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.
Chas. Williamson said he had had it in his power to examine most
countries. He had been in Canada twice; in the West Indies three times,
and, under the British government in Trinidad five years. During that
time he had examined the countries with a view to see which was the best
for the colored people. He was sixty-seven years of age and could expect
little for himself. In the West Indies capital ruled the people--the
government recognized you, but the planters, who had been accustomed to
drive on slaves, knew you not. If they went to Canada they would not
better their condition--he had lived there seventeen months at one time.
It would cost money to get to Canada--money to get to the West Indies.
The Canadas are peopled with many persons from this country. The leading
men were principally Yankees. In the West Indies he had to take his hat
around to get the dead out of the way of the turkey-buzzards--that
showed their sympathy. In Canada you cannot be recognized in office--in
the West Indies it is better, and some colored persons get into office.
In the Canadas he never heard of but one colored man being in office.
The Canadas are a fine country, but he asserted here that he felt there
could be no permanent home for them except in Africa, where their
children could enjoy all the blessings of liberty. That was the best
country for them. In the United States they did not want the colored
people any more, they had got the use of them, and now in this State the
new constitution did not recognize them at all. (A voice--"Yes, as
chattels.") The minister of Hayti to this country was not recognized by
the President, and had to go home again. Liberia, on the west coast of
Africa, had as fine, or better, climate, as regards atmosphere, than the
West Indies. He wished to go where they would be free, for their moral
culture here he considered out of the question.
James A. Handy, of Baltimore, remarked that they lived in an interesting
age of the world--that it was the glory of our day that assistance is
offered to the immortal principles of man, and it struggles to free
itself from the trammels and superstitions of the past, and of the
oppressions and burthens of the present. We live in an age of physical,
moral and intellectual wonders; and that man is truly fortunate who
lives at the present, and has the privilege of aiding in carrying
forward the great enterprise of redeeming, disenthralling and restoring
back in all their primitive glory three millions of down trodden people
to the land of their forefathers. On the western shore of Africa there
was the infant republic of Liberia attracting the attention of all the
enlightened nations of the earth. For four years she had maintained her
position as an independent State, and today she was prosperous, happy
and free, acknowledged by England, France, Russia and Prussia--four of
the greatest powers of the earth; and before this year is out the United
States will be willing, ready and anxious to cultivate friendly
relations with that garden spot--that heritage which a kind and
overruling Providence has prepared for us, and not only for us, but for
all the sable sons and daughters of Ham.
One word in relation to the inducements held out by Liberia--Asia could
not exceed the variety of the productions of Africa--Europe with her
numerous manufactories and internal resources, could not cope with her
in physical greatness--America with her noble institutions, elements of
power, facilities of improvement, promises of greatness and high hopes
of immortality, was this day far, very far behind her in natural
resources. Nothing can excel the value of her productions--sugar-cane
grows rapidly, cotton is a native plant, corn and hemp flourish in great
perfection; oranges, coffee, wild honey, lemons, limes, mahogany,
cam-wood, satin-wood, rose-wood, &c., abound there; mules, oxen, horses,
sheep, hogs, fowls of all kinds, are in the greatest abundance. She
holds out a rich temptation to commerce and a strong inducement to
emigration. To the latter the United States owed what she was, making
her one of the most effective nations of the world. For years the
glorious galaxy of stars which arose in the western hemisphere have been
casting their generous, grateful light over the social, moral and
political darkness of the East, but to-day the commanding tide of
commerce is changing. From the Pacific shores the genius of American
enterprise and industry has opened a nearer highway to the Celestial
Empire, and is now, by a closer interchange of fraternal relations,
unbolting the massive doors, and securing the commerce of China and
Japan.
