Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-01-30
A BIG CONVENTION
OF COLORBD MBN TO BE HELD IN
WASHINGTON
20, the Organization Of a National League
The Call Issued at Pitts
burg.

by speClAl IequeSs IHO
morning reproduees from the fl''S-
burg Dispatch, for the benehS Oh
the eolored people of the State, Inc
call for a national convention OF colored
men, to meet in Washington City In July
The matter is of the utmost importance TO
colored men, and will doubtless receive the
attention it deserves
''The Emancipation Celebration Commit
tee, representing the cOlored voters OIL
Western Pennsylvania, met last nignt az
the house of Thomas A. Wilson, on wilson
street. The committee consists OF I. A.
Wilson, Chairman; Walter Brown, Score
tary. and ]. NJ. Foster, r. M. Scott, NJ. A
Spriggs, Isaac Morton and Rev. J. Z.
Holiday. It was appointed in September
TO represent the colored people of this sec
ton in the bringing about OF q universal
celebration of the singing of the emancipa-
ton proclamation. IL also represents the
eolored voters in the movement which Is
now Claiming attention all over the
try, to bring out the full force Of the col
ored vote and TO see that it meets with the
proper recognition by the party leaders.
The earnest call for . national convention
to be held at Washington in July, which
was one of the results of last nights meet
ing, has already been talked of informally
ali over the country. An immense dele
gate convention is looked for, and il, as is
intended, a national league is formed, 1t
will be a factor which political parties
must recognize, and the power Of which
will be felt throughout the length and
breadth of the land. Following is thedeC-
laration of principles which was adopted.
Copies will be sent TO emancipation com
mittees all over the country.
.tResolred, That it he's been the custom
Of the citizens of various parts of the u
try to celebrate the anniversary OF the
signing of the emancipation proclamation
by Abraham Lincoln, September %, 1852,
yet there are many parts Of the country
where this day has not been observed as 1t
should, we wish to call the attention OF the
eolored population of the United States to
the fact that it is their duty to make this
day one of universal celebration in homo
of the freedom which We now enjoy. While
we recognize the fact that our freedom was
the inevitable result Of the war, we also
know that without that master stroke Of
the pen of that most illustriOuS martyr,
we would in all probability have bern
slaves to-day. We therefore urge upon all
freedom-loving citizens to celebrate from
this A. d. 1888, each successive year; tn
suspend all business or work, and to devote
the day 10 open display and social enjoy
ment; and further be it
ReSolred, That as we are one of the most
progressive races living 10 consideration OF
the time of our reimbursement, we feel that
il deSolves upon us TO keep in the line OF
progression, it becomes necessary for us to
hold council in convention assembled and
shape the course of our destiny. While
we have had some representative nen,
they, in their selfish greed, have been false
10 the interests of our race. As we know
at the time OF our emancipation our bene-
factor was at the head of the Republican
party, we were in a measure obligated TO
the party, but we feel that we honestly
paid that debt by our fidelity to them for
twenty-five years, we recognize that as u
race Of people we are now a factor In the
body polite of the country. While 1t Is n
well-kuown fact that We have representa-
| tives in the Legislature and municipal Of
| ice holders in nearly every Southern State
we have not one in any Northern State. The
claim is made that we are disfranchised III
the South; in our wisdom we fail to see it.
What we need is more independence in
our politics, aud until We awake to this
universally, We will remain standing III
the same position, ~ the chattels and
tools Of all parties. As we do not forget
that at the breaking out OF the Civil Wal
all the leading Generals in the country
were Democrats and that upon their
shoulders devolyed the mighty burden OF
defending the Government; We need only
mention the leaders: Grant, McClelland,
Hooker, Sherman, Logan, Thomas, Buel,
Sedgwick, Heintzleman, RoseGrans, Stedge-
man, the whole McCOok family and many
Others. In political life hundreds of prom
ising men like Douglas, Stanton, Cowan
and hundreds of public men gave their
brains and lives to the support of the
Government and led Lincoln up to the
Emancipation of our race.
Making the entering wedge in pro-
claiming the slave contraband OF war, the
whole history of the war shows that the
freedom of the slave is not due to any one
marty. Slavery was an institution that
shocked the moral sense OF the nation, and
when the time was ripe it fell, another
fact that is pregnant with meaning.
Ever since the wal the Republican party
has controlled the States OF Ohio, Pennsyl'
yania, Indiana and New York by the col
ored vote. In view of these facts, what
has been u compensation? Literally moth
ing. Now, in all candor and fairness, has
the Providence who has guided this nation
given any one party an eternal mortgage
on our race % voters in the government Of
our nation? And if so, what benefits
do we reap? 1t is certainly time that the
intelligent colored men should throw of
their swaddling clothes and step forth mer
OF free and independent opinions, and de
mand By what right We are held IN polit'
ical bondage only second TO the physical
shackles with which we were held thirty
wears ago. Fellow-citizens, all these ques
tions most he settled, and "a we acquire
intelligence and education the result can,
not be doubted, as it is high time to al
least give us, as colored voters, a small
pittance in the national c%Opartuership
And further he it
"Resolred, That we call upon all the
leading colored men Of intelligence
throughout the country TO meet in con
vention in Washington City on July 4,
1883, to enter into a national league o.
colored men looking forward to the adop
ton of a plan and basis upon which We
can secure Just and proper representation
throughout the country. 1t is desired by
the committee that there be on delegate
for every 1000 voters, and not less thar
three TO six delegates for every county in
every State and territory of the United
States. 1t is the purpose of the commit
tee to make this the largest representative
body of colored men that ever assembled
in convention in the United States, We
hope all will see the necessity Of this con-
yention for the benefit Of our race, coming