A Colored Convention
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Title
A Colored Convention
Source
Chronicling America
Publisher
Democratic Northwest
Date
1889-08-29
Scripto
Transcription
[PAGE 01]
A COLORED CONVENTION.
A Call Urging Colored Voters to Meet in Toledo, Sept. 10 and 11-It De- It. Denounces Forakerism and Makes a Stand for Political Independence.
Toledo, Aug. 23.-The -- The following call has just been issued for a state convention of colored voters of Ohio to be held in this city on Sept. 10 and 11. It declares against Forakerism and makes a bold stand for independence. The call has created considerable excitement among local politicians and the outcome is looked forward to with much interest by Democrats and with great apprehension by Republicans. The later fear that this, taken with the Walcutt bolt, may mean a wholesale revolt. Many colored men, heretofore stauch Republicans, are loud in their denunciation of the present state administration. They say this convention will be largely attended and prove a political eyeopener. The call is as follows:
We, the undersigned, citizens of the state of Ohio, believe that it is expedient = to call a convention of our race to consider the many political grievances that now hinder our political progress and welfare. We see the urgent necessity of such a call and meeting, and therefore urge all lovers of our race to join us in the movement to secure a better and fairer recognition in the distribution of the political patronage of the state. Also to consider the denials of recognition in the townships and municipal government of the state; ; and flagrant and outrageous discriminations that have been practiced in the last four years in the state government against our race; in the public institutions controlled and managed by the present administration, of which Gov. Foraker is its head.
[PAGE 02]
Again we cite you to the unjust treatment of representative men of our race by his excellency, the governor, on account of race and color. And again to consider the advisability of adopting means and plans for securing full recognition of our civil rights accorded to us under the repeal of the "black laws of the state," and to crush out that hydra-headed monster, political predujice in regard to color. We believe then, that we should advise together as to what is best and necessary to secure the full blessings of perfect liberty. And again we believe that as long as one party can be assured that it does control and own our vote or suffrage, and the opposite party cannot hope for any support, we, as a race (as a quarter of a century has proved), can expect but little from the either worthy of consideration. The political barriers, difficulties and problems that stand in the way can never be solved successfully by our race until parties are brought to know the uncertainty of where and how the negro will cast his ballot. In other words, it is our duty to divide under the present exigencies of the times and vote together when circumstances demand. The attitude of parties in Ohio at the present, and especially in the coming campaign, demands a serious consideration of our
[PAGE 03]
political status. We therefore earnestly request this meeting and convention to consider the above named questions. First--What - What representation have we received in this State for our slavish adherence to party? In what county in the grand commonwealth of Ohio is there a colored man holding a county office or a colored woman holding a position in the state? Second--There - There is not a single colored man in the state. (for the 35,000 votes that we control,) who has received in the last four years a first class appointment under the present administration, and the Hon. Graham Deuwell, who held a small office, was kicked out by Gov. Foraker like a dog without even giving him as much as an investigation. Third--What - What benefit have colored men received from the nonpartisan police board. The results are too well known for comment. Fourth--The - The school question and the fight made at Oxford (that strong Republican bailiwick), Felicity, Xenia, Galliapolis and various other towns in the state, trying to debar our children the right of being educated in the school according to the law. Fifth--The - The proposed amendment to the constitution of Ohio is one of the most treacherous schemes ever concocted to rob us of our representative rights. These are some of the questions that we must solve at the coming convention; we therefore request that each county shall elect delegates and alternates in proportion to the colored voters in said county, to attend the convention at Toledo, Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 10 and 11.
[PAGE 04]
E. C. Ashby, Lucas Co.
Thomas H. Spencer, Greene Co.
E. C. Willett, Cuyahoga Co.
Joseph Alexander, Butler Co.
Charles Higginbothan, Franklin Co.
Samuel M. Brown, Hamilton Co.
Agustus Conners, " "
W. D. Dent, Clark Co.
Harry Richardson, Montgomery Co.
William Austin, Delaware Co.
Graham Deuwell, Clark Co.
W. C. Bray, secretary, Lucas Co.
James Johnson, chairman, Franklin Co.
A COLORED CONVENTION.
A Call Urging Colored Voters to Meet in Toledo, Sept. 10 and 11-It De- It. Denounces Forakerism and Makes a Stand for Political Independence.
