The colored citizens of Ohio held a Mass Convention at Cleveland, Sept.
8th, 1852. From their proceedings I cull the following incidents and
tributes as peculiarly appropriate to a military history of colored
Americans.
Rev. Dr. J. W. C. Pennington delivered a speech, of which Mr. Howland,
a colored phonographic reporter, furnishes this sketch:--
"The Doctor took the stand and delighted the convention with a short,
brilliant and instructive address on the history of the past, and the
part which the colored people have taken in the struggles of this
nation for independence and its various wars since its achievement.
"Mr. P. is a graduate of America's "Peculiar Institution." His
graduation fees were paid only very recently by the beneficence of
sundry English ladies and gentlemen; and his Doctorate of Divinity was
conferred on him by one of the German Universities. Dr. Pennington
claimed for his race the honor of being the first Americans whose
bosoms were fired by the spirit of American Independence. And that
claim, we think, he amply justified by documentary evidence.
"He read sundry antique papers, collected by him with great pains from
the archives of the State of New York, showing, that some thousands
of Colored people in that State, thirty years before the Declaration
of Independence was promulgated, were charged by the King of Great
Britain with conspiring against his authority, attempting to throw
off their obedience to him, and seeking to possess themselves of the
Government of the Colony of New York. Some of them were banished, and
others hanged. Those Colored fathers of his, said the Rev. Doctor,
attributed their Slavery to King George, and maintained their rights
to freedom to be inviolable.
"Subsequently, when the white fathers of our Revolution, walking in
the footsteps of their illustrious predecessors, declared against
Britain's King, they said to his Colored fathers: That King did make
you Slaves. Now come you and help us break his rule in this country,
and that done, we'll all be free together.
"Dr. P. exhibited to the audience an autograph petition of the Colored
people of Connecticut to the Government of Connecticut, presented
immediately after the Revolutionary war, and praying that Government
to comply with the promise which had been made them of freedom, and
under which they had helped fight the battles of that war.
"He read, also, an autograph paper of George Washington, dismissing
from the service of that war, with high recommendation of their
courage and efficiency, several Colored men; and also certificates of
a like character from numbers of officers, both naval and military, in
both wars with England. We wish we could give Dr. P.'s whole speech,
and especially in his own well-chosen words."
The Convention then adjourned to join in the general jubilee, over some
of the events which Colored people have helped to make conspicuous.
Thursday morning at sunrise, a salute was fired in the public square,
in honor of the day, by the "Cleveland Light Artillery," and another at
nine o'clock, as the procession formed, of which the orator of the day,
subsequently said: "They were the first thunders of artillery that ever
awaked the echoes of these hills, in honor of the Colored people. But
they shall not be the last."
Says the "Daily True Democrat," of the 10th inst:
"The principal feature in the ceremonials of this jubilee, was the
address of our fellow-citizen, Mr. William H. Day; a performance
worthy of its great purpose, and therefore most creditable to the
author. Not often have we heard an address listened to with so
absorbing an attention, nor observed an audience to be more deeply
moved, than was Mr. Day, by some parts of that address. After noticing
the day, the 9th of September, which had been selected for their
jubilation, and illustration as pre-eminent suitableness to the
occasion, by happy references to many illustrious events of which it
was the anniversary, Mr. Day addressed himself to an able vindication
of the claims of his race in this country, to an equal participation
in the exercise and enjoyment of those American rights which large
numbers of that race, in common with the men of fairer complexion, had
fought, suffered and died to establish. Behind the orator sat seven or
eight veteran Colored men. Mr. D.'s apostrophe to those veterans was
as touching as admirable, and produced a profound sensation."
Among the speakers were several who took part in some of the battles of
the country. One of these men is Mr. John Julius, of Pittsburgh, Pa.