Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-08-13
Patent Democracy.

be sufficient 10 give an idea Of the character
of the entire piece, and will set forth the edi-
tors Democracy in its true light. Here it
is:
"The free white laborers who compose all
most the entire population Of this State, have
no desire to %injure in any way the black slaves
OF the South. But The principle of s%elf-pre-
servation has taught us to exclude from our
free State, those beings who have become
hopelessly degraded by slavery, and whose
presence among us can only bring harm TO
all parties. AT least, this IS the theory of our
laws. The free white mechanic does not so
mucl fear the competition Of these blacks, as
that he is unwilling TO associate with the base
and vicious. For it is only those who can
obtain no guarantees for their good conduct,
that are excluded by our laws. This is the
theory of the law; for in practice all have been
admitted, until here in Columbus and in other
parts of the State, we begin 10 see how great
an evil 1t is for two distinct races to live TO-
gether."
Let US now analyze this, and see if il does
not contain some falsehood. "The free white
laborers who compose almost the entire nom
u%lation of the State" did, in 1907, by and
through their Representatives, enact a law
excluding from settlement here, not-as the
editor of the Press would have us believe
I" those beings who have become hopelesslr
degraded by slavery, and whose prese nee
among us can only bring harm TO all parties,''
but all blacks and mulattoes who are not able
to give two freehold s%ureties of $500. each.
that he or she will not misbehave, or become
a public charge. No matter how moral or
how religious, how intelligent, industrious,
or wealthy, if the colored emigrant cannot
procure the freehold s%ureiies, he is driven
from the State by these free white laborers,
a great portion of whom without doubt, could
not themselves give such security. Very
gulltless, truly, are these men of the oppres-
sion and injustice heaped upon the colored
emigrants to Ohio!
But then, says the editor, those who are
excluded are excluded upon g the principle of
self-preservation !" Yes, and Herod put the
Innocents to death upon the same principle,
and the deed was equally justifable. He
claimed a special, chartered privilege to put
out of this world a certain class of people;
and the free white laborers of Ohio claim a
special, chartered privilege to put out, or keep
out of the world of Ohio-their Jurisdiction
extending no farther-a certain other class of
people; and the editor of the Ohio Press,
while defending their right so to do, with
false lips declares he sis opposed to all char
tered and special privileges"
But the Press evidently had a fear that
questions something like these would arise
in the minds of some of his readers-Why
should these colored men be excluded on the
principle of self preservation? Do the free
white laborers dread the result of com petit
ton? Are they afraid that Tom Virginia or
Bill Kentucky will steal away the custom of
Robert Ohio? Not SO, says the Press, "the
free white mechanic does not SO much fear
the competition Of these blacks, as that he is
unwilling TO associate with the base and VIZ
%cious." A more deliberate and wicked libel
upon the colored people could not be uttered.
We think we are safe in saying that in not
a single State in this Union, are the worst
class of the colorcd population as base and
vicious as are the vilest of the whites, and
certainly this is true of Ohio. The laws of
Ohio do not exclude base and vicious whites;
and unless there is something more attractive
In the wickedness Of a colored than a white
man, we think the free white mechanic,
might as readily avoid contamination in the
one case as in the other. If, however, those
whose presence and influence are Injurious
to morals, are 10 be driven from the State,
we should be glad 10 see the pro-slavery
clergy leading the van, and pro-slavery edi-
tors closely following. For our part we would
infinitely prefer associating with many color
ed persons whom we know, rather than with
men who hold such as the editor
OF the Press advocates, nor do we stand alone
In such preferences; yet this is no reason,
why, by tho power of a chartered, special pri-
viIege we should drive him from the State.
Yet, as he has "begun to see how great an
evil it is for two distinct races to live togeth-
en-" we hope that when his eyes are G4Yv
anointed, he will feel at perfect liberty to
leave Columbus to those who are willing to
practice as well as profess Democracy. God
never gave Eli 7. Tappan a better right to-
live in the State Capital, than he gave to Jer-
ry Phinney, whatever Eli may think or say
to the contrary.
But let us examine a little further the as
seTIion of the Press, that the free white labor.
ers OF Ohio shave no desire to injure in any
way the black slaves of the South" Sup.
pose a company of emancipated slaves, rea--
sonably well provided for, as was the case
with "the Randolph negroes" conn to Ohio,
nnm LIZ Nn.iih iLnA nnnAi.--c L. l-c