The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1857-10-01
Negro Equality.

Negro Equality.
The Pro- Slavery Democracy are great
deal exercised about negro equality, now
a-days. Negro suffrage, negro testimony,
negro education, are the topics that they
dwell upon longes. and leave with the great
est reluctance. II is a new lead into the
resources Of popular prejudice, and they
are improving it with remarkable activity.
But it is only necessary to search the rec
ords to exhibit their inconsistency, both
in practice and argument; for instance:
They contend that the reception Of negro
testimony, the elevation Of the negro to
political equality, and the education Of the
little blackamoors, tends to produce ANAL
gamaton. In Massachusetts negroes attend
the schools, vote as freely as any body,
and are even eligible to offce--nay, a black
man actually did once sit in the Leeisla-
ture, having been elected as the result Of q
joke. Now for the fact the census shows
asmaller mulatto population, as compared
with the total number of negroes in the
State, than any other State in the Union.
Now compare these facts with the state Of
things in any slaveholding State, and we
think you will make discovery. Farther /:
II the Pro-Slavery Democracy are SO rad
ically and naturally hostile to every thing
savoring of negro equality, why have they
never proposed, in Massachusetts, to change
this state of things
In New Hampshire negroes possess the
same privileges as in Massachusetts. Thew
were conferred and have always been as
scented to by this self-same party, which,
until within two or three years, has had
almost uncontested control OF the State.
In several Southern States negro testi-
mony is and has long been received, and
where this rule was not established by that
party, as has generally been the case, it
has always been acquiesced in by them.
In New York every negro who possesses
freehold of $3.50 can vote. The priv.
lege was conferred by the Pro- Slavery De-
mocracy, and the discrimination in favor
Of the rich niger and against the poor
niger is due TO their Democratic procliv-
tiles.
In Louisiana free niggers vote they vote
IN body for the Democratic ticket and
they are ledup to the polls by Democratic
deMagogues, who electoneer them and herd
with them for the sake Of their votes. So
1t would be here. The ignorant and the
crednlous are the easiest deluded by d EN-
ocratic demagogues, and If the niggers Of
Iowa were possessed Of the right Of suf-
frage, not only would they vote the Dem
ocratic ticket, but Ben. Samuels would be
the first man to hug Buck Niger who
had vote to give.
Farther; Negro equality or inequality is
not the question. 1t is Freedom or Slave
ry, as a natural md constitutional right ;
question which affects all men, the white
man as well as the black. But as to the
N'gger interest and the White Mans IN
ferest, respectively, as practical question,
il is thi. very party that is aboring to
extend and establish the former over all
the fresh and virgin soil OF the nation
while the Republican party demands thai
it shall be secured and sacredly preserved
for the advantage Of FREE WHITE LABOR
Who will deny that that is the practica
question, and that the relative position Of
the two great parties? And this party
that is trying to gather a little fresh
strength by pitifnl and baseless appea
to the Niger prejudice, is the party that
is moving heaven and earth, employing the
army Of the United States, overturning the
Constitution and Illuminating extra judicial
opinions to render the Niger Interest para.
mount over all the wide territory Of the
nation, and to either drire out free white
labor or reduce il to an equality tcith
that Of debassd and serpiie Niggers -
More please to remember that il was this
Same party, also, that elevated to the Vice
Presidency Dick Johnson with his Black
Wife and Mulat,o Daughters, and that
never ceased to honor the first prominent
citizen of the Republic who eought to give
practical force TO the odious doctrines Of
Amalgamation by taking an African as the
partner Of his bosom, and endeavoring to
introduce their progeny into Washington
society.