New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-04-01
Mn RI.nss,S REPLY.

MR.. BLOSS'S REPLY.
DELAyAN House., Albany March Cd, 1886
Gentle,nen Your favor Of the 29th OF last De
cember propoundiag certain questions touching
Free Suffrage &c. was duly received. II was my
design to reply to Immediately 6utlt wasmisia'o oy
accident and the letter and its subject matter entire
lvescaned nv attention. In ovcrhaullng some pa
ners il Came to light This being my apology for
he annarent disrespect which my silence see med to
indicate, hasten to reply.
To your first interrogation, l unhestatingiy an
swer. No. =,
A Republican Government regards the governed
nm the sovereign and supreme law gver. No one
ON riebtfuv be deprived of citizenship life liberty
or property, unless he violate the laws or compact
created by. and for the mutual benefit and protcc-
,;on of all l. recognizes the divinity OF human tree
dom-the inalienable rights OF man irrespective OF
the glit,ering aduncts of life Of the trappngs and
trimmings Of society 1t aims 10 Pr9tect .ne poor
against the strong. Its mission is to instruct the lg
norant elevate tho degraded-to promote religion vir-
tue science morality and progression 10 the weak IL
Ia a strong arm 1t hath eyes Tor the blnd nha ior he
gnnrant md mbecile and restraints Tor the VICIOUS
Repubcan Government is creature Of and servant ior
the Poople-he whole People For to aiente the equal
rights Of Of its poorest and meaneast citizens
out due process of law would be to violate the rights
and prejudice the dearest liberties OF every citizen OF the
Republic. ,,,,,o, o,,. po,
plu
henress pillars of caste caste based upon property anu
upon the means and facilities for acquiring and retaining
wealth In that government men could purchase poht
cal rights with money and the want OF IL woulu aenaIe
Them Gold weighed down the rights and interests oil
manhood Tho protection OF property was regarded rs
paramount to that of human liberty II was athrined
both in theory and practice that the many were porn 10
submit passvcy the rule OF the few, by divine au'
thority. ,, ..
ed-in Monarchy, those OF tho few Inc former pro
tbnln
species of artificial caste denth-o the last caste 10 he
aiiment upon which it luxuriates The phiars OF the
first by enlghtening the minds Of the enlI9 mass, pc
come moro firm add established BY diasinS knowledge
among The people OF the latter, 1t would undermine It's
foundations and weaken its strong holds TO emoody
the ono great thought OF mans political equaity our Ia
tbers pedeed the lives their fortunes and their sacred
hopors In their famous declaration OF American indie
peudence they clearly and explicitly announced the
great and central principle which summoned mem 10
action Then they felt and declared the great truths OF
nopulsr frcedom-ruths which, for subimity force and
mportapce TO the interests of WERE in my csi-
NATION second only to those of divine revelation
This principle of tho political equality oil every man
shopld be- gusrdod "a the pivotal central thought or
idea of our government 1t should be protected as the
apple of our eye Discard this and our governments
body without soul organization without an attract
inp or combining element In proportion, as We admit
property into our government not Ms shbect but as
soceregn have cancer upon the great heart OF our
republican BODY eating the very vitas oil repUb
ccn freedom Property has rights and should be pro-
tected but only as property It's rights are not human
but property rights With US the great difficulty has
been have not kept this distinction sufficiently before
our minds When property occupies IN society its true
position Il w like the elements OF hre and water, sub
servo interests and promote the good OF our COM
mon race But yield TO Il IN society and an
ed II becomes destroying angel
Who can assign ono Rod why the man OF thou
sands should be allowed the exercise Of the franchise
any moro than he who, In obedience to the divine com
mand honestly obtains his bread by the sweat OF bic
face, Why Gu, of the poor from political advantages
10 It done for thar especial benefit Does TEND TO ok
pand their rnnds them in science and educa
tloni increase their industry or mond and improve
their morals No will pretend 10 any such thing
The oppression ignorance suffering poverty vice. indo
lance aud stupidity of of millions Of the nhabi.s
OF the monarchcs and desposms of Europe is signh
cant answer these inerrogaorie. Why. then. have
the moor ever been subjected to laws In which they haC
No voice In creatipgS Why have rights SO highly price
by the wealthy been withheld from the poorf Simpl.
because property has had undue control in the affair
OF society and OF government Wealth VIII always give
an infuepce TO It's possessor II will him in
fuence in society and give hun control In the affairs
vastly superior 20 the exercise of the iran
chiso Itself Influence necessarily nheres In wealth.
an unequal distinction is to be madeh portion OF
citizens are TO prescribed and to be deprived of the
exercise of the elective franchise let just discrimna
ton DO made Let the right be aienaied from those
are amoIs the poorest Of the poor Above ALL cohe the
oolored people with that power. BY unhoy prcju
dlcs have virtually shut them out from two Of the lilo
era We have assigned 10 them the most in
fatior and least lucrative positions In society For
ouirine wealth We have closed against them almost
~ avenue.
In answer to your second interrogation, reply II
the affirmative
Long, long has the poor African been subjected K
the most revolving cruelty, outrage and wrong
Their natural fidelity. midness, affection and patient
endurance under continued wrongs. has been urged
m a reason that God designed them TO be hewcrs o
wood and drawers OF water to their naughty oppres
ora tho whites marvel that they still retain the char
acsarlstcs of humanity. Most powerful causes have
been actively In operation for centuries TO yitao the
minds deprave their morals and stimulate their bascl
propenshes Education has not only been discouraged
bet unircqueny laws have been enacted with the
most severe penalties Tor instruong coored persons
the elementary branches Of education 1t has been con
tended that In consequence OF their ignorance and de
pravity they Of inferior race and then urge
this aierority sysd reason why they should be OPP
when the mercury skuk for the cold In the bulb Of the
thermometer and then outflow him because, in obedi
ence 10 the lava Of his nature he becomes chilled
Pluck ont a eyes, and then punish him fer his blind
mesa Fasien his limbs and complain thar he does no,
WALL. With ell the GOODNESS gravity and impudence i'm
s2inshlc their present inferior position urged as Jus
thcasiou for our unholy war upon Sherneas rss.op
why the rights ofmcn and citizens should
from them But the general law is bc In
ver,cd and insrioty Is valid reason why men should
De deprived VI sfe liberty and the pursui, Of happness
let astandard OF intelligence be established; let com
niss,on be appointed that e may eesr With equal force
upon the rich and poor tao bsck and WHITE Abon, this
there would be show OF Justice
But,he assertion that cclored people are naturally In
feror the white or Caucasian race, In she scale
humanity Is what logiclans Would derornate Fesi.
principR-a moro begging the very question Of issue
regard |. all rs the resut OF education and prejudice
mere whim of the imagination. firmly belieye tina
sod hath made OF blood all nations Of men % dwell
all the face Of the earthhat the divine energy sne
Of the immortal mind has iis abode alike In The
black In tho white FORM that If the outward crcum
stances OF tho classes had been reversed their