Document 12-6: Proceedings of the Colored National Convention (1848)

Free Blacks Push for Elevation of the Race

Proceedings of the Colored National Convention (1848)

Frederick Douglass (1818–1895) was busy in 1848. In July, he attended the women’s rights convention at Seneca Falls, New York, speaking eloquently on behalf of women’s right to vote. In September, Douglass was in Cleveland, Ohio, presiding over the Colored National Convention of free African Americans. This convention, attended only by African American men, was part of the era’s “convention movement,” an organizational approach to reform that emphasized collective action. This meeting endorsed a series of resolutions addressed to the “mutual improvement and social elevation” of free blacks.

  1. Resolved, That whatever is necessary for the elevation of one class is necessary for the elevation of another; the respectable industrial occupations, as mechanical trades, farming or agriculture, mercantile and professional business, wealth and education, being necessary for the elevation of the whites; therefore those attainments are necessary for the elevation of us. Adopted.
  2. Resolved, That we impressively recommend to our brethren throughout the country, the necessity of obtaining a knowledge of mechanical trade, farming, mercantile business, the learned professions, as well as the accumulation of wealth, — as the essential means of elevating us as a class. — Adopted.
  3. Resolved, That the occupation of domestics and servants among our people is degrading to us as a class, and we deem it our bounden duty to discountenance such pursuits, except where necessity compels the person to resort thereto as a means of livelihood.
  4. Resolved, That as Education is necessary in all departments, we recommend to our people, as far as in their power lies, to give their children especially, a business Education.
  5. Resolved, That the better to unite and concentrate our efforts as a people, we recommend the formation of an association, to be known as the ——. [Referred to a Committee, and subsequently the whole Resolution referred to the next Convention.]
  6. Resolved, That while our efforts shall be entirely moral in their tendency, it is no less the duty of this Convention to take Cognizance of the Political action of our brethren, and recommend to them that course which shall best promote the cause of Liberty and Humanity.
  7. Resolved, That we recommend to our brethren throughout the several states, to support no person or party, let the name or pretensions be what they may, that shall not have for their object the establishment of equal rights and privileges, without distinction of color, clime or condition.
  8. Resolved, That holding Liberty paramount to all earthly considerations, we pledge ourselves, to resist properly, every attempt to infringe upon our rights.
  9. Resolved, That Slavery is the greatest curse ever inflicted on man, being of hellish origin, the legitimate offspring of the Devil, and we therefore pledge ourselves, individually, to use all justifiable means for its speedy and immediate over-throw.
  10. Whereas a knowledge of the real moral, social, and political condition of our people is not only desirable but absolutely essential to the intelligent prosecution of measures for our elevation and improvement, and whereas our present isolated condition makes the attainment of such knowledge exceedingly difficult, Therefore Resolved, That this National Convention does hereby request the colored ministers and others [sic] persons throughout the Northern States, to collect, or cause to be collected accurate statistics of the condition of our people, during the coming year, in the various stations and circuits in which they may find themselves located, and that they be, and hereby are requested to prepare lists, stating —

    1st. The number of colored persons in the localities where they may be stationed; their general moral and social condition; and especially how many are farmers and mechanics, how many are merchants or storekeepers, how many are teachers, lawyers, doctors, ministers, and editors; how many are known to take and pay for newspapers; how many literary, debating, and other societies, for moral, mental, and social improvement; and that said ministers be, and hereby are, respectfully requested to forward all such information to a Committee of one, who shall be appointed for this purpose, and that the said Committee of one be requested to make out a synopsis of such information and to report the same to the next colored National Convention.

