Address to the Loyal Citizens and Congress of the USA Adopted by Convention of Negroes - Essay Example

This address underlined the participation and sacrifice of African Americans in the Civil War. It notes that 200,000 black soldiers were participating. Their undying devotion to the Northern Union cause was confirmed, the address says, by the exclamations that escaped Northern prisoners shouted, whenever they saw a black face.
History tells us that after the Civil War a repressive period toward African Americans followed during the Reconstruction Era. The South had been defeated, but that later came back and re-installed their repressive and brutal control over black people, expressing their racism in every way and manner they could. What is interesting about this document is that the newly freed blacks saw that this was going to happen. They express to the Congress of the United States that the loyalty the former residents speak of was only "lip deep"! This expression is unique for us, showing how words and their uses have evolved. Today we no longer use that expression and one would guess it would be called archaic at present.
But the expression is full of knowledgeable insight. One must look at the quoting of numbers. The people who wrote the document were fully aware of the strength of the south, of how many of the rebels had been paroled or given amnesty. With such insight, their claim that there will be "unfriendly legislation" - which they quoted to make the term sand out, and setbacks in what the North had accomplished for black people, stands clear and well-spoken of.
The purpose of the document draws clear. The African Americans were asking for the right to vote before the southern voters re-kindled and passed racist laws (Congress would later pass the 15th Amendment in 1869 gave African American males the right to vote. It would be ratified in 1870). They provided several arguments. One argument was that they will be able to distinguish between a traitor and a loyal man. They pointed to how 12,000 black voters helped Governor Seymour return to his position in New York, along with another politician. This argument, then, addressed the political needs of the Democratic party at that time. But more important was that the African American contingent pointed out that with possession of the ballot, they would be able to protect themselves. Another interesting archaic word phrase came up. They were looking for an equal chance to protect themselves against the "white traitors varnished and japanned," they say, made again citizens with the oath of amnesty. The African Americans assume that the northern whites had faith in them and hence could not deny them the vote.
But was this true? Did whites have faith in the blacks? What is very interesting is that this appeal also shows the atmosphere of mistrust that seems to float around all involved parties. It was no cakewalk, after the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln had made the move of emancipation after the War had started and late into it, 1863. Even his move reflected the hesitant nature of American politics. Lincoln probably knew that attitudes had to be given time to change and that at the time he issued the Emancipation Proclamation, that it was the best time to do over a weak South. But the Appeal shows how the black people knew that the Southerners were still not ready. They had still not changed their minds and were still racist.
In the paragraph before last, the African Americans pointed to "truly loyal white men". This is important as it underscored that there were white people who also supported them. Why is it they called the once southern rebels "wayward sisters"? Was this meant to be prerogative? However, the reality was clear for these African Americans. A year after the Civil War, they knew that they were still among people who scorn and hated them and who were just waiting for the opportunity once again to install their harsh system. In a document that was well written and well put together, one that reflected the skills which the integrated blacks had so far gained, they pointed to warnings from the rebels that were constantly being given of what would happen if the military arm of the government were removed from the South. At last, they pointed to their faith which they held before the Congress, explaining that their humanity was at one with their country and their flag.
This Appeal is a strong and written document. It shows foresight and a good understanding of what was happening in American. The document foretold what would happen during the Reconstruction period and had attempted to stall the coming events.