History of the Negro Race in America from 1619 to 1880. Vol. 2: Negroes as Slaves, as Soldiers, and as CitizensWilliams, George Washington
History
History of the Negro Race in America from 1619 to 1880. Vol. 2: Negroes as Slaves, as Soldiers, and as Citizens
Williams, George Washington
African Americans -- History; Liberia; Sierra Leone
"_Newark, N. J._--Peter Petitt, Charles Anderson, Adam Ray.
"_Trenton_--Samson Peters, Leonard Scott."
The proceedings of the convention were characterized by a deep
solemnity and a lively sense of the gravity of the situation. The
delegates were of the ablest Colored men in the country, and were
conversant with the wants of their people. The subjoined address shows
that the committee that prepared it had a thorough knowledge of the
public sentiment of America on the subject of race prejudice.
"CONVENTIONAL ADDRESS.
"_Respected Brethren and Fellow-Citizens:_
* * * * *
"Our attention has been called to investigate the political
standing of our brethren wherever dispersed, but more
particularly the situation of those in this great Republic.
"Abroad, we have been cheered with pleasant views of humanity,
and the steady, firm, and uncompromising march of equal liberty
to the human family. Despotism, tyranny, and injustice have had
to retreat, in order to make way for the unalienable rights of
man. Truth has conquered prejudice, and mankind are about to rise
in the majesty and splendor of their native dignity.
"The cause of general emancipation is gaining powerful and able
friends abroad. Britain and Denmark have performed such deeds as
will immortalize them for their humanity, in the breasts of the
philanthropists of the present day; whilst, as a just tribute to
their virtues, after-ages will yet erect unperishable monuments
to their memory. (Would to God we could say thus of our own
native soil!)
"And it is only when we look to our own native land, to the
birthplace of our _fathers_, to the land for whose prosperity
their blood and our sweat have been shed and cruelly extorted,
that the Convention has had cause to hang its head and blush.
Laws, as cruel in themselves as they were unconstitutional and
unjust, have in many places been enacted against our poor
unfriended and unoffending brethren; laws, (without a shadow of
provocation on our part,) at whose bare recital the very savage
draws him up for fear of the contagion,--looks noble, and prides
himself because he bears not the name of a Christian.
"But the Convention would not wish to dwell long on this subject,
as it is one that is too sensibly felt to need description.
"We would wish to turn you from this scene with an eye of pity,
and a breast glowing with mercy, praying that the recording angel
may drop a tear, which shall obliterate forever the remembrance
of so foul a stain upon the national escutcheon of this great
Republic.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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