Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-06-05
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! NpeeeA Of Honorable W. a. Richard.
son, Of Zuinois, in the House y Re-
personalities, Nay 10, 1862.
Mr.. R1cnA spsox-Mr. Chairman,
desire this morning to submit . few re.
marks for the consideration Of the House
and the country. II is not my purpose
to discuss questions pertaining to the ar.
my already in the field, which, if judi
ciously Offered and managed is able to
crush out the rebellion. l shall direct
my attention, therefore, to the consider.
alton Of some of the many new ques-
lions which are continually arising dur
ing the progress Of this terrible civil
war.
NEGRO EQUALITY DETERMINED UPON.
Mr.. Chairman, there is q manifest
anxiety, an overweening desire, q per-
sistent purpose, upon the part OF prom
inent members Of the dominant party
in this government, to place upon terms
Of equality and make participants
with US in the rights Of American citi-
zenship an inferior race. Inc negro
race. which is incapable of either oon-
prehend. ing or maintaining any form OF
eovernment-by whom liberty 10 inter-
nreted as Iicentiousness- sought to be
exalted. even at the cost Of the degrade
ton of our own flesh and blood.
We all remember with what intense
satisfaction q recent order of the Secre-
tary of State, Mr.. Seward, one OF the
chief clerks of the President, was re-
ceived in certain quarters, because it de-
clared that no fugitive slave should be
retained in custody longer than thirty
days, unless "by special order Of COM
potent civil authority"
That l may do no injustice to the
head Of the State Department, and hi.
unwarranted assumption of power, l
quote the official paper itself:
DEPARTMENT OF SrArEl
Warrington, Jan. IS, 1862:
"S1R-The President of the United
States being satisfied that the following
instructions coutravene no law in force
in this District, and that they can be ex-
ecuted without waiting for legislation
by Congress, am directed by him to
convey them to you:
cas- Marshal of the District of Co.
lumbia you will not receive into custody
any persons claimed to be held to ser
vice or labor within the Dirtrict or else.
where, and not charged with any crime
or misdemeanor. unless upon arrest OF
commitment, pursuant to law,as fugitives
from such service or labor and you will
not retain any such fugitives in custody
beyond period Of thirty days from
their arrest and commitment, unless by
special order Of competent civil author
ity.
"You will forthwith cause publication
to be made OF this order, and at the ex-
piratlon of ten days therefrom you will
apply the same to all persons so claimed
to be held TO service or labor, and now
in your custody.
"This order has no relation to any
arrests made by military authority.
81 am, sir, your obedient servant,
"WM. II. SEWARD"
PRIVILEGES FOR THE NEGSO-OPPREs-
SION FOR THE WHITE MAN.
While Mr.. Seward was issuing this
order for general Jail delivery of the
negroes, he was also sending, under a
usurpation of power, and in violation o.
the laws aud the Constitution, hundreds
of white men and women to fill the cells
of the prisons in this District and
throughout the loyal States. Agains,
MANY of these white men and white
women thus incarcerated by this de-
spotic Secretary of State, no charge has
ever been made; they are imprisoned
without the form or authority of law
and thus the personal liberty ofthe eau
cassian is ru,hlessly violated, while the
African is most tendcrly aud carefully
guarded, even to the notification oil
State enactments and the national stat
utes. Let rumor become current that
negro has been deprived of personal
liberty-either in this District or any.
where else-and there are dozens o.
Republican members upon this floor
striving to obtain the attention of the
House while they may offer resolutions
inquiriug by what law, by whom, when,
and where, these objects of their undi
vided affections may have been arrested
But never yet has any Of those philan
thropic gentlemen made inquiry Tor the
law or the authority under which white
American citizens have been kidnapped
by the State Department., dragged from
their homes, and left to pine, and d c
perchance, in some ofthe many Bastiles
which this administration has cstab.
lished.
1t is we'll known, sir, that if any white
citizen, perhaps father or brother, de.
sires to visit relative or acquaintance
in the military service of this Govern.
ment, he is obliged to secure a
"pass" from some competent authority,
and to obtain this he is required upon
his honor to declare his loyalty and Fl.
deity to the Government. But the re-
gro goes and comes within the lines Of
our army, whether his destination be
towards or from the enemy the color
Of the black man is his passport, and is
received as equivalent to the pledge Of
honor and of loyalty upon the part Of a
white person.
To BE CONTINUED.