AN APPEAL FROM THE COLORED PEOPLE OF NEW ENGLAND

The colored people of New England, in convention assembled, resolved to have a colored delegation at Washington to endeavor to induce Congress to adopt as its policy, that the color of a man shall not be a qualification or a disqualification in deciding as to his enjoying privileges, immunities, and rights under the government to which he owes allegiance, and from which it is his right to demand protection; and also to endeavor to induce Congress to protect the black loyalists of the South from outrage and murder at the hands of their former owners, who now feel much embittered against them because of their assistance to the Union cause in the late Rebellion.

Allow us to state briefly the considerations which urge the desire to have at Washington a delegation of colored men. Most of the representatives sent there do not know the worth, intelligence, and refinement existing among large classes of the colored people; they have not discriminated in judging them; they have judged all by the same standard, and that a low one; therefore it is desirable to have a delegated representation at Washington of the intelligence, character, and refinement to be found among the colored people. All admit the effect of an honest, earnest, personal appeal. Our friends in Congress have all the varied interests of the nation on their minds; the proposed delegation would be there on a special mission. It would show that the colored people feel aggrieved; that they are hopefully determined. The delegation could express the feelings of the colored people; could give information which could not be so readily and effectually obtained from any other source; they would have an opportunity to become versed and generally better informed on matters relating to their people and country; and be thus benefitted. Its bureau would be the place to which all information relating to the freedmen (they are not free men) and all colored persons may be sent and compiled for reference.

The fact of having such a delegation at Washington would attract attention; would disseiminate intelligence; would stimulate more generally the colored people; all of which would have its legitimate, profitable effect on society in general. These are some of the reasons why we think you should respond to our appeal. The colored man is to remain in your midst. Is it not, then, your interest to have him elevated, refinedj and moral? This will tend thereto. Until the colored man is made equal before the law, an earnest, unceasing agitation will be pressed, which will necessarily hamper and obstruct the wheels of progress in every avenue of material prosperity in the land, which will be unclogged only when justice is done in the matter. Why not do immediately what must inevitably be done, that the prosperity of the nation may the sooner have a free course? We are limited in our means; but we are trying to help ourselves. Help those who are helping themselves. Duty, reparation, gratitude, join in the appeal. You are rich, we are poor; you as a class have had the benefit of our unrequited toil; you are of the class who have outraged us, oppressed, enslaved us. Of whom else than to such of this class as now see the errors of the past should we go, and expect sympathy and aid?

He is considered the greatest friend who lays down his life for a friend; then notice the Christ-like character, the sublime emotion, which prompted the colored man voluntarily to lay down his life for his enemy, for one who has abused and despised and ill-treated him! Is this not a true picture of the colored man in connection with his country and the late war? Generously reward the sacrifice.

To carry out this design properly will take considerable means; the expense of establishing and carrying on a bureau must necessarily be large; but we see the need of such, and it must be done. We appeal to you personally to respond.

Those who intend responding to this appeal will see the necessity of doing so at their earliest convenience.\

The undersigned persons have been appointed to receive subscriptions. 

Rev. L. A. Grimes, Boston.
Lewis Hayden, "
Geo. L. Ruffin.
J. V. DeGrasse, M.D., "
M. R. DeMortie, "
T. W. Stramburg, "
E. M. Bannister, "
J. J. Smith, "
Jas. G. Wilson, New Bedford.
A. G. Jourdain, Jr., "
H. D, Hudson, "
Vfoi. Wells Brown, Cambridgeport.
Mr. Simmonds, Chelsea.
G. L. Remond, Reading.
Wm. Brown, Worcester.
Mr. Montague, Springfield.
Ransom Parker, Providence, R.I.
George Henry, "
J. T. Waugh,
Jas. Jefferson, "
Mr. Green, "
Silas Dickerson, Newport, R.I.
Mr. Valentine, "
Rev. Peter Ross, Hartford. *
Peter Nott, "
E. Freeman, "
R. J. Cowes, New Haven.
E. P. Talbot, Portland, Me.
J. T. Halsey,
D. R. Gordon, Norwich, Conn.
Geo. Henry, Pawtucket, R.I.
M. R. Demortie, Secretary,

19 Anderson Street, Boston.

Boston, Dec. 20, 1865.