  11. Resolved, That Temperance is another great lever for Elevation, which we would urge upon our people and all others to use, and earnestly recommend the formation of societies for its promotion.
  12. Resolved, That while we heartily engage in recommending to our people the Free Soil movement, and the support of the Buffalo Convention, nevertheless we claim and are determined to maintain the higher standard and more liberal views which have heretofore characterized us as abolitionists.
  13. Resolved, That as Liberty is a right inherent in man, and cannot be arrested without the most flagrant outrage, we recommend to our brethren in bonds, to embrace every favorable opportunity of effecting their escape.
  14. Resolved, that we pledge ourselves individually, to use all justifiable means in aiding our enslaved brethren in escaping from the Southern Prison House of Bondage.
  15. Resolved, that we recommend to the colored people every where, to use every just effort in getting their children into schools, in common with others in their several locations.
  16. Whereas, American Slavery is politically and morally an evil of which this country stands guilty, and cannot be abolished alone through the instrumentality of moral suasion and whereas the two great political parties of the Union have by their acts and nominations betrayed the sacred cause of human freedom, and

    Whereas, a Convention recently assembled in the city of Buffalo having for its object the establishment of a party in support of free soil for a free people, and Whereas said Convention adopted for its platform the following noble expression, viz; “Free Soil, Free Speech, Free Labor and Free Men,” and believing these expressions well calculated to increase the interest now felt in behalf of the down-trodden and oppressed of this land; therefore,

    Resolved, That we recommend to all colored persons in possession of the right of the elective Franchise, the nominees of that body for their suffrages, and earnestly request all good citizens to use their united efforts to secure their election to the chief offices in the gift of the people.

    Resolved, that the great Free Soil Party of the United States, is bound together by a common sentiment expressing the wish of a large portion of the people of this Union, and that we hail with delight this great movement as the dawn of a bright and more auspicious day. [The Resolutions were rejected, but the Preamble prefixed to the 13th Resolution.]

  17. Resolved, That Love to God and man, and Fidelity to ourselves ought to be the great motto which we will urge upon our people.…
  1. Resolved, That among the means instrumental in the elevation of a people there is none more effectual than a well-conducted and efficient newspaper; and believing the North Star, published and edited by Frederick Douglass and M. R. Delany at Rochester, fully to answer all the ends and purposes of a national press, we therefore recommend its support to the colored people throughout North America.
  2. Resolved, That the Convention recommend to the colored citizens of the several Free States, to assemble in Mass State Conventions annually, and petition the Legislatures thereof to repeal the Black Laws, or all laws militating against the interests of colored people.
  3. Whereas, we firmly believe with the Fathers of ’76, that “taxation and representation ought to go together”; therefore,

    Resolved, That we are very much in doubt as to the propriety of our paying any tax upon which representation is based, until we are permitted to be represented.

  4. Resolved, That, as a body, the professed Christian American Churches generally, by their support, defence, and participation in the damning sin of American Slavery, as well as cruel prejudice and proscription of the nominally free colored people, have forfeited every claim of confidence on our part, and therefore merit our severest reprobation.
  5. Resolved, That Conventions of a similar character to this are well calculated to enhance the interests of suffering humanity, and the colored people generally, and that we recommend such assemblages to the favorable consideration of our people.
  6. Resolved, That the next National Convention of Colored Freemen shall be held in Detroit, Michigan, or at Pittsburgh, Pa., some time in the year 1850.
  7. Resolved, That among the many oppressive schemes against the colored people in the United States, we view the American Colonization Society as the most deceptive and hypocritical — “clothed with the livery of heaven to serve the devil in,” with President Roberts, of Liberia, a colored man, for its leader.
  8. Resolved, That we tender to the citizens of Cleveland our unfeigned thanks for the noble resolution passed by them in approval of the doings of this Convention.
  9. Resolved, That the prejudice against color, so called, is vulgar, unnatural, and wicked in the sight of God, and wholly unknown in any country where slavery does not exist.…
  1. Whereas, we fully believe in the equality of the sexes, therefore,

    Resolved, That we hereby invite females hereafter to take part in our deliberations.

  2. Whereas, a portion of those of our colored citizens called barbers, by refusing to treat colored men on equality with the whites, do encourage prejudice among the whites of the several States; therefore,

    Resolved, That we recommend to this class of men a change in their course of action relative to us; and if this change is not immediately made, we consider them base serviles, worthy only of the condemnation, censure, and defamation of all lovers of liberty, equality, and right.

Report of the Proceedings of the Colored National Convention, Held at Cleveland, Ohio, on Wednesday, September 6, 1848 (Rochester, NY: Printed by John Dick, at the North Star Office, 1848), 13–17.

READING AND DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

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