The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-29

EQUALITY OF THE WRITE AND
BLACK RACES

Banks, the free-sOil candidate Tor Speaker,
in the House of Representatives, few days
ago, in giving his platform of principles on
the slavery question, said:
II have to say, in this matter, that ac-
cept the doctrine of the Declaration of In
dependence, that all men are created equal.
In regard to the superiority of races, am
impressed with the conviction that it is to
be determined only by capacity for en-
durance, So far as have studied the sub
iect it seems to me to be the universal law,
that the weaker is always absorbed and
disappears in the stronger race. Whether
the black race of this continent, or any other
part of the world, is equGi to tir white race,
can only be determined b. the absorption
and disappearance of one or the other; and
| propose to wait until the respective races
can be properly subjected to this philo-
sophical test before l give decisive an
swer."
On the above the Washington Sentinel
remarks:
Nothing is more discouraging, nothing
better calculated to excite apprehension than
a contemplation of the rapid strides which
Abolitionism has made in the Capitol of this
great country. 1t has been but few short
years since the expression, in on humble
manner even, of unsound opinions on the
slavery question, was deemed so reasonable
as to call down unsparing denunciation, un-
measured insult, and sometimes personal
chastisement. But now at the opening of
the year 1856, such sentiments as the above
are expressed with unblushing effrontery,
and accompanied with a strut and a swagger.
Not only are such sentiments thus expressed,
but absolutely, and we can hardly realize
the fact, the largest party IN the House OF
Representatives 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
Freesail candidate has in the Capital of the
country, and in the face of the aoh1te Ameri-
can nation, deliberately declared that he
cannot decide whether the race and color
to which he belongs, and who founded this
Government, is superior or inferior, or equal
to the negro race who were brought as
savages to this country by men OF England
and men of New England, and sold as slaves
to the Southern colonists.
The Massachusetts, candidate for the
speakership also speaks Of ''absorption,"
which Mr.. Clingman, of North Carolina,
very properly understood to mean canal
gamatlon." If right in thus rendering the
phrase, it is indeed lIumiliating to think
that the most prominent candidate-for he
commands the largest vote-for the Speak
ership of the American House of Represen-
tatives, holds and boldly avOws so monstrous
and odious sentiment as amalgamation,
association, equality social and political,
and marriage, between the white and black
races.
Things have indeed come to high pass,
when talented and cultivated member of
Congress from the scholastic State of Massa-
chusetts, announces to the Congress, for
the Speakership of which he is candidate,
that he really cannot decide whether or not
so many negroes are not their equals-nay,
their superiors! Indeed, he cannot tell,
until it is determined by the absorption
and disappearance of one or the other"
which is the best, the white or the black
race-which is the superior, hlmseg or the
odorous big buck negro, whose whole ambi-
ton is to scratch his nappy head, to warm
himself in the sun, and to eat, drink, and
sleep.
Such arc the claims of the Hon. Mr..
Banks to the Speakeship of the American
Congress. What, after such sentiments,
would be thought abroad, of his election, we
leave our readers to decide.