Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-17
EQUALITY OF THE WHITE AND
BLACK RACES-CONGREs
BANKS OF MASSACHUSETTS.


BANKS OF MASSACHUSETTS,.
II have to say, in this matter, that ! accept
the doctrine of the Declaration of Indepen-
dence, that all men are created equal. In re-
gard to the superiority of races, am impressed
with the conviction that it is to be determined
only by capacity for endurance So far as
have studied the subject, it seems to me to be
the universal law, that the weaker is always alb
sorbed and disappears in the stronger race.
Whether the black race Of this continent or
any other part of the world, is equal to the
white race, can only be determined by the alb.
sorption and disappearance of one or the other;
and propose to wait until the respective races
can be properly subjected to this philosophical
test before give decisive answer"
When the House Of Representatives the
other day INDUCED itself in the sportive exer-
else of questioning and cross-questioning the
various candidates for the high and honorable
Office of Speaker, much anxiety was manifested
to hear the confessions of faith made by those
candidates. Their statements have now been
before the public for several days, and have, no
doubt been as anxiously studied, without, us
within Congress, by readers as by listeners. 1t
is with one of these statements only that we
propose to deal, and that is the statement Of
the honorable candidate from Massachusetts,
Mr.. Banks.
We are not Of those who believe that con-
ductors Of newspapers must initiate the I'M
worthy examples Of fish women and drunken
sailors. We do not believe that they are called
upon to curse and to swear at every man whose
conduct they disapprove, and to change polit-
cal, into personal issues. An editor is no more
entitled to use deuunciation and epthet, than
selves, we must say that we cannot claim for the
respected profession to which We belong, any
higher degree Of patriotism, however much the
members Of it may rave and rant, than can
Justly be claimed by any other class Of our
citizens.
+ But if we we're Of those who claim for the
members Of the editorial profession a superior
patriotism, and deemed indignant denuncia-
ton and opprobious epithet the fit phrases TO
apply to those whose sentiments we disap-
proved, we could not refrain from applying
such phrases TO the distinguished member
from Massachusetts,, who, for the last six weeks,
has been nimbly running for the Speaker
ship, and who, in the language of poet has
been
"Ful in the sight of Paradise,
Beholding Heaven, but feeling hell"
Nothing is more discouraging, nothing better
calculated TO excite apprehension than con
temptation Of the rapid strides which Adolf
tionism has made in the Capitol Of this great
country. 1t has been but few short years
since the expression, in an humble manner
even, of unsound opinions on the slavery ques
ton, was deemed so reasonable as to call down
unsparing denunciation, unmeasured insult,
and sometimes personal chastisement But
now at the opening of the year 1856
such sentiments are expressed with unblush
ing effrontery, and accompanied with strut
and swagger.
| Not only are such sentiments thus expressed
but absolutely, and we can hardly realize the
fact, the largest party in the House of Repre-
sentatives is the Freesoil party, and the largest
vote for Speaker has persistently, for the last
six weeks, been cast for the Freesoil candidate
Nor is this all That Freesoil candidate ha:
in the Capitol of the country, and in the face
Of the phae American nation, deliberately de