Year: 1866

ing the proposition that the Southern
| States are practically territories.


| We are pleased. to inform our friends
that the Republic is in error; Neither
General Tillson nor any person connected
with the Freedmen's Bureau controlled
the Convention, as some of our friends
seem to suppese. The call was address
ed to the friends of Equal Rrights in
! Georgia; but the delegates were colored
men. Several white men, friends of the
cause, were invited to take part in the
| deliberations, one Of whom was General
Tillson. We are authorized to say that
the General did notattempt, either direct
| ly or indirectly, to influence the action of
the delegates, and we know that they ac-
ted Independently. No convention ever
acted more Independently. All impor
tant questions were intelligently discuss
ed, and decided as the DELEGATES believed
to be right. They neither sought to
please or displease their white friends,
but to act wisely. We know that the
resolutions and all important papers were
drawn up by colored men; they are en-
titled to, and should receive the credit.
Certain persons wish to convince the
public that colqred men have no ability !:
aud to prove it, declare, whenever they
draw up papers, or make speeches, dis~
playing alb lity, that it is the work of
white men: Credit should be given to
whom it is due; and we say again, that
to colored citizens is due the credit of
conducting the recent convention, and of
shaping its policy. But some of the
Northern friends of Equal Rights say
that they acted unwisely, because they
resolved that tie Southern States are
not Territories, and opposed wnarersat
suffrage.


The convention did nothing of the kind
Resolutions were introduced, and laid
upon the table, declaring that the States
lately in rebellion are Territories; but in
refusing to pass these resolutions, the
conventions did lot intend to be under
stood as opposing the doctrine; neither
did they endorse it. They were aware
that their friends at the North are divid
ed in opinion; and felt that the commit.
ing of themselves to either side would be
productive of no good result. They
resolved, THAT we claim for ourselves the
dignity of manhood, in common with all
other men, of whatever race; that we are
endowed by our Creator with all and the
same inalienable rights that are other
mems and, that we cannot be deprived
of these rights, by any earthly power;
nor can any power or individual infringe
upon these rights without insulting hu-
manity, and violating the plainest teach
ings of Christianity


Their resolution has the genuine ring
to it; and must convince the warmest
friends of Equal Rights that their friends
in this State are true to the cause. They
ask that the same rights and privileges
that are given to white men shall be
given to colored men. Upon this ques.
tion of suffrage, too, our friends differ.
Some think no person should vote who
is unable to read the Constitution and
others that no test of the kind should be
repaired. The convention, we'll knowing
that its action would not settle the ques.
ton, thought best to leave the result with
Congress; only asking that no distinction
shall be made on account of color. If
colore6 man is required to read before
he is allowed to vote, a white man should
be required to do the same. The colored
citizens of Georgia will be satisfied with
laws which apply alike to all citizens
and they will be satisfied with nothing
less. But they are willing to allow CoL>
gress to decide the question of suffrage,
providing they will make no distraction
on account of color. And they think
that Congress, without their advice. can
decide whether the Southern States are
in or out of the Union.