To the Colored People of Virginia: A Convention Called
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Title
To the Colored People of Virginia: A Convention Called
Source
Chronicling America
Publisher
Valley Virginian
Date
1875-04-01
Scripto
Transcription
[PAGE 01]
To the Colored People of Virginia
A Convention Called.
The undesigned, State representatives, beg leave to represent to you the urgent expediency of holding a convention for the purpose of considering and adjusting all political, financial, and other questions touching your interests and prosperity as freemen and members of the great Commonwealth. The following startling facts should be sufficient to inspire you with hope, and at the same time prove that your own hands, your own energies, and your own genius, must eventually lift you from the difficulties and embarrassments with which you are now surrounded. You constitute five hundred thousand (nearly one-half) of the population of your State. You have no press! and whatever sentiments you may hold, or whatever emotion may burn in your bosoms, are almost totally unknown to your own fellow-citizens, citizens, to say nothing of the outside world. Many problems present themselves, and it is as clear as sunshine that you, yourselves, and not others, are competent to offer a beneficial and natural solution. You will at once see the wisdom in reflecting your own views and your own policy, to the end that human rights may be secured and preserved, and the glory and prosperity of Virginia enhanced by the labor and sacrifices of its citizens. It is, therefore, suggested that each city and county elect twice the number of delegates now provided for in the constitution for the House of Delegates, and that said delegates convene in the city of Richmond, Thursday, the 19th day of August, 1875, at the hour of 12 o'clock, M., for the purpose of considering the questions above indicated, and all other matters which they may deem right and proper. And upon our purposes and desires, we invoke the favorable consideration of all good citizens.
Peter J. Carter, Northampton county; Rufus S. Jones, Elizabeth City county; Wm. N. Stevens, Sussex county; Joseph P. Evans, Petersburg; John B. Syphax, Alexandria county; John M. Dawson, James City county; Peter K. Jones, Greensville county; Tazewell Branch, Prince Edward county; R. G. L.
[PAGE 02]
Branch, Prince Edward connty; R. G. L. Paige, Norfolk county; Ross Hamilton, Mecklenburg; James P. Goodwyn, Petersburg; H. Clay Harris, Halifax county; Henry Cox, Powhatan county; Henry Hill, Amelia county; James Lipscomb, Cumberland county; Robert
H. Whittaker, Brunswick county; Robert Norton, York country; Wm. P. Lucas, Louisa county; Frank Moss, Buckingham county; William Gilliam, Prince George county; Matt. Clark, Halifax county; James Nickens, Lancaster county.
To the Colored People of Virginia
A Convention Called.
The undesigned, State representatives, beg leave to represent to you the urgent expediency of holding a convention for the purpose of considering and adjusting all political, financial, and other questions touching your interests and prosperity as freemen and members of the great Commonwealth. The following startling facts should be sufficient to inspire you with hope, and at the same time prove that your own hands, your own energies, and your own genius, must eventually lift you from the difficulties and embarrassments with which you are now surrounded. You constitute five hundred thousand (nearly one-half) of the population of your State. You have no press! and whatever sentiments you may hold, or whatever emotion may burn in your bosoms, are almost totally unknown to your own fellow-citizens, citizens, to say nothing of the outside world. Many problems present themselves, and it is as clear as sunshine that you, yourselves, and not others, are competent to offer a beneficial and natural solution. You will at once see the wisdom in reflecting your own views and your own policy, to the end that human rights may be secured and preserved, and the glory and prosperity of Virginia enhanced by the labor and sacrifices of its citizens. It is, therefore, suggested that each city and county elect twice the number of delegates now provided for in the constitution for the House of Delegates, and that said delegates convene in the city of Richmond, Thursday, the 19th day of August, 1875, at the hour of 12 o'clock, M., for the purpose of considering the questions above indicated, and all other matters which they may deem right and proper. And upon our purposes and desires, we invoke the favorable consideration of all good citizens.
Peter J. Carter, Northampton county; Rufus S. Jones, Elizabeth City county; Wm. N. Stevens, Sussex county; Joseph P. Evans, Petersburg; John B. Syphax, Alexandria county; John M. Dawson, James City county; Peter K. Jones, Greensville county; Tazewell Branch, Prince Edward county; R. G. L.
[PAGE 02]
Branch, Prince Edward connty; R. G. L. Paige, Norfolk county; Ross Hamilton, Mecklenburg; James P. Goodwyn, Petersburg; H. Clay Harris, Halifax county; Henry Cox, Powhatan county; Henry Hill, Amelia county; James Lipscomb, Cumberland county; Robert
H. Whittaker, Brunswick county; Robert Norton, York country; Wm. P. Lucas, Louisa county; Frank Moss, Buckingham county; William Gilliam, Prince George county; Matt. Clark, Halifax county; James Nickens, Lancaster county.
Convention Minutes Item Type Metadata
Convention Type
State Convention
City
Richmond
State
VA
Country
USA
Start Date
1875-08-19
End Date
1875-08-21
Provenance
Library of Congress
Event ID
1875.VA-08.19.RICH
Citation
“To the Colored People of Virginia: A Convention Called,” Colored Conventions Project Digital Records, accessed October 22, 2026, https://www.omeka.coloredconventions.org/items/show/2051.