On the lap of American civilization, and around the altars of this
Christian land, have been born the moral elements of civil and Christian
power, ordained by heaven for the redemption of Africa. For the last
2,000 years, that wretched land of mystery and crime has been abandoned
to the cupidity of most cruel barbarism, surpassing in degradation,
guilt and woe, all other nations of the earth. Pre-eminently high on the
page of prophetic scripture is chronicled in most unequivocal language
the name and future redemption of Africa. For twelve centuries the
problem "how shall Africa be redeemed?" has been unsolved, although
earnestly sought for by the civil and religious powers of Europe; but in
every instance it has been in vain, and the cloud of her wretchedness
blackened on each failure. Mysterious and inscrutable are the ways of
Providence to accomplish her restoration, lift her from the jaws of
death, bind her as a jewel to the throne of righteousness, and give her
a place among the civilized nations of mankind. God in his pity, wisdom
and goodness, has opened the way for a part of her crushed children,
predoomed by bloody superstitions to altars of death, to be delivered
from immolation and find an asylum under a form of ameliorated service
in the bosom of this country; and here their children have been born,
elevated and blessed under redeeming auspices. In the lapse of time, by
the same benevolent providence, many of this people have become free,
and to such the voice of heaven emphatically speaks, thundering forth in
invigorating terms, "Arise and depart for this is not your rest."
This makes us bold in saying that emigration is the only medium by which
the long closed doors of that continent are to be opened; by her own
children's returning, bearing social and moral elements of civil and
religious power, by which that continent is to be resuscitated,
renovated and redeemed.
Thirty-one years ago the first emigrant ship that ever sailed eastward
from these shores to Africa, conveying to that dark land a missionary
family of some two hundred souls--her own returning children, enriched
with the more enduring treasures of the western world; there by them on
the borders of that continent, overshadowed with the deepest gloom, were
raised the first rude temples of civilization--the first halls of
enlightened legislation--the first Christian altars to the worship of
Almighty God that have ever proved successful, or of any permanent,
practical utility. Then and there arose the long promised light, the
star of hope to the benighted millions of Africa. Since that day the
star has risen higher and higher, the light extended along the coast and
reaching far back towards the mountains of the Moon, radiating,
elevating and purifying; and to-day we behold a nation born on the
western coast of Africa, respected, prosperous and happy. Here then is
practically and beautifully solved, on the true utilitarian principles
of this wonder-working age, the mysterious problem: By whom is Africa to
be redeemed? The answer comes rumbling back to us, over the towering
billows of the Atlantic, from the Republic of Liberia, with a voice that
starts our inmost souls, falling with ponderous weight upon the ears of
the free colored people of this Union--"thou art the man, thou art the
woman."
James A. Jackson, of Baltimore, eulogized Hayti as standing as high
above the other West India islands as the United States does above the
republic of Mexico, in the point of commercial importance. This island
had tried the experiment of republicanism and had changed it. It was now
a question with the colored people, in their present condition, whether
they were more suited to a republican than monarchical government. The
productions of the soil of Hayti and of her forests were referred to,
and the fact alleged that she would produce more than all the other West
India islands put together. The exports and imports of the United States
to and from the island were cited as an illustration of her prosperity.
A comparison was made of the commerce of Liberia and that of Hayti, the
latter country being held up in a very favorable light.
Nicholas Penn, of Frederick, spoke in favor of emigration to Liberia.
They did not want an island. The colored population increased so fast
that they needed no island but a continent for them. His constituents
wished him to examine Africa, and he hoped it would be done. Liberia was
the only place for them. The white man fought for and claimed this
country, and he was now going to give it up to them. In the language of
Patrick Henry, will we be ready tomorrow or next day to act more than
now? No! Now was the time; and he hoped this enterprise would spread far
and wide until the whole people should understand it and all unite in
the glorious movement. Let us appoint men to go and examine Liberia, and
report to us just what it is. We want a home, and we were sent here to
examine and determine on what would be best to recommend.
B. Jenifer, of Dorchester, said, all these statements about Africa were
theoretical--gained through geography, and went on to state that he had
spent nearly eleven months in Africa, had traveled it over and examined
its productions and resources. He had been sent for that purpose by a
colored colonization society of his county; but did not wish to discuss
Liberia at this time. Mr. Handy had so ably discussed the subject, and
in all of which he fully coincided with him. The true question for this
convention to decide was whether they should remain, here, or to seek a
home in Liberia or elsewhere.
