Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1845-12-05
THE PEOPLE.

The Legislature of Michigan at its last
session, appointed a committee to report on
the propriety of extending the right of suff-
rage to colored men. We give below some
extracts:
.sThe objector says the colored man is of a
race inferior, and intellect weaker than the
white man.
Neither history nor experience ~sustains the
objection. On the contrary, they conclusive
ly refute it. Like other nations, Africa had
her season of glory. During it she was one
of the most powerful nations of the world
Her victorious arms had nearly annihilated the
Romans. Her black Hannibal will ever be
found in the list of Caesars and Bonapartes.-
The limits Of a report, however, forbid en-
largement.
In modern times, one of the greatest wri-
ters of the day, celebrated for his intellect,
and brilliant talent, amid the most brilliant
capital of the world, P~aris,is Alexander Du-
mas, a colored man. Europe's first men deem
his acquaintance an honor. Many other in
stances might be mentioned. In this State,
the objection is decisively exposed by the
public exhibition of talent, in colored men I'M
der the most unpropitious circumstances
The committee allude to the many public
addresses in the State. made by persons
born in Slavery, and denied the aid Of educa-
lion.
In estimating the intellect of colored men,
sufficient allowance is not generally made for
the effects produced on a race by continued
servitude, and a denial of education, during
a series of generations. Reverse the situa-
ton of the African and the European-make
the one the master, and the other the slave
for centuries, and the white man will then pos
sess the supposed characteristics Of natural
inferiority; to illustrate this the committee
quote the following passage from the celebra-
ted American traveller, Stevens.-See his
Greece, Turkey anil Russia, vol. , Harper's
Cd. page 40: ~ was forcibly struck says he,
with a parallel between the white serfs ofRus-
STA, and African bondsmen at home. The
Russian boor generally wanting the comforts
that are supplied 10 the negro on our best order
ed plantations appeared to me to be no less de-
graded in intellect, character, and personal
bearing. Indeed the marks of physical and
personal degradation were SO strong, that was
insensibly compelled to abandon certain the
cries not uncommon among my countrymer
at home, in regard to the intrinsic superiority
of the white race over others. Perhaps, too
this impression was aided by my having pre-
~viously met with Africans of intelligence ant
capacity, standing upon a footing of perfec
equality as soldiers III the Ureek army, anC
the Sultan's."
But some may ask, do not the moral hab
its of the colored people place them below thu
whitesl Your committee has been assured
by citizens of Detroit well qualified to Judge
and entitled to full credit, that the moral hab
its of this people are better than those of al
, equal and average number Of whites. Tn,
colored population of Detroit is about 500.
has two Churches, two sabbath schools,
day school, a temperance society, a femal
: benevolent society, a young mems lyceum
tend the churches. The official report of tn
Detroit school committee for the past yea
states that the colored children between tn
ages of 8 and II are 100, and that of thes
|, GO attended schools, a proportion very grea
ly exceeding that Of the white children
/. even after making every possible ALLOW
l ance. OF the Al not attending schoc