The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-29

On the conclusion of the foregoing speech Mr..
JONES, of Tennessee, arose, and denounced all the
anti-slavery men of the Senate as a "band of trail
tors :" then, turning to Mr.. GILLETTE, said Sir,
look upon that picture, (pointing to the portrait
of Washington, suspended above the Presidents
chair. | fear you dare not look upon it."
Mr.. GILLETTE. Sir, look that picture fear
lessy in the face, and tell the Senator that the
honored man whom it portrays uttered senti-
ments as hostile to Slavery, as any that have
spoken this night upon the floor of this chamber.
He deprecated it with all his heart, and declared,
over and over again. that his vote should not be
wanting to abolish it. That face, see, darkly
frowns upon the Senator himself for the atrociOus
sentiments which he is uttering. | am not
unmindtul of the place where | am, nor so lost to
self-respect as to handy opprobrious epithets
with the Senator from Tennessee. He would
certainly Guido me in such rivalry. But leave
it to the country and posterity to say, who are
the traitors"-we who vindicate the principles
of Washington and his compatriots, as set forth
in the National Declaration and Constitution
they who denounce them, unmeaning alb
stractiOns," {" sickly sentimentalities' rhetor-
cal fourishes" specious lies" and declare hui
man Slavery to be both Divine and Demo
cratic institution the corner stone of Repub-
licansm."
Mr. JONES. Now ask that Senator whether
he is sincere in his declaration, that the black
socially or politically? | put that question to
the Senator.
+ Mr.. GILLETTE. The Senator from Tennessee,
unintentionally, trust, quotes me but in part and
thus miSrepresents entirely. | did not say
the black man is equal to the white man, but
deavored to show as the reason of his inequality,
that the legislation Of this Government and of
many of the States, has been welded to crush him.
| did say, that under God and the Constitution of
hp al ms N
rights, and have the same indisputable title to
the enjoyment Of those rights. Such was the
purport of what | said, and not, as the Senator
quotes me as saying, "that all men in this coun-
try equal"
Mr.. JONES. did not say that but mean
that this issue shall be fairly met. | put the
question now to the Senator Does he believe
that black man is entitled to equality Of
rights, socially and politically, with white
man? That is plain issue.
Mr.. GILLETTE. thought that before e1-
pressed myself so plainly that every Senator
could understand me | certainly meant to do so.
But will repeat the answer, and say, do be-
ieve and have the highest authority for the belief
both from Nature and Revelation, that all men
equal in natural rights, of every kind and de-
gree and have the same equal title to life, lib
erty and the pursuit Of happiness, irrespective
of color, or any other physical popularity.
claim for myself no more and no less than
concede to others.
Mr.. JONES. This is not answering the ques-
ton. Natural rights one thing, and social
and political rights are another. But sir / will
vary the question, and put it in this form Are
you willing that the black man shall participate,
equally with the white man, in all the social and
political benefits of this country?
Mr. GILLETTE. Mr.. President | certainly am
willing yea desirous that all men, irrespective of
color stature height, circumference, or any other
of the accidents of being, should have the same
rights and the enjoyment of the same privileges,
to work out the great problem of their existence,
and to participate equally" in that social and
political equality to which the Senator aliudes l
do not know, however why he questions me so
pertnaciousy but will reitsrate the answer to
oblige the Senator by saying, that think " all
men are endowed by their Creator with certain
inalenable rights, among which are life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness and | am more
than willing that they should enjoy all the priv
ieges, immunites, and benefits of society, every
where, in every department, that | have or the
Senator from Tennessee has. | spurn all ars-
tocracies, and especially a skinny or cutaneous
aristocracy-the meanest Of them all and recog-
nize no title of nobility but that which emanates
from the SOUL and truly ennobles man by cloth
ing him with the symbols of divinity. With me-
socially, politically, morally, character is every
thing-color, nothing. The negro is no less
man, because he is black; the Anglo-American
is no more a man, because he is white.