John H. Walker, after some difficulty, got the floor and offered a
substitute for the report of the committee on the platform, which was
unanimously adopted. The following is the substitute:
WHEREAS, The present age is one eminently distinguished for inquiry,
investigation, enterprise and improvement in physical, political,
intellectual and moral sciences; and, whereas, among our white
neighbors every exertion is continually being made to improve their
social and moral condition, and develop their intellectual faculties;
and, whereas, it is a duty which mankind, (colored as well as white,)
owe to themselves and their Creator to embrace every opportunity for
the accomplishment of this mental culture and intellectual
development, and general social improvement; and, whereas, we, the
free colored people of the State of Maryland, are conscious that we
have made little or no progress in improvement during the past twenty
years, but are now sunken into a condition of social degradation
which is truly deplorable, and the continuing to live in which we
cannot but view as a crime and transgression against our God,
ourselves and our posterity; and, whereas, we believe that a crisis
in our history has arrived when we may choose for ourselves
degradation, misery and wretchedness, on the one hand, or happiness,
honor and enlightenment, on the other, by pursuing one of two paths
which are now laid before us for our consideration and choice; may we
not, therefore, hope that our people will awaken from their lethargic
slumbers, and seek for themselves that future course of conduct which
will elevate them from their present position and place them on an
equality with the other more advanced races of mankind--may we not
hope that they will consider seriously the self-evident proposition
that all men are created equal, and endowed by the Creator with the
same privileges of exerting themselves for their own and each
other's benefit; and, whereas, in view of these considerations, and
in order to commence the great and glorious work of our moral
elevation, and our social and intellectual improvement, we are of the
opinion that an organization of the friends of this just and holy
cause is absolutely necessary for effecting the object so much to be
desired, and we are therefore--
_Resolved_, That we will each and every one, here pledge ourselves to
each other and to our God, to use on every and all occasions, our
utmost efforts to accomplish the objects set forth in the foregoing
preamble; and that we will, now, and forever hereafter, engraft this
truth in our prayers, our hopes, our instructions to our brethren and
our children--namely, that degradation is a sin and a source of
misery, and it is a high, and honorable and a blessed privilege we
enjoy, the right to improve ourselves and transmit to posterity
happiness instead of our misery--knowledge instead of our ignorance.
_Resolved_, That while we appreciate and acknowledge the sincerity of
the motives and the activity of the zeal of those who, during an
agitation of twenty years, have honestly struggled to place us on a
footing of social and political equality with the white population of
the country, yet we cannot conceal from ourselves the fact that no
advancement has been made towards a result to us so desirable; but
that on the contrary, our condition as a class is less desirable now
than it was twenty years ago.
_Resolved_, That in the face of an emigration from Europe, which is
greater each year than it was the year preceding, and during the
prevalence of a feeling in regard to us, which the very agitation
intended for good has only served apparently to embitter, we cannot
promise ourselves that the future will do that which the past has
failed to accomplish.
_Resolved_, That we recognize in ourselves the capacity of conducting
our own public affairs in a manner at once creditable and well
calculated to further among us the cause of religion, virtue,
morality, truth and enlightenment--and to acquire for ourselves the
possession and enjoyment of that elevated refinement which so much
adorns and beautifies social intercourse among mankind, and leads
them to a proper appreciation of the relations existing between man
and Deity--man and his fellow men, and man and that companion whom
God has bestowed upon him, to console him in the hours of trouble and
darkness, or enjoy with him the blessings that heaven vouchsafed
occasionally to shower upon our pathway through life.
_Resolved_, That in a retrospective survey of the past, we see
between the white and colored races a disparity of thought, feeling
and intellectual advancement, which convinces us that it cannot be
that the two races will ever overcome their natural prejudices
towards each other sufficiently to dwell together in harmony and in
the enjoyment of like social and political privileges, and we
therefore hold that a separation of ourselves from our white
neighbors, many of whom we cannot but love and admire for the
generosity they have displayed towards us from time to time, is an
object devoutly to be desired and the consummation of which would
tend to the natural advantage of both races.
_Resolved_, That comparing the relative advantages afforded us in
Canada, the West Indies and Liberia--these being the places beyond
the limits of the United States which circumstances have directed our
attention--we are led to examine the claims of Liberia particularly,
for there alone, we have been told, that we can exercise all the
functions of a free republican government, and hold an honorable
position among the nations of the earth.
