyrannic assump-
tons based alone on color. Our great President,
great leader, great soldier, great patriot, great
friend, Gen. L. s. Grant, has announced to the
world his pledge to accomplish the end. He
viii most surely do his duty. Brothers, let Us
rally. Let us speak as with one voice, that our
law makers may feel that nothing but this just
and proper remedy will bring peace to this land,
once rent by slavery, whose poison is still shown
by these continued outrages on the nations
cOlored citizens. Let US rally in the hope that
this united effort may prove so efficient that the
necessity for distinctive movement NAV never
again exist"
PROMINENT DELEGATES.
Prominent among the delegates from the
states this mo ming we're Hon. X. ID. Elliot,
Hon. j. III. Rainey, Hon. A. j. Rainer, Hon. X.
III. Cain, of 5. c.; Col. Robert Harlan, Ohio; J.
B. Stansbury, Ky; ex- Governor p. b. 5. Pinch
back, Gen. A. 4. Barber, Hon. +. Q. Antoine,
Hon. VIM. G. Brown, Hon. J. +. Barton, dele
gates at large Tor the state of Louisiana; LIST
Congre ssional district, Col. james Lewis, j. S.
Dupsrt; Hon David Young "a district, Z. f.
Green; Sd district, Hon. \. Williams, Hon. T.
b. Stamps; ith district, Hon. Harry Scott; 5th
district, Hon. j. III. Laws, Raford Blunt, Hon.
VIM. E. Southland, Hon; VIM. MurrelI, Hon.
Cain SartaiD; Peter Ii. Clark, Esq, and Hon.
J. Booker. ohio; j. q. Wears, Philadelphia;
Geo T LOWING, r.. l.; Col. John Taylor, y.
!; Elder H. j; Young; \. Y; Henry Scott,
Charles f. Hubert, A. b, Lind, j. Al
corn, Ohio; Joshua Il. Smith Mass; Prot. Chas.
L. Reason, N Y; John I. Waugh, II. l.; VIM.
Ter, ky. " ''-'-'-
Douglass, J. T. Settle, NJ. NJ. Holland, DIR. q.
b. Puryis, Or. j. l.. \. Bowen, Dr. Il. s.
Watts, j. NJ. Langston. Thomas Commodore,
j. w. shipper, Thomas W. Chase, VIM. 4. Wal
ker, VIM. Syphax, VIM. Cotin, A. NJ. Green,
Rev. j. Sella Martin, DIR. j. ID. Harris, and
The Philadelphia platform, and that portion
OF the Presidents inaugural address relating to
on the wall on either side OF the platform.
AT THE CAUCUS THIS MORNING,
after a rather stormy contention over the chair
manship, il was decided that Hon. X. b. Elliott,
Of 5. C., be temporary chairman, no permanent
president having been determined upon.
OPENING OF THE CONVENTION.
The convention was called to order at II m,
by Hon. VIM. Nesbit, OF Pa.
The corresponding secretary, W. ID. Forten
then read the above call.
MIR. Collin Crusoe, of ID. g., was appointed
sergeant alarms, with power 10 call as many
others TO his assistance as may be required, and
if necessary, TO call in the aid Of the police.
He called Hon. K. b. Elliott, of s. e., TO the
chair temporarily. Objections were made TO
this procedure by a member from Virginia,
Mr.. Malord, but the chair took the ground that
be must follow the instructions Of the caucus,
and he was sustained.
Mr.. Elliott came forward, and made brie;
address, thanking the convention for the honor
conferred.
Mr.. Sumner, of Mississippi, moved that a
committee Of one from each state be appointed
on creden initials.
Mr.. Myers, of Maryland, moved az an amend
ment that two delegates from each state be
appointed instead of one; laid on the table.
MIR. Lee, of ohio, moved that the states be
called, and that the delegates appoint one from
each state to act on the committee; adopted.
COMMITTEE or cREDENTrALs.
The original motion was adopted, and the
chair ordered call Of the states and terri
tories.
Alabama presented the name of Robert Whit
aker; Connecticut, Green; California.
Hayes l.. Campbell; Delaware, Peter 7. Gregg;
Georgia, s. W. Simmons; Indiana, ii. g.
Parker; Kansas. Abraham Williams; Ken
lucky, DIR. II. Fitzbutler; Louisiana, David
Young; Maryland when this state was called
there appeared to be two distinct delegations,
and a discussion followed as to which
should be accepted, and it was finally left
to the committee when organiZed;l Penn
sylvania, Rev. I. W. Henderson MIs-
sIssippi, j. II. Sumner; North Carolina, Here
again there appeared to be two sets of delegates,
and the matter took the same course as above;l
South Carolina, J. j. Ranser; New Jersey, John
W. Stephenson; New. York, VIM. r. Button;
Oregon. Rev. Daniel JONES' Ohio, j. q. Tyler;
Texas. n. w. Puney; Virginia, Thomas Bayne;
Michigan, John Ferguson: District Of Column
bia, Lewis H. Douglass; Utah, John q. Morti-
mer.
Prof. G. W. Bell, Of Ohio, was nominated
temporary secretary, with Mr.. Needham, Of
Pennsylvania, and Mr.. Council, Of Alabama,
Is assistants, and they were elected.
Mr.. Downing, Of X. l., moved that gentlemen
hand in their credentials to the COMMITTEES on
credentials; adopted after lengthy discussion.
Mr. Ranser, OF 3. c., moved that the rules
governing the House of Representatives be
ADOPTED by this convention ns it, rules. 20 far