Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-10-24
NEGRO EQUALITY" |"

N6uhO EauAL1I1.
The Democracy are pretty much bankrup
| teo 1or arguments, but they have one last re-
source when everything else fails-everlastine
"nigger equality" OF course there will be
no "nigger equality'' where there are no ssnip
gers,' and as the Republican party propose tc
| save the Territories for free white men. while
| the Democracy leave way open for their in.
PRODUCTION, it is difficult to see how the slang
phrase here quoted applies to any other party
IMAM themselves. But there are few facts in
| this connection which have a more special sig
nlhcance, as fixing upon the Democratic par
ty the responsibility of all the negro equality
which prevails in the United States. We quote
from the Chicago Tribune:
ssln the State of Maine the negro is citizen.
The State of Maine, at the time when the
laws were enacted comforting citizenship upon
negroes, was overwhelmingly Democratic, and
the Democratic party enacted by law that me-
groes should be citizens.
s'In the State of New Hampshire negroes are
citizens. The State of New Hampshire at the
time when citizenship was conferred upon ne
groes, was overwhelmingly democratic, and
that party enacted the laws which gave them
the right of suffrage
'sIn the State of Massachusetts negroes are
citizens. and the elective franchise was con-
ferred upon. them by the Democratic party of
that State at the only time when they ever
held the reins of government there
"In the State OF New York all colored per-
sons who own $3.50 worth of property are al.
lowed to vote. The Constitutional Conven-
tion which conferred this privilege upon them
was largely Democratic-waS presided over by
Martin Van Buren,, then the Democratic lead
er OF the state-and the same Martin Van Bu-
rem, was subsequently elected President of the
United States by the Democratic party of the
nation And at the same time Richard NJ.
Johnson, of Kentucky, who had married a
colored woman on the most approved princi-
ples'Of amalgamation, was nominated for Vice
President by National Democratic Conven-
tion, and elected to that high office hy Demo-
cratic votes
ssIn the State of Ohio persons of half
negro blood are allowed to vote. At the time
this privilege was conferred upon them the
Democratic party was in power land they framed
the Constitution which extended the right of
suffrage to persons of color!
ssSome years ago the Legislature of Wis
consin provided for a popular vote on the
question of allowing negroes to vote at all
elections, the same as white people. At this
time the Democratic party was largely in the
majority in Wisconsin, and they are response
BILE for the attempt to establish negro-equality
in that State
a.ssEow, let us see what the Republican party
has done in the way OF negro equality. viii
any gentleman Democrat put his finger on the
act which couples them with that doctrine? 1t
is most true that the Republican party are op-
posed to the enslavement of any one who bears
the Divine image and likeness. 1t is equally
true that no man can be a good Dem ocrat in
these days unless the first article in his creed
is that he ssdon't care whether slavery is voted
down or voted up" But here are five states
admitting negro equality into their laws and
constitutions, and a sixth where they propos-
ed to do so, though the people failed to ratify
the propostion-and all done by the Demo-
cratic party. And not only so, but the DEM
ocracy of the United States elevated to the
Presidency one of the champions of the doc
trne, and to the Vice Presidency person who
was actually married to colored woman and
who, in the event of the Presidents death,
would have been mistress of the White House.
Quite likely she would have lent grace to the
Presidential levees. Quite likely she would
have received the foreign Ambassadors with
dignity and suavty; we have always heard
her spoken of as an accomplished lady. But
o, what comment on the Democracy and ne
gro equality 20