_Resolved_, That this Convention recommend to the colored people of
Maryland, the formation of societies in the counties of the State and
the city of Baltimore, who shall meet monthly, for the purpose of
raising means to establish and support free schools for the education
of our poor and destitute children, and for the appointment each
month of a person whose duty it shall be to collect such information
in relation to the condition of the colored emigrants in Canada, West
Indies, Guiana and Liberia, as can be obtained by him from all
available sources, which information shall be brought to these
monthly meetings above alluded to, and read before them for the
instruction of all, in order that when they are resolved, if they
should so resolve, to remove from this country to any other, they may
know what will be their wants, opportunities, prospects, &c., in
order to provide beforehand for any emergencies that may meet them on
their arrival in their new homes.
_Resolved_, That as this subject is one of the greatest importance to
us, and the consideration of which whatever may be the result, cannot
be put aside, we recommend to our people in this State to establish
and maintain an organization in regard to it, the great object of
which shall be enquiry and discussion, which, without committing any,
may lead to accurate information; and that a convention like the
present, composed of delegates from the respective counties of the
State and from Baltimore city, be held annually at such times and
places as may be hereafter designated.
_Resolved_, That in thus expressing our opinions, it is not our
purpose to counsel emigration as either necessary or proper in every
case. The transfer of an entire people from one country to another,
must necessarily be the work of generations. Each individual now and
hereafter must be governed by the circumstances of his own condition,
of which he alone can be the judge, as well in regard to the time of
removal as to the place to which he shall remove; but deeply
impressed ourselves with the conviction that sooner or later removal
must take place, we would counsel our people to accustom themselves
to that idea.
_Resolved_, That this Convention recommend to the ministers of the
gospel among the free colored population of Maryland to endeavor, by
contributions from their congregations and by other means, to raise
funds for the purpose of forwarding the benevolent object of
educating the children of the destitute colored persons in this
State; and that they also impress upon the minds of their hearers the
benefits which would necessarily result from development of their
intellects, and the bringing into fullest use those mental powers and
reasoning faculties which distinguish mankind from the brute
creation; and that this be requested of them as a part of their duty
as ministers of the religion of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
E. Harris entered his protest against the adoption of the fourth
resolution.
A motion made to adjourn sine die at 2 o'clock P.M., was lost; and a
resolution restricting each speaker to five minute speeches was adopted.
William Perkins spoke of the law enforced in Kent, by which the children
of free colored persons, whom the officers decided the parents were
unable to support, were bound out; and also of the law which prohibited
a colored person returning to the State if he should happen to leave it.
They were oppressed and borne down.
James A. Jones, of Kent, thought his native county equal to any other in
the State, and that colored persons were not more oppressed there than
elsewhere in the State.
Charles O. Fisher moved that a committee of five be appointed to draw up
a memorial to the Legislature of Maryland, praying more indulgence to
the colored people of the State, in order that they may have time to
prepare themselves for a change in their condition, and for removal to
some other land.
Daniel Koburn, of Baltimore, in referring to the oppressive laws of the
State, said the hog law of Baltimore was better moderated than that in
reference to the colored people. The hog law said at certain seasons
they should run about and at certain seasons be taken up; but the law
referring to colored people allowed them to be taken up at any time.
Chas. Dobson, of Talbot, said that the time had come when free colored
men in this country had been taken up and sold for one year, and when
that year was out, taken up and sold for another year. Who knew what the
next Legislature would do; and if any arrangements could be made to
better their condition, he was in favor of them. He was for the
appointing the committee on the memorial.
B. Jenifer, of Dorchester, opposed the resolution; he was not in favor
of memorializing the Legislature--it had determined to carry out certain
things, and it was a progressive work.
Chas. Wyman, of Caroline; Jos. Bantem, of Talbot; John H. Walker, Chas.
O. Fisher and others discussed the resolution which was finally adopted.
The following is the committee appointed: Jno. H. Walker and Jas. A.
Handy, of Baltimore; William Perkins, of Kent; Thomas Fuller, of
Dorchester; and Daniel J. Ross, of Hartford county.
A resolution of thanks to the officers of the Convention, the reporters
of the morning papers, and authorities for their protection, was
adopted. The proceedings were also ordered to be printed in pamphlet
form.
The Convention, at 3 o'clock adjourned to meet on the second Monday in
November, 1853, at Frederick, Md.
--From the _Baltimore Sun_, July 27, 28, and 29, 1852.