Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-09-08
TIL E NATIONALC CONVENTION

As called by Hon. Fred. Douglass and 9th.
ers last May, to meet in Washington, D. c.,
and subsequently changed to meet at Lou
isville, Ky, on the oath inst, was as fol-
lows:
TO the colored men of the United States:
"During convention Of the colored citi-
zens of the District of Columbia, Col. p. H.
Carson offered the following resolution,
which was adopted:
"Whereas, The political condition of a
vast number of negroes in this country is
such as to demand attention and careful
consideration as to it's Improvement: There.
fore be it
Resolved. That the president of this con-
vention be, and he is hereby requested 10
appoint committee OF twenty-five, to be
composed of citizens of this district such
committee to make arrangements through
correspondence with prominent colored
men in the country for the holding of =
National Convention during the month of
September, 1883, in this city, and tn al the
chairman of this convention be a member
ex-officio of the committee.
'In compliance with the above resolution
adopted by the colored people of the Dis
to celebrate the anniversary of their eman-
cipatlon, this committee OF its creation
hereby issues the following call. which it
believes should be and viii! be promptly
answered by the colored men throughout
the United States.
''Seriously considering the undeniable
and lamentable TACT that the present condi-
ton of the colored people is insecure, and
the future far more alarming, we deem it
wise to call their serious attention to these
very suggestive points and ask that they
meet in National Convention and give them
their due consideration and action.
81. We are not given q fair remuneration
for our labor in the south and not protected
by law in securing even that trifing pit
tance for which we do toll.
so. We are not allowed fair and equal
educational advantages in the public
schools In the most parts of the country.
"3. Our civil rights are still infringed
upon all over the country, Notwithstanding
the passage of the acts Of congress for our
protection in that particular.
90. That our political rights are now al.
most wholly ignored, and the voice OF six
and one half millions of people with pecu-
liar interests at stake lost from the legisla-
tive halls of government.
IS. That the colored men have given one
million and quarter OF votes for the ad-
Vancement and perpetuatton of good and
peaceful government ever since they have
officers of the government have not in re.
turn given them protection and encourage
ment half commensurate with their power
and fidelity to the government.
That according to the signs of the times
the country is on the eve OF great pol1ti-
cal revolution, and 1t behooves us az q race
omaks our interests paramount to those of
any party or sect; that it is our duty to unite
and strike out some bold policy line of ac-
tion which shall bring us nearer to the es-
tate of full citizenship and power when
thi- great revolution is over.
We therefore recommend to the coIored
people Of the several states that they meet
in state conventions some time prior to the
month of September, 1883, and elect dele
gates to National Convention TO be held
in Washington, d. c., the twenty-fourth
day of September, 1888; and that the basis
of representation be upon the colored
population-1 delegate to 25,6OO, giving to
each state 3 Representatives, provided 1t has
a colored population Of not less than 1O, 900,
and in no case less than l delegate. The
representation under this plan, according
to the census of 1880, will be as follows: