The bee., 1883-05-05
A NATIONAL CONVENTION
OF COLORED MEN CALLED TO MEET
IN THIS CITY SEPTEMBER-REASON
ASSIGNED THEREFOR.


i ASSIGNED THEREFOR.
| The committee to make arrange
ments for a National Convention of
colored men to meet in Washington,
D. c., during the month of September,
1888, met last Friday at the City Hall
and issued the following call for a
National Convention of colored men :
To the coIored men Of the United
States:
During convention OF the colGred
citizens of the District of Columbia,
Col. Z. ii. Carson offered the following
resolution, which was adopted
Whereas the political condition of a
vast numbero negroes in this country
is such as to demand attention and
careful consideration as to its improve
ment Therefore belt
Resoloed, That the president of this
convention be, and he is hereby, re-
quested to appoint committee Of
twenty-five, to be composed Of citizens
of this district, such committee to
make arrangements, through cores
pondence with prominent colOred men
in the country for the holding of Il
National Convention during the month
of September, 1888, in this city, and
that the chairman of this convention
be Il member ex-oflicio of the COM
mittee.
In compliance with the above reso-
luton, adopted by the colored people
of the District of Columbia in conven-
tion assembled to celebrate the ami
versary of their emancipation, this
committee of its creation hereby issues
the following call, which it believes
should be and will be promptly
answered by the colOred men through
out the United States:
Seriously considering the undcniable
and lamentable fact that the present
condition of the colored people is inse-
cure, 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:
/. We are not given a fair remuner-
alton for our labor in the south and
not protected by law in securing even
that trifing pittance for which we do
toll.
2. We are not allowed fair and equal
educational advantages in the public
schools in most parts of the country.
8. Our civil rights are still infringed
upon all over the country, notwith-
standing the passage of the acts of
Congress for our protection in that par
ticular.
4. That our political rights are now
almost wholly ignored, and the voice
of six and one half millions of people
with peculiar interests at stake lost
from the legislative halls of govern
ment.
). That the colored men have given
one million and quarter of votes for
the advancement and perpetuation of
good and peaceful government ever
since they have been enfranchised, and
that the executive officers of the gov
ernment have not in return given them
protection and encouragement half
commensurate with their power and
fidelity to the government.
6. That according to the signs of the
times the country on the eve Of
great political revolution, and it
behooves lis as q race to make 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 action which will bring us
nearer to the estate of full citizenship
and power when this great revolution
is over.
We therefore recommend to the
colored people of the several States
that they meet in State conventions
some time prior to the month Of Sep
tember, 1883, and elect delegates to a
National Convention to be held in
Washington, d. c., twenty fourth day
of September, 1888; and that the basis
of representation be: ColOred popula-
tion-1 delegate to $4,000, giving to
each State 3 representatives, provided
it has colered population of not less
than 10000, and in no case less than
l delegate. The representation under
this plan, according to the census of
1880, will be as follows Alabama, "a;
Georgia, 90; North Carolina, 20; South
Carolina, 25; Virginia, 25; Mississippi,
26; Louisiana, 20; Tennessee and
Texas, each Is; Kentucky, II; Arkan-
sas and Maryland, each 9; Missouri, 6;
Florida, 5; delaware, District of Colum-
bia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, New
Jersey, New York, Ohio and West
Virginia, each 3; Pennsylvania and
Ohio, each 4; California, Colorado,
Nebraska, Connecticut. Iowa, Rhode
Island, Maine, Michigan, Massachu
setts and Minnesota, each l in all
28S.
Yours for the interests of the race,
Frederick Douglass, w. A. Talliaferro,
chairman, r. T. Greener,
Jas. G. Gregory, John NJ. Brown,
secretary, w, C. Chase,
Arthur s.. A, Smith, John A. Gray.
corresponding w. NJ. Fl. Booker,
secretary, j. W. Freeman,
z. III. Carson, J. A. johnson,
John F. Cook, Jas. II. Smith,
W. Il. Laws, Esq, r. j. Collins,
Geo. W. Williams, E. A. Atkinson, |
Collins Crusor, J.F.N.Wilkinson
G. b. Fisher, Robert Laws, :.
j. Brooks, Min NJ. Holland d |
G. S. Boston, Committee.
Solomon G.. Brown.
Ihn calahratod I..l.;Ioo -. /