Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-11-14

41 - wi NSoA
Some days ago, in connection with a sheer
at the FREE PREss the Sentinel said that 1t
did not believe the ." white man was the
same, socially or politically rs the black man,
or that be ought 10 b." Expressing douot
whether the Sentinel had any clear notion OF
what was meant by social or Political equal
ity, we inquired Of it. whatever 1t meant by
the phrase, if it found in the Constitution OF
Vermont, Or that of the Uni,ed S.ates, or in
the Gospel Of our LJrd and Saviour Jesus
Christ, anything which foTbids the white
man and the black man to occupy ''socialy
and politically the same position? The
S-nfnel answers:
''Of course not; why should We? Neither was
written or made to regulate the social and pcliti-
cal Status OF the black man. Bat 1t does not,
therefore, follow that gu social and political
equality, in this country at least, not Ofh1utss
for ilden as, for instance, by the Latursl diver
nty sn1 inequality of the two races, the iEstine-
tive repugnance 10 sUeh social aad political
equality between them, and by those rules Of nat
ufal good sense aud the fitness OF things TO which
when the question is brought home TO their own
households and families. Does the FREE FT'as,
either, End in the Con titution Of the state Ct
Vermont, or in the Constitution Of the United
ststes, or in the Gospel Of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ, anything which ioroids
white men and black women, or black men
and white women to internarry And yet ~hen
such intei marriages occur. does 1t not feel mat
gross outrage has been committed upon the sOeiaI
proprieties Of the community in which we i've
IN 1 would ii for a moment tolerate the approach
OF such an outrage towards ITS own sociai o. DO
mestie circle What, then, does the Free Frss'
mean by putting its inquiry to the oEsTiStL =
ana what YOU d 1t have US understand that II Is
driving ct? Would it really snd praeti ;aliy, as
we'll as in sentimental theory, have the white man
and the black man in our community occupy
socially and politically tie tane position J" If
not what 10 the significance Of its question 10 US,
about our finding whether or not he Constitutions
or the Gospel iorbds such . thins'
The answer OF the Sentinel is just what
we expected. We were sure when We penned
our question that we should get a sample OF
the slang talk about the in'ermnrri.ge of
whites and blscss which has formed staple
element in pro-slsyery harangues and si5es
Tor ever 50 many years past. The Nnfiaei says
the social OF political status Of the black man
Well were they for the white man any
more; The Senhners language imPli 5 that
they were Every body knows that the law a.
tie gospel to which We re;errei, make DO
such distinction. Bat the whole talk pf the
Sentinel is about the iHterz1i mage Of ,7hits
and blacks ,andwe must infer that that about
the range Of the SenhAsrs notions Of ''s1cial
end political equality"
Il the Seniiael could shake off its yoke Of
subsoryiency to the slaveholdiDg population
Of the naton-its hope Of regaining pJliti-
cal asceudenc7 Tor the Democratic party by
that means, long enough to think Of tie
subject candidly. ii it were but for one halt
hour, il would realize that the question OF
the intermarriage Of different races and stocks
of the human iamilT-whether they be
white. black, yellow, red or brOwn-has
little or nothing to do with that of " social
and political equality" Where there are the
same laws for all-where each man : wife
is his own, each wile's husband her own,
aud their children are their Own, and not
their mastere-to be taken away at pleasure
and sold Ike one OF u span Of horses. or yoke
Of oxen, or like pigs aud lambs-where the
family relation Is as safe from violation and
intrusion tor one a. for another-where one
is as tree to gain. hold and transmit property
of all kinds as another-where one has as
good q right to The highway and the market
as another-in short where the laws Of the
land are the same for all and their admins
trati0n tie same for all, there is social equal
ity. even ii one man does not get invited to
has neighbor's tea party or cannot get con-
sent to marry his dsughter-this too, wheth-
er they be Of different colois or of the same
color. IL some of the free States there is
yet a measure of political inequality, the
elective franchise being lees accessible TO
blacks and muisttoes than to whites. This |
is not 30 IN all, and every year the sentiment
IN favor of doing this inequality away gains
ground. and we doubt no: within one genera
tion there viii be nothing OF il left.
As to the ezpediency and fitness of an in
Ct the blood OF any or all of the
different races and stocks OF mankind. that
is subject quite foreign to the one OF $50
,Ial and political equality" Undoubtedly
he sentiment of the people of the Free
States lie against the intermArriase Of
whites and blacks. In fact, we do not rec
,llect to have ever heard il advocated by any
,ne. The practice of it. also, all know t.
,e exceedingly rare in the Free States. In
he Slave States it is very different. For white
men to have black wives, is frequent &C
urrence there quite often, too, the wife
emains a slave, and her children are liable
% be sold for what they will fetch. As fJr
hat intermingling of blood which comes
rom q licentious or enforced intercourse
7hite men with black or mulatto women
the extent of ii, 10 the slave States,
ssses all conception OF those who are not
.miliar with such corrupt and barbarous
ate OF society. 1t finds its analogy in all
lmmunities in the world where slavery
reyails-so it has been. and SO it will be.
W hen the Sentinel wants TO make another !
lapter about "amalgamation," we suggest
lat It viii do well to make its application !
here It belongs, 30 the South, and not TO a
Ne North.
Correspondence Of the Free Press.J >