CONVENTION OF COLORED SOLDIERS - 1865

CLARK, SEGREL, TRIPLER, HUDSON, PRICE, KIRKWOOD, OCONNOR, BUTLER, STONE, FRANKLIN, HERENDEN, MEEKS, NEAL, TREPLETT, TRIPLETT, MASON, KELPHER, EDWARDS

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 9/7/2017 at 12:41:02

Thursday, November 23, 1865
Paper: Anamosa Eureka (Anamosa, Iowa)
Page: 1

CONVENTION OF COLORED Soldiers
AT CAMP McCELLAN

In accordance with the earnest desire of numerous members of the regiment, the enlisted men and non-commissioned officers of the Sixtieth U. S. Infantry (colored regiment), numbering about 700 persons, met in mass convention at Camp McClellan, Davenport, on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 1865.

The convention was organized by electing Alexander Clark, of Muscatine, President, and 1st Sergt. I. N. Tripler, Secretary.

The following named gentlemen were chosen Vice Presidents:
1st Sergt. Edward Herenden, Co. A.
1st Sergt. Samuel Meeks, Co. B.
1st Sergt. P. Neal, Co. D.
1st Sergt. D. Segrel, Co. E.
1st Sergt. Benjamin Franklin, Co. F.
1st Sergt. London Treplett, Co. J.
1st Sergt. Alfred Mason, Co. K.
Corporal G. Kelpher, Co. G.
Corporal Wm. Edwards, Co. H.

The following resolutions, as reported by the committee, were unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That we the soldiers of the 60th U. S. Infantry, formerly the Iowan African First, having returned home from the battlefield, and feeling conscious that we have discharged out duty as soldiers in the defense of our country, respectfully urge that it is the duty of Iowa to allow us the use the use of our votes at the polls; believing, as we do, and must that he who is worthy to be trusted with the musket can and ought to the trusted with the ballot.

Resolved, That we recommend our colored friends all over the State to prepare and cause to be presented to are next Legislature petitions asking of that body the action necessary to initiate the amendment to the State Constitution, by the adoption of which the right we desire will be secured.

Resolved, That we recommend to our people throughout the country that patient pursuit of education, industry and thrift, will be certainly rewarded with increasing intelligence and wealth.

Resolved, That we recommend our people everywhere to abstain from the use of intoxicating drink and from frequenting saloons.

Resolved, That we still have confidence in the President and Republican Administration, and rest in the hope that they will do all that can be done to secure us our rights, and protect our friends in the South from wrong and oppression.

Resolved, That we mourn, the sad fate of the martyr- President Abraham Lincoln, the Great Emancipator and devoted friend of our race, yet rejoice that the great work from God appointed him to perform has been so nearly accomplished that the wrath of the oppressor is utterly powerless to prevent a full and glorious consummation.

The Convention then closed and adjourned, with three rousing cheers for Col. John G. Hudson, and the officers and the men of the 60th U. S. Colored Infantry; three cheers for Gov. Stone, ex-Gov. Kirkwood, H. Price, H. O’Connor, and Jacob Butler, and three cheers for A. Clark and the officers of the Convention .

ALEXANDER CLARK, Pres.
Ord. Sergt. I. N. Triplett, Sec’y.