Toledo, Aug. 23.-The -- The following call has just been issued for a state convention of colored voters of Ohio to be held in this city on Sept. 10 and 11. It declares against Forakerism and makes a bold stand for independence. The call has created considerable excitement among local politicians and the outcome is looked forward to with much interest by Democrats and with great apprehension by Republicans. The later fear that this, taken with the Walcutt bolt, may mean a wholesale revolt. Many colored men, heretofore stauch Republicans, are loud in their denunciation of the present state administration. They say this convention will be largely attended and prove a political eyeopener. The call is as follows:
We, the undersigned, citizens of the state of Ohio, believe that it is expedient = to call a convention of our race to consider the many political grievances that now hinder our political progress and welfare. We see the urgent necessity of such a call and meeting, and therefore urge all lovers of our race to join us in the movement to secure a better and fairer recognition in the distribution of the political patronage of the state. Also to consider the denials of recognition in the townships and municipal government of the state; ; and flagrant and outrageous discriminations that have been practiced in the last four years in the state government against our race; in the public institutions controlled and managed by the present administration, of which Gov. Foraker is its head.
[PAGE 02]
Again we cite you to the unjust treatment of representative men of our race by his excellency, the governor, on account of race and color. And again to consider the advisability of adopting means and plans for securing full recognition of our civil rights accorded to us under the repeal of the "black laws of the state," and to crush out that hydra-headed monster, political predujice in regard to color. We believe then, that we should advise together as to what is best and necessary to secure the full blessings of perfect liberty. And again we believe that as long as one party can be assured that it does control and own our vote or suffrage, and the opposite party cannot hope for any support, we, as a race (as a quarter of a century has proved), can expect but little from the either worthy of consideration. The political barriers, difficulties and problems that stand in the way can never be solved successfully by our race until parties are brought to know the uncertainty of where and how the negro will cast his ballot. In other words, it is our duty to divide under the present exigencies of the times and vote together when circumstances demand. The attitude of parties in Ohio at the present, and especially in the coming campaign, demands a serious consideration of our
[PAGE 03]
political status. We therefore earnestly request this meeting and convention to consider the above named questions. First--What - What representation have we received in this State for our slavish adherence to party? In what county in the grand commonwealth of Ohio is there a colored man holding a county office or a colored woman holding a position in the state? Second--There - There is not a single colored man in the state. (for the 35,000 votes that we control,) who has received in the last four years a first class appointment under the present administration, and the Hon. Graham Deuwell, who held a small office, was kicked out by Gov. Foraker like a dog without even giving him as much as an investigation. Third--What - What benefit have colored men received from the nonpartisan police board. The results are too well known for comment. Fourth--The - The school question and the fight made at Oxford (that strong Republican bailiwick), Felicity, Xenia, Galliapolis and various other towns in the state, trying to debar our children the right of being educated in the school according to the law. Fifth--The - The proposed amendment to the constitution of Ohio is one of the most treacherous schemes ever concocted to rob us of our representative rights. These are some of the questions that we must solve at the coming convention; we therefore request that each county shall elect delegates and alternates in proportion to the colored voters in said county, to attend the convention at Toledo, Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 10 and 11.
[PAGE 04]
E. C. Ashby, Lucas Co.
Thomas H. Spencer, Greene Co.
E. C. Willett, Cuyahoga Co.
Joseph Alexander, Butler Co.
Charles Higginbothan, Franklin Co.
Samuel M. Brown, Hamilton Co.
Agustus Conners, " "
W. D. Dent, Clark Co.
Harry Richardson, Montgomery Co.
William Austin, Delaware Co.
Graham Deuwell, Clark Co.
W. C. Bray, secretary, Lucas Co.
James Johnson, chairman, Franklin Co.
Convention Minutes Item Type Metadata
Convention Type
State Convention
City
Toledo
State
OH
Country
USA
Start Date
1889-09-10
End Date
1889-09-11
Provenance
Library of Congress
Event ID
1889.OH-09.10.TOLE
Citation
Colored Voters, “A Colored Convention,” Colored Conventions Project Digital Records, accessed October 22, 2026, https://www.omeka.coloredconventions.org/items/show/2412.