The Journal of Negro History, Volume 1, January 1916Various
History
The Journal of Negro History, Volume 1, January 1916
Various
African Americans -- Periodicals
The convention re-assembled at 10 o'clock on Wednesday the 28th at
Plowman street Hall, Ephraim Lawson, Vice President, in the chair, who
opened the proceedings with Prayer.
A note was received from the President, Rev. William Tasker, stating
that indisposition would prevent him from presiding over the
deliberations of the body the remainder of its sessions.
The attendance of the delegates was small in the morning, and very few
lookers on were present.
The platform being again taken up, F. Harris, of Baltimore, presented a
protest against the adoption of the fourth resolution, which pointed out
Liberia as the place of emigration for the colored people, because it
recommends emigration to that place contrary to the wishes of his
constituents, and a majority of the free colored people of the city and
State. He contended that if they were for Liberia, they should say so at
once, and tell the mob out doors that they were endeavoring to send them
all there--not say one thing in the convention and another outside.
James A. Jones, of Kent, said that Harris was endeavoring to shape his
course the way the wind blowed. For himself, he hoped the entire
platform would be adopted, and without further debate he moved that the
fourth resolution be passed.
Stephen W. Hill, of Baltimore, contended that the resolutions did not
look to an immediate emigration to Africa--that they only recommended
Liberia as a place where they could enjoy the blessings of liberty, and
as the most suitable country for the colored man whenever they should be
disposed to seek another home.
William Perkins, of Kent, in answer to the protest of Harris, said the
only platform they recommended for adoption, left it to every man to go
where he pleased, or to remain here if it suited him better. Let Mr.
Harris go to his constituents and tell them that the convention only
recommended what it thought best; its action was binding on no man.
F. Harris, in reply, asked if the convention had examined Liberia. They
recommended that place for them to emigrate to, and yet they had not
made any examination of Liberia to know whether it would suit. Did they
know anything of the climate or agriculture of Liberia to lay before the
people. Let them examine Canada, Jamaica, and other places, and then if
they found Liberia the best place, why say so to the people.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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