The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-10-10
THE COLOR LINE.
The Address Issasd By the cOlored
Mea's Convention at LouisVille,
KY. Sept. 9th, 1883.


The National Convention Of C,oIored
Men, assembled, respectfully pre-eRl the
following as embracing and presenting
their views and sentiments:
first-That We are grateful for and
rejoice IN the miraculous emaneipa-
ton that esme 70 our race twenty
years ago. The shock of embattled
arms was the lullaby OF a nation born
In day We cannot forget the great
sacrifice Of the women and heroic men
who made possible the struggle in which
treason and slavery were consigned 10 a
common sepulchre, nor would We be
unmindful Of the measure of devotion
and patriotism that the white and
eolOred soldiers rendered the nation.
Second-That we are not insensible 10
the fact that the Congress Of the United
States has shed upon the statute books
many laws calculated to make us secure
in our rights IS citizens, nor would we
be forgetful Of the magnificent amend
ments 70 the Constitution intended TO
render forever impossible the crime of
human slavery.
ThiTd-Ke do not ask for any more
class legislation We have had enough
Of this. But we do believe that many
Of the laws intended 10 secure to us our
rights as citizens are nothing more than
dead letters. In the Southern States,
almost without exception, the colored
people are denied justice in the courts,
denied the fruit of their honest labor,
defrauded Of their political rights at
the ballot box, shut out from learning
trades, cheated out of their civil rights
by innkeepers and common carrier COM
panies and left by the States TO an in
adequate opportunity for education and
general improvement.
Fourth-We regard the labor question,
education and sound moral training par
amount to all other questions. We
believe that these questions, especially
in the South, need reeasting, and that
the plantation credits and mortgage
system should be abolished; that honest
labor should be remunerated; that the
landholders Of the South should recog
nize that this question is to be solved by
encouraging the negroes to industry 10
frugality and to business methods by
inciting them 10 habits of thrift, by
assisting them to acquire an interest in
the soil, by paying them honest wages
for honest work and by making them
c.ntente1 and happy in the land of
their nativity. The white men and own
ers of the soil in the South can settle
the question of labor and capital between
the white and the black.
Fifth-We believe in a broad, COM
prehensive system, looking toward the
education of young colored girls, so that
I they may become intelligent and faith
! full women, and of young colored boys,
that they may learn trades and become
useful men and good citizens. The re-
/ ligious and moral training of the youth
/ of our race should not be neglected. The
/ hope of every people is in adherence to
sound social, logical and ethical princi-
3 plies. The moral element in the charac-
ter is of greater value than wealth or
/ education, and this must be fostered By
the family and encouraged by the pull
pit.
Sixth-The failure of the Freedman 5
Savings Bank and Trust Company is a
marvel of our time. 1t was established
to receive the earnings of persons here
I tofore held in bondage and the descend
ants of such persons. II was established
/ by the government and thought to be
solvent. In changing its charters the
trustees transcribed their authority and
thereby made themselves liable. The
government, in appointing special ma
chinery to close the insolYent institu-
ton. violated the United States Statutes
OH bankruptcy, and should, therefore,
reimburse the creditors of the bank.
/ Seventh-The distinction made be
tween white and black troops in the reg
ular army is un-American, unjust and
ungrateful. White men can enter any
branch of the service, while colored men
are confined to the cavalry and infantry
services, and in the appointment OF
civilians to the regular army all believe
it the duty of the President to consider
the claims of the colored men. This
distinction is carried into the navy as
we'll
Eighth-It is not our province To die
tate the policy of the government or the
action Of our fellow citizensin the sew
eral States. 1t is a matter that theil
circumstances, patriotism and needi
should shape.
Ninth-As race struggling and con
tending for our political and civil rights
we are unmindful of the efforts of Ire
land to gain her rights, and we extenC
to our Irish friends our profound sym
pathy and best wishes.
, Tenth-We earnestly desire the aboli
tiOn of the chain-gang convict system
and the admission to trade unions o
: men of our race and to employment il
! commercial pursuits.
2 Eleyenth-In nearly every State i
the Union, both North and South, ou
: race are not allowed to enter free int
! the trades or gain employment in til
: higher walks OF life. This is unworth
! of our institutions and hurtful to tn
. reputation OF cur country at home an
, abroad.