The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-05-07

that by emigrating to Kansas the colored
people would obtain lands, mules and
money from the government without cost
to themselves and become independent
farmers; the m any retail country sore
keepers engaged in business selling whisky
to laborers (tenants) whereby their morals
have been corrupted, their labor rendered
inefficient, and pleasant relations between
them and their landlords (employers) de-
stroyed. 1t is a matter of astonishment
to your committee that the colored people
could be induced to credit the idle stories
circulated of promised land where their
wants would be supplied. their indepen-
dence secured without exertion on their
part, it was going to the extent of ignor-
ance aud credulity to credit them, and yet
evidence OF uudoubted character was fur
nlsned your committee as to this matter.
1t Is one OF the factors in the government,
and which we cannot now forecast, There
are IN the state of Mississippi alone S.
100000 acres of land belonging to the IN
tied States now subject to the homestead
entries, aud any thrifty colored man
IN the south can preempt 100 acres of
this land at a moderate coss-about
$l8. Lands in Kansas cannot be
acquired for less. Ia 90 part Of the civil
lied world can unskilled lobor receive a
larger return by honest toll than among
US; but idleness accompanied by extrava-
gance produces suffering and want here as
elsewhere. Your committee believe that
the legislation of our State should be
shaped so as to foster habits of industry
among the colored people, elevate the
standard of social morals, and improve
and preserve our common school system.
That errors have been committed by
whites and blacks alike, as each in turn
have controlled the government of the
States here represented, may be safely ad
mitted.
Among the resolutions are the following:
ResoEved, That the interests of the
planters, laborers, aud tenants are ideDti
| tical; that they must prosper and suffer
together; that it is the duty of the plan
ters (landIordsl of estates here represented
to devise and adopt some contract system
with. the laborers (tenants) by which both
parties will receive the full benefit of their
labor, governed by intelligence and econ
Omy.
ResolUed, That this convention does
affirm that the coIored race has been plac-
ed by the Constitution of the United States
oIA IhS OtotSo duu l1S laws
thereof, on plane of absolute legal equal
ity with the white race, and does declare
that the colored race shall be accorded
the practical enjoyment of rights. civil and
political, guaranteed by said Constitution
and laws.
Resolved That to this end the mem
bers of this convention pledge themselves
to use whatever power and influence they
possess to protect the colored race against
all dangers 10 respect to the fair express
sion of their will at the polls, which they
apprehend may result from fraud. intimi-
datiop or bull-dozing of the part of the
whites, and as there can be no liberty of
action without freedom on thought they
demand that the elections shall be fair and
free, and that no repressive measures
shall be employed by the colored people
to deprive their own race in part of the
fullest freedom 10 the exercise of the high
est right OF citizenship.