All persons coming to the Convention must bring credentials properly authenticated, or bring verbal assurance to the Committee on Credentials—appointed for the purpose—of their fidelity to the measures and objects set forth in this call, as the Convention is specifically by and for the friends of Emigration, and none others—and no opposition to them will be entertained.
The question is not whether our condition can be bettered by emigration, but whether it can be made worse. If not, then, there is no part of the wide spread universe, where our social and political condition are not better than here in our native country, and nowhere in the world as here, proscribed on account of color.
We are friends to, and ever will stand shoulder to shoulder by our brethren, and all our friends in all good measures adopted by them for the bettering of our condition in this country, and surrender no rights but with our last breath; but as the subject of Emigration is of vital importance, and has ever been shunned by all delegated assemblages of our people as heretofore met, we cannot longer delay, and will not be farther baffled; and deny the right of our most sanguine friend or dearest brother, to prevent an intelligent inquiry into, and the carrying out of these measures, when this can be done, to our entire advantage, as we propose to show in Convention—as the West Indies, Central and South America—the majority of which are peopled our brethren, or those identified with us in race, and what is more, destiny, on this continent—all stand with open arms and yearning hearts, importuning us in the name of suffering humanity to come—to make common cause, and share one common fate on the continent.
The Convention will meet without fail at the time fixed for assembling, as none but those favorable to Emigration are admissible; therefore no other gathering may prevent it. The number of delegates will not be restricted—except in the town where the Convention may be held—and there the number will be decided by the Convention when assembled, that they may not too far exceed the other delegations.
The time and place fixed for holding the Conventions are ample; affording sufficient time, and a leisure season generally—and as Cleveland is now the centre of all directions—a good and favorable opportunity to all who desire to attend. Therefore, it may reasonably be the greatest gathering of the colored people ever before assembled in a Convention in the United States.
Colonizationists are advised, that no favors will be shown to them or their expatriating scheme, as we have no sympathy with the enemies of our race.
All colored men, East, West, North, and South, favorable to the measures set forth in this Call will send in their names (post-paid) to M. R. Delany, or Rev. Wm. Webb, Pittsburgh, Pa., that there may be arranged and attached to the Call, five names from each State.
We must make an issue, create an event, and establish a position for ourselves. It is glorious to think of, but far more glorious to carry out.
Rev. Wm. Webb, M. R. Delany, H. G. Webb, Thos. A. Brown, John Jones, R. L. Hawkins, Samuel Venerable, John Williams, A. F. Hawkins, S. W. Sanders, Jefferson Miller, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Rev. A. R. Green, P. L. Jackson, J. H. Mahoney, G. Harper, Jonathan Green, H. A. Jackson, E. R. Parker, Samuel Bruce, Allegheny City; J. J. Gould Bias, M.D., Rev. M. M. Clark, A. M. Sumner, Johnson Woodlin, Philadelphia; James M. Whitfield, John N. Still, Stanley Matthews, New York.
This Call was readily responded to by the addition of names from other States, which appeared in subsequent issues.
At the Convention, which according to the Call sat in Cleveland successively on Thursday, 24th, Friday, 25th, and Saturday, 26th of August, 1854, the following States were represented: Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, Virginia, and the Canadas; the great body consisting of nearly sixteen hundred persons. W. H. Day, Esq., editor of the Aliened American, entered the Convention, and the Chairman invited him forward, offering him the privileges of the Convention, stating that wherever colored people were, William Howard Day was free—whether or not he altogether agreed in sentiment on minor points; and the Convention unanimously concurred in the invitation given.
Mr. Day subsequently proffered to the Convention any books or documents at his command for the use of that body.
The following permanent Institution was established:
Organization of the National Board of Commissioners
Central Commissioners, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania—M. R. Delany, President; Wm. Webb, Vice-President; Thos. A. Brown, Treasurer; Edw. R. Parker, Auditor; Chas. W. Nighten, Secretary; Professor M. H. Freeman, A.M., Special For. Sec.; Samuel Venerable, Alfred H. Johns, Samuel Bruce, Parker Sorrell.
Departments
Committee on Domestic Relations.—Samuel Bruce, Chairman; Samuel Venerable, Charles W. Nighten. Financial Relations.—Thomas A. Brown, Chairman; Parker Sorrell, Alfred H. Johns. Foreign Relations.—Rev. Wm. Webb, Chairman; M. R. Delany, Edw. R. Parker. Special Foreign Secretary. Prof. Martin H. Freeman, A. M. State Commissioners.—Massachusetts—Wm. C. Nell, Boston; C. L. Remond, Salem. New York, Buffalo.—James M. Whitfield, J. Theodore Holly. Ohio, Cincinnati.—Augustus R. Green, Phillip Tolivar, Jun. Michigan, Detroit.—William C. Munroe, William Lambert. Kentucky, Louisville.—Conaway Barbour, James H. Gipson. Missouri, St. Louis.—Rev. Rich'd Anderson, Rev. Jordan Brown. Virginia, Richmond.—Richard Henderson, John E. Ferguson. Tennessee, Nashville.—Elder Peter A. H. Lowry, Charles Barratt. Louisiana, New Orleans.—Jordan B. Noble, Rev. John Garrow. California, San Francisco.—Henry M. Collins, Orange Lewis.
II
SUCCEEDING CONVENTIONS
The Second Convention, pursuant to a call, was held in Cleveland, in August, 1856, when some modification and amendments were made in the Constitution, and some changes in the officers of the Board; but the president was unanimously re-elected, and continued in office until the close of the of the Third Convention, which met pursuant to a call in the town of Chatham, Canada West, in August, 1858, when, resigning his position in the Board, the following officers succeeded to the
GENERAL BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS
| Central Commissioners—Chatham, Canada |
| William Howard Day, President |
| Matison F. Bailey, Vice-President |
| George Wash. Brodie, Secretary |
| James Madison Bell, Treasurer |
| Alfred Whipper, Auditor |
| Martin R. Delany, Foreign Secretary |
Note.—The names only of the Central Commissioners are here given, the others being re-elected as chosen in 1856, at Cleveland.
Other Members
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