Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-05-30
Hast Against Negro Equality.
what the People are To be faxed.
Speech Of Hon VIM Richardson. in Commit
tee offAe Whole Of The House Of Rspresenta-
tires. May 49, 1862. :;


ration ut the House ard the country. Ii Is not
my purpose To discuss questions pertaining To the
amy already in the held which, II judicOusly
Differed and managed. - allie To crush out
the rebellion. | shall direct my attention:
therefore, to the consideration Of some ct Tho
many new questions which are continually
arising during the progress OF this terrible civil
war
Mr.. Chairman, there il manifest anxiety, an
overweening desire persistent purpose upon the
part OF prominent members OF the dominant party
in this Government, u place upon terms OF equal
ity and make participants with IN the rights OF
American citizenship inferior race. The nc
gro race. which is incapable OF either e0mpre
hendng or maintaining any form OF govern
ment-by whom liberty Is interpreted rs IL
centousness--is sought 10 he exalted, even at
the cost of the degradation of our flesh
and blood.
We all remember with what intense satstlc-
ton a recent order of the Secretary OF State
Mr.. Seward, one OF the chet clerks OF the
President, was received in certain quarters,
because il declared that no fugitive slave should
be retained in custody longer than thirty DAYS
unless ''by specie order OF competent civil au-
thority"
Tint | NAV do no injustice TO the head OF
the State Department and his unwarraned
sumption of power, | quote the following Off
cial paper itself:
DEPARTMENT or SrArE)
Washington, Jan. % 1862
SIR: The President of the United States being
satisfied that the following instructions coutra-
vene no law IN force in this District. and that
they can be executed without waiting for legiSa.
tim by Congress, am directed 10y him to convey
them To YOU:
As Marshal Of the District of Columbia you
will not receive into custody any persons claimed
To be held To service or labor within the District
al I'll.
mlSdemeanOr. unless upon arrest or commitment.
pursuant To law, ~ lugitves from such service or
labor; and YOU will not retain ANY such lugitiyes
IN custody beyond period of thirty days from
their arrest and commitment unless 10y special
order of competent civil authority
You will forthwith cause publication to be made
OF this order, and at the expiration of ten days
thereirom YOU will apply the S,me TO all persons
SO claimed Ia be held To service or labor and now
in your custody.
This order has no relation to any arrests made
by military authority
am. sir. your obedent servant,
WILLIAM II SEWARD.
While Me- Seward WIS issuing tins order for
general jail delivery OF the negroes, he was
also sendiug under usurpation Oi power, and
in viOlation of the laws and the Constitution
hundreds Of white men and women To MI the
cells oi the prisons OF this District and through
out the loyal states Against many cot these
white men and white women thus ncarccratei
by this deSpotic Secretary oil State. no charge
hls ever been made; they are imprisoned without
the torn or authority OF law. and thus the person
al liberty OF the Caucasian is ruthle-sly violated
while the African Is most teuderly and carefully
guarded. even 20 the uuihcttiOn OF State euact.
meuts and the national statutes Let uumor
become current that negro has been deprive
ct personal lhert, -cither ~ this District or any
where e'se--aud there are dozens ct Republican
members upon this door striving to obtain The
attention Of the House while they my ofer reso.
lntions inquiring by What law. by whom. when
and where these objects cot their uudiy lded alice
tons may have been arrested But ne, err et has
any ct those ohilauthropic gentlemen made u
qairy Tor the law or the authority under which
Mute American citizens have been kidnapped by
the State Department. dragged from Their homes
aud lett 90 pine and die perchaucc. 10 some oi the
many Ldstiles which this Administration has Is.
t,blshed
II i we'll known, sir. that II any white citizen.
PERHAPS a father Ot brother deste. Go Nislt a rela
tive Or acQ tiuttuce the military service ot this
Government, that he is obliged to secure a 'piss'
from some competent authority: and To obtain
this he D. required upon D.. honor u declare h.
LOYALTY and fidelity 20 the Government Bot the
negr, goes aud comes within the lines of our ar
nv, whether las destination be towards or from
the enemy: the color OF the black man Is his
passport. and ~ receiN Ell a. equivalent 10 the
pledge ct honor aud LOYALTY upon the part OF 4
white person.
In this District you have abolished slavery
lon have abolished It by compensation. bs adding
III 000 .U0O % the national debt and tax of
S73.oO "a be paid annually. interest upon Tins
SUN, by taxes imposed upon the abotug white
people at these States Not satisfied with doing
thiS much Tor vour especial faVorite. YOU extend
the freedom OF thls city and the hospitality OF the
Go, eminent 10 all the ruuaNa, negroes va the
country who choose to visit the District OF Co
lgmbn You ISSUE rstous 10 them DIV after
day and week after week. ratOns winch must be
paid for through the sweat and toll OF tax ridden
white men \ Gu are thus supporting IA indo ence
hundreds upon hundreds OF black men How
MANY and at what cost | I'm unable "a state be
cause wae q resolution asking Tor this inf1rma-
ton Was introduced by the honorable gentleman
irom Ohio, NJ. Cox. IL vas Immediately tabled
by the Republican minority upon the other side
Ut this House. These gentlemen dare not let
this information 20 10 the country: they shrink
from the exposure which truthful repiy a. such
inquiry would make Tie resolution 81 Mr. Cox
also askei for the number II negroes employed
a. teamsl.r, IN the army. and Al what we.
bu, this equally Objectionable tor il would
have illustrated the tact that negroe. hy the hun.
drei are RECEIVING better pay dri, e. than our
own Viii sons and brothers are for perilug their
lives rs sulJlers 10 the defense OF the mon and
the Consultation
Having been thus deprived of obtaining official
Information u.0n these questions. | am obliged 10
gather my statistics from such sources / can.