The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-26
Afternoon Session.


spent in discussing the propriety of paying dele
gates expenses to the national convention, and
after n lengthy discussion the whole matter was
Indefinitely postponed. The remainder of the
afternoon was spent IN timely and dignifed
discussion OF the following topics:
First, The commercial interests of the colored
people of the State; second The agricultural in.
terests; third, The mechanical interests; fourth,
The professional interests; hfth, The intellectual
conditions sixth, The moral condition; seventh,
The social condition; eighth, The best means TO
open up the way to every avenue of trade en-
plOyment or profession.
The convention adjourned sinedie after adopt
ing the following resolutions, reported by the
committee:
THE RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
We, the colored citizans of Indiana in mass
convention assembled. desire TO acknowledge
thankfully the benefcent providence of Almighty
God III the emancipation of our race from the de-
grading yoke OF slavery, and in the manifold
blessings which have accompanied and inter-
preted to us the liberty into which he brought
us.
We desire also to acknowledge a lasting debt
of gratitude to the great-hearted President who
issued and to the brave men who in fight made
good the immortal proclamation; to the wise and
llberty-ovlng statesmen who added to personal
freedom the civil and political rights by which
that freedom might be preserved TO us. We are
proud TO know that our was hOnOrably
represented in the great struggle by many
thousands of brave meu, and that the blood of
the black man was part of the price of our re-
demptiOn.
Nor can we forget that since the war ended the
price of the exercise of our constituted and legal
rights in many of the Southern States
has been the blood of thousands
of our race. The blood of these
values his new-found citizenship, and should
shame those who make merchandise of the free
mans ballot
We regret that in some of the Southern States
by trickery and dishonest laws, or by tissue bal
lots and false returns, the colored citizen is still
excluded from his rightful influence in public
affairs. But note the DrOQreEB from tha
gun and Dull-wnip to those devices of fraud the
cloak OF secresy, and the fraudulent representa-
ton, which are confession OF wrong The
burglar works al night because. public senti-
ment and the law are against him.
We recognize the difficulties which beset the
national government III prosecuting these cleo
ton frauds in the South, and in bringing to pun
ishment offenders against the civil ana persona!
rights OF the colOred man, growing out OF the
fact that jurors and witnesses are subject to ill.,
tinlidation, and that many of the offenders
can only be prosecuted in the State courts.
But we call upon Congress and the executive to
use every lawful means to secure TO colored men
in the South the rights guaranteed to them by
the amendments and by the civll-rghts bill. We
nave great 1alth IN the compelling force of an
enlightened public sentiment To secure our rights
and TO defend us against wrong.
The story of the progress OF our race during
the last twenty years would have discredited
any prophet who had ventured TO foretell it.
The child born In slavery is not ct of age, and
yet he has 100000 OF slaves become
100000 OF free American citizens. He has
seen the man who did NOT own himself stand as
peer IN tne senate OF the UNITED States. He
has seen the free schools oIened to the children
Of his race. He has seen them enter and pursue
successfully the learned professions. He has seen
them the owners and successful cultivators OF
broad acres OF land, He has seen night of pre-
JUDGE yield to the dawn, and il the Is not
yet at the meridian, it is climbing the sky.
The future progress OF our race we believe Is
mainly question of true and general eduea-
tiOn by which our people shall be elevated both
morally and intellectually.
We should encourage our people in habits of
thrift any money saving.
They are good workers, they earn money
plentifuly, but the saving habit has not charac-
terized them.