William Piper to Frederick Douglass, September 23, 1853
NEW ENGLAND, Sept. 23, 1853.
The colored citizens of New Bedford have
just held two meetings to consider the Call
for a "National Emigration Convention. to
be held in Cleveland, Ohio, 1854, &c., &c.,"
signed by Messrs. Rev. Wm. Webb, M. R.
Delany, and others, Both meetings were
held in the Baptist Church, and were inter-
esting, ethusiastic, and unanimous in their
action. Our esteemed and venerable fellow-
citizen, William Piper, was Chairman, and
Phillip Henderson, Secretary of the Meet-
ings.
Henry Johnson, John Freedem, and
Boyd H. Brooks being appointed a Commit-
tee in prepare resolutions expressive of the
sense of the colored citizens of New Bedford
in relation to the proposed National Conven-
tion, reported the following preamble and
resolutions:
Whereas, believing our interests and des-
tiny, as an oppressed people, to be "one and
inseparable;" and believing it to be our duty,
at all times, and on all property occasions, to
utter our solemn protest against every
scheme which, in our judgement is opposed
to the true interests of our people; and be-
lieving the late Call for a National Emigra-
tion Convention of Colored People, to be
hidden in Ohio, in August, 1854, with the de-
sign to promote emigration to the West In-
dies, Central and South America, to be op-
posed to the true interests of the colored
people, and is nothing less than the old spirit
of American Colonizationism in another dis-
guise, by which it would deceive even some
the very elect of our people; therefore,
Resolved, That we believe the callers of
this Convention to be engaged in a mistaken
attempt to better their condition; selfishly,
and in a even manner proposing to give
back before the wicked but warring prosla-
very—a position which has only been at-
tained only by out improved and improving
moral, social, and intellectual character; as-
serting our true friends the abolitions, who
stand plentified with us, contending for our
rights; and therefore, we protest against this
plan of Colonization.
Resolved, That the attempt to induce our
people to emigrate to the West Indies, Cen-
tral and South America, we fear was selfish
and mercenary on the part of those who
originated it—the planters, and former slave-
holders of those countries—a delusion on the
part of those who sustain it, which, if fol-
lowed out, will lead to disaasters similar to
those which have destroyed like enterprises
undertaken in the same spirit by our people;
and finally, the best that, in charity, can be
said of this scheme, it is a leap in the dark;
it will give comfort to the slaveholder, who
would be rid of the colored people—whose
presence makes his victims discontented; it
will give aid to the Colonizationist—his
funds no longer required to promote his
darling object; the colored people—a portion,
at least—having been converted, foresworn
the principles and professions of their
past lives, are now making haste to devise
plans to colonize themselves; the slave-hunter
will rejoice.
Resolved, That the declaration in the Call
for that Convention, "that all persons coming
to this Convention must give assurance to
the Committee on credentials, of their fidelity
to the measures and objects set forth in the
Call, as none others, and no opposition to them
will be entertained," is an insult to the understanding
of the colored people; precludes
investigation; suppresses honest conviction;
is a pitiable imitation of slaveholding attempts
in Congress, from session to session,
to pass gag laws, unworthy the signers of
that Call, and should receive the utter condemnation
of the colored people.
Resolved, That we heartily concur with
the action of the National Convention of
Colored People, held in Rochester, State of
New York, on the 6th, 7th, and 8th of July,
1853, and in language hold in that Convention:
"We will plant our trees in this, the
soil of our birth-place," our duty being
plainly to remain here; then let the storm
come to them, the trial and struggle to us;
both shall be strengthened, and under God,
with help of good men, we shall overcome,
secure full freedom for ourselves, and our
brethren in slavery.
"Freedom's battle once begun,
Bequeathed from bleeding aire to son,
Though baffled oft, is ever won."
These resolutions were taken up one at a
time, and for two evenings, most fully discussed.
The following gentlemen participated
in the discussion, all sustaining the resolves:
William Piper, John Briggs, Rev.
Edmund Holley, John Freedom, Henry
Johnson, Lloyd II. Brooks, Solomon Peneton,
John ____________, R. Sanderson, Phillip
Henderson, William II. Wood. I can assure
you, the colored citizens of New Bedford
are most decidedly anti-Colonization,
whether co-erced or voluntary, unless we except
those among us who are for a temporary
colonization, to Australia or California,
wholly voluntary.
The resolutions were each and all adopted,
with the preamble unanimously.
Henry Johnson, Rev. E. Kelley, and J. P.
Sanderson, were appointed a Committee to
have the above resolutions published in
Frederick Douglass' Paper.
WILLIAM PIPER, President.
Phillip Henderson, Secretary.