New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-02-06
Letter from New jersey,
TRENTON, January 20,

TRENTON, January 20, 1873.
To the Editor ofthe Ne,c National Era:
beg leave through your invaluable or
gan-the colorcd citizens mouth-pece-to
publish the following letter addressed to Hon.
Geo. II. Williams, Attorney General, as the
most effective medium of redressing our
wrongs and grievances as American citizens:
Hon. Geo. II. Williams, Department Of Justice:
SIR: beg leave respectfully as citizen
Of the United States, and of the State of New
Jersey, to state that am under the necessity
of entering complaint and preferring
charge against a United States official, who
comes Immediately under your jurisdiction
and cOntrol-I allude to the United States
Marshal of the State Of New Jersey. The
attention Of your predecessor was called to
it few months prior to your succeeding him
who required him to discharge his duty in
the premises. This he partially did by put
ting two colored citizens on two juries for
two consecutive terms in the United States
Court. Since then-as before-hc has OBJ
stinately refused to inpannel colored men on
the juries, and maintains that he will exer-
else his own discretion in the matter. This
constitutes both tie charge and complaint.
Now we are recognized By the fifteenth
amendment to the Constitution, both as citi-
zens Of the United States, and of the States
respectively; yet our citizenship is practi-
cally denied by the aforesaid Marshal. Your
predecessor in reply to me says, "the law
gives him no such right" We demand no
more than we are entitled to, nor will we be
satisfied with less. In our judgment there is
no plea or excuse can be offered in justiica-
ton, unless it be williul and wanton obst-
macy, supcrinduced by the hatred he enter.
tains toward the colored man, as it is fact,
that in Salem, where he resides, no colored
person is allowed to ride IN public omnibus.
| This know, and this fact doubtless reflects
his sentiments and feelings.
So far as the recognition of our manhood
and citizenship is concerned, the last Presi-
Dental election indicated that most clearly
and fully, for it effectually sealed the mouths
Of weakened Republicans and Copperhead
| Democrats. We claim this not only as a
matter Of justice, but political expcdiency.
We occupy very important position in the
body polite Of this State, as you are aware
and it is eminently just, proper, and wise
that our citizenship should be recognized and
acknowledged. We no longer hold the re.
la:ion to the General Government nor to the
States, that our rights and privileges should
be held in allegiance, and should be meted
out to us by the arbitrary will and pleasure
Of any official. We don't live by mere sui:
ferancc! Our rights are identical with every
other citizen in this broad Commonwealth
We arc law-abidng citizens, and want all the
law confers.
| We are radical Republicans, and in the
name Of Republicanism, and all that Is just
and right, we claim all the rights, privileges
and emoluments, which We, as citizens Of the
| United States, are entitled to under the Con
stitution of the United States. 1t may b
urged by some that am the only disaTectet
one. But this is not so, for my acquaintance
whom am acquainted, who has intelligence
to discriminate, and manhood enough to as
sert his rights, that does not justly complain
except he is bought up, for / regret to sa.
that some colored men can be bought as vel
as some white men. Even if were the onl,
man that complain, it is my right, and thi
is the only fault can be found of me. an
not passive, but will agitate, advocate, ant
defend the rights Of my people.
Now we have over six thousand qualities
voters, and most Of US voted solid in ever.
election since our citizenship, and only fou
have been impanneled on United State
jury, and nearly three years have elapsed
Are there only four intelligent enough, an
these four belonging TO Trenton: am op