ly, 1853, the following document was
sent on, and shortly appeared in the columns of "FREDERICK DOUGLASS'
PAPER," Rochester, N.Y., and the "ALIENED AMERICAN," published and
edited by William Howard Day, Esq., M.A., at Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.,
which continued in those papers every issue, until the meeting of the
Convention:

CALL FOR A NATIONAL EMIGRATION
CONVENTION OF COLORED MEN
_To be held in Cleveland, Ohio, on the 24th, 25th, and
26th of August, 1854_

MEN AND BRETHREN: The time has fully come when we, as an oppressed
people, should do something effectively, and use those means
adequate to the attainment of the great and long desired end--do
something to meet the actual demands of the present and prospective
necessities of the rising generation of our people in this country.
To do this, we must occupy a position of entire _equality_, of
_unrestricted_ rights, composing in fact, an acknowledged
_necessary_ part of the _ruling element_ of society in which we
live. The policy _necessary_ to the _preservation_ of this
_element_ must be _in our favor_, if ever we expect the enjoyment,
freedom, sovereignty, and equality of rights anywhere. For this
purpose, and to this end, then, all colored men in favor of
Emigration out of the United States, and _opposed_ to the American
Colonization scheme of leaving the Western Hemisphere, are
requested to meet in CLEVELAND, OHIO, TUESDAY, the 24th day of
AUGUST, 1854, in a great NATIONAL CONVENTION, then and there to
consider and decide upon the great and important subject of
Emigration from the United States.

No person will be admitted to a seat in the Convention, who would
introduce the subject of Emigration to the Eastern
Hemisphere--either to Asia, Africa, or Europe--as our object and
determination are to consider our claims to the West Indies,
Central and South America, and the Canadas. This restriction has no
reference to _personal_ preference, or _individual_ enterprise; but
to the great question of national claims to come before the
Convention.

All persons coming to the Convention must bring credentials
properly authenticated, or bring verbal assurance to the Committee
on Credentials--appointed for the purpose--of their fidelity to the
measures and objects set forth in this call, as the Convention is
specifically by