The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-05-29
III Z GEL u q III {3OWS o
EQUALITY OF THE BLACK AND WHITE RACES.

iniIaoie speech OF IIOn. '1eO. w. Jones
United States Senator from Iowa, delivered
in Congress in answer 10 the arguments 0
Hon. Mr.. Harlan, of the same State, in be
half Of the equality Of the black and white
races. The sentiments to which Mr.. Jonc:
gives utterancc are as honest, manly ant
noble, as those of his opponent were con
semptibIe and ridiculous. The democracy
of Iowa have reason to be proud of so able
n representative as Mr.. Jones, and tho
ground lie SO boldly assumed places him in
the front rank of democratic statesmen =
New York Day Book.
Mr.. President, there is another topic upon
which my colleague deemed it his duty tc
cxpatiate largely, and in doing so misreprc,
sented, as l conceive, the opinions and feel
ings of large majority Of the people OF
Iowa. In laborcd argument lie has ell
deavorcd to prove, and perhaps has con-
vinced himself that the negro race have all
the physical and mental attributes Of the
white man and that those attributes have
only been depressed and remained undevel-
opcd by the long period Of scrvitude to
which the race has been subjected. This
conclusion of my colleague seems to have
been attained by careful examination of
the ncgro's physical characteristics; and lie
las presented several facts on which he
grounds his belief Of the ncgro's mental
qualities, the existence Of which cannot be
doubted, while their value as evidences of
the mental capacity Of the African race
may well he questioned. My colleague has
asccrtaineh, and he asserts, with all the
gravity Of full conviction, that the negro,
in common with the white man, loves to
cat food and to maSticatc it; that lie loves
to smell fragrant odors; that he likes to
touch the things wl,ci, give him pleasure
in touching; that he likes to look on beau
ti!ul things, and hear good music; that the
negro has love, hope, fear, and hate; envy,
jealousy, and revenge; memory, imagina-
ton, and belief: has love for his father,
brother, and child has humanity, patriot
ism aud pctv.
Now. with single exception, it may be
admitted that the negro has given evidence
that lie possesses in a degree the senses,
susceptihililies or emotions Of which my
colleague has given catalogue: and yet I
cannot permit him to persuade me that God,
in His providence, las impaired to the AZ
rican race, to which our slaves belong, the
same mental qualities or capacities that IIc
has given to the white man of Europe and
America. The exception to which l have
alluded, is the emotion or sentiment of pa
triotism, as that feeling is understood by the
citizen of our Republic, the Euglisl,nan.
the Frcnchman, or the German. have
never heard of a trait of character exhibited
by an African tribe. or al individual of a
tribe, or of the race, which denoted the
possession Of that nnsclfsh and exalted
emotion; and there is reason to believe that
no negro has yet felt the sentiment, unless
it has recently been developed by some Of
those who now constitute the colony at Ii
IBERIA, and who were liberated from bondage
in our Southern States or account of their
good conduct and their capacity. If ex-
emption from bondage, the example of the
white race, and the capacity to read books,
is only wanting to cnkindlc in the bosom
Of the negro the spark of patriotism and
the love of his race and pride of national
ity, why is it that the Fred Douglasses who
are found in the free States, do not come
forward and aid in building up, in the
country which God has assigned to their
race, free and intelligent nation Why
do these educated descendants of Africa
finger in this land, in which even their best
friends cannot and will not admit them to
an equality, either social or political, instead
of fastening to the aid of the handful o
their brethren who arc now toiling in Libe
ria for the redemption Of the African race
from tho most abjcct barbarism, and the
most stupid ignorance and idolatry?
1t seems to me that satisfactory solution
to this inquiry can only be found in the
fact that the Almighty, in his infinite wis
dom, and for a good purpose, yet hidden tc
man, has closed the hearts Of these favored
sons of Africa to all those sublime emotions
which are necessary to produce true patri.
OTIS and pure statesinen--men who glory in
advancing tho happiness and intelligence ol
their countrymen, and the good of the hu.
snan race. Their hearts seem closed, and
they exhibit no affection, no enthusiasm, 70,
tile. glorious enterprise which great and
good men have opened to them in Africa
This alone, If there were no other facts, il
astrong proof that there isa vast difference
inSthe mental organization or capabilities o
tbenegro. and The white man. 81
ny; President, 10 the discussion Of til,