The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-09-06
Speech Of Hon. j. Harlan, Of
Iowa.
N rnR SENATE OF rHE UNITED STATES, JULY
IL, 1862. @ 1bH @
CONCLUDED.


-c s CONCLUDED. ver
But admitting that there il no prac tical
difficulty, am aware that Senators and
Others frequently suggest this policy would
inaugurate CO ndition of society which
white people would not tolerate. They in
quire "what will you do with the blacks
even ifthey sho uld prove to be competent
to provide for their owF support; viii you
pat them on a platform Of equality with the
white people; will you make this mass Of
negroes throughout the whole country equal
with your own sons and daughters? Are
you in iavor Of the equality of the races ?"
When I have heard such suggestions from
the stump during the excitement of political
campaigns, have sometimes answered in
terms Of ridicnle; but that does not become
this presence, and shall, therefore, for once
treat the interrogatorics with careful and
candid analysis.
Then what is meant by the phrase "equal-
ity of negroes with white men ~ Do Sem
ators mean physical equality; that the lib-
Grafton of negro slave would necessarily
make him physically equal to the white mans
The inquiry alone in this analytical form
renders it ridiculous. apprchend that his
skin would still be black that his lips
would be thick that his heel would be long
that his foot would be fiat that his skull
would be thick, and that he would be less
symmetrical and beautiful in form than the
white man, and probably less capable of en-
during fatigue and toll in a climate adapted
equally to the temperament Of each. IT is
probable that the white race il capable OF
greater endurance than any other race Of
men on earth. 1t is not. therefore, I con-
clndc, the apprehensions Of physical equali-
ty that excitcs this apparent alarm.
Then is it mental equality Do they in
tend to inquire II, in our opinion, this would
make the negro equally acute in his mental
perceptions with the white man make his
memory equally retcntive. his powers of
comparison and reasoning equally reliable,
or his logic equally conclusive, or his will
equally persistent with that Of the white
man! apprchend that nobody anticipates
any such result from the enactment Of any
law. His physical and mental organixa-
tim would remain afterwards as before, sub.
jcct to the ordinary laws Of creation and
cultivation. a.- .Gs z
Then is it moral equality to which objec.
ton is made? BY moral capacity suppose
is meant that power of the human mind or
heart that recognizes moral obligations as
the concomitant.of certain relations in life
that is to say, when perceive that Ger.
tain human being is my father and another
one is my child, there springs up an emo
ton that we call moral obligation to rever-
ence the one and to provide for the other
When we perceive the relations that exis,
between the citizen and the Government.
the subject and the prince, between mar
and man as members Of the human family
or between man as the creature and God al
the Creator, We experience certain emotion,
which we denominate patriotism, loyalty
humanity, and piety, and which prompt Us
to perform corresponding acts; they al.
called moral acts, because they are said t.
spring from this feeling Of moral obligation
Now. is it equality in these respects Il
which Senators object, do they object t
makirg coiored men free, and to allowin:
them to "know'' their own wives and to be
able to recognize their own children, les
they may experience moral emotions-feel
ings Of obligation to provide for them ant
protect them on platform of equality will
white meu! Iapprchend that II is not tn,
kind Of equality that gentlemen refer to
and which they fear may result in the dcs
truction Of human society.
Perhaps some one would suggest that it i,
social equality with negroes that white mer
loathe. Hence I now pay my respects t
tho apprehension of evil under this head. =
What il meant by social equality? Isup
pose that the social intcrconrse'of men will
Z q
each other is the result Of the mutual dis
covery on their part Of q congeniality result
ing from common aspirations. desires, in
cinations, and tastes, and which promp
them to seek common means Of enjoymen.
Now, inquire, Il it is necessary to pass
law to regulate mans associations, woul,
ycu expect to be able by THE enactment Of
law Of Congress to make any one the eq us
o. tho inferior Of the Senator from Kentuck,
% social being. or to make any other tw
gentlemen, without reference to race or col
or, the equals Of each other in social poin
ofview! Tssocial intercourse . at subjec
oflegislations DO not onr association
grow ont Of and depend other causesg Ar
they not the inevitable result Of similarit
ofhabits, tastes, dispositions. Temperament,
and congeniality Of spirit? In free coun
try il it possible to control social inteucours
by the enactment of laws You Nigh
h,ve covered the statutc-books Of Kentuck,
al over with Laws to the contrary, and Hor
Richard N. johnson would have associate
with negro wench As his wife. They wer
the soclsl equals Of each other. intclectr