Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-12-20

SPEECH OF VIM A RICHARDSON. OF ILLINOIS, IL
THE U s. HousE OF REPRESENTATIVES, De
cExBER 8. 1862

The House being in Committee Of the Whole
on tue State of the Union. Mr.. Richardson said:
Mr.. CBAIRMAN:-The annual message recently
sent tins House by the President OF the United
States, is the most remarkable OF any that has
ever been delivered to Congress IL is remark
ble tor what il saws. and il Is still more emarka
bic for what il omits to say One halt of the
twenty one pages which it covers Is devoted to
negroes. No page. no sentence, no line, no word,
is gwen TO laud. or even TO mention. the bravery.
the gallantry, or even the good conduct of our
soldiers ia the various bloody battles which have
been fought. No sorrow is expressed for the Ia
mented dead No alusion is made TO the
MANNED and wounded No sympathy is rendered
To the SOrrOwing widow aud To the helpless or.
phan made during the progress of this war. which
could have been avoided by honorable comprO-
mise ii the President and his friends had chosen
So tO do.
Sir, il Is "A remarkable document. It is an ex-
traordInary message, when come To- think of
its sum and substance To feed. clothe, buy and
cOlOlize the negro We are 10 tax and mortgage
the white aud his children The white race
l. To be burdened to the earth for the benefit OF
the black race.
A friend of mine from New England the other
day made mathematical analy sis of the MESA re
He said. one from one and naueht remains
Naught from nausht and the message is the
suit Laughter.
So tar as it relates 10 the white race that math-
emttical calculation Is right. SD far rs it re
lates t. the negro. or in the Court language oi
the President. the "free American OF African
descent. rivers OF blood and counties millions
OF treasure are not enough Tor his benefit and adj
vantage.
Now, sir. when our people have anxiousy
looked To the message from the President ot the
United States to earn what they have TO hope ol
restored Union. and return of the blessings OF
peace once more &c their hresides, by iniereDe,
We learn II not dir city, that If We will carry . II
all the Presidents plans; ii We will carry on ais
schemes, thirty seven wears from now the people
NAV again behold the restoration OF the Union
and the return of pelce. True. the mesa ee
states AZ the end of those thirty seven wears bat
tea OF u viii then be living 10 enjoy the bless
inss We once enjoyed in tins now distracted and
divided country.
But. Mr. Chairman. there are a few passage,
ia the message extraordinary. wonderful
that they require az least passing notice Then,
h,s been aud still - great anxiety felt and ex
pressed by our people that this negro population
shall not interfere with them: that il shall no
io-tle them in the occupations they have hereto
fore par~ae'i ia the various industrial pursuits o
lite IN tie great fertile regions OF the West TIL,
President that head tho following Ian
guage:
Aud vet wish Ia say there is an objection
urged against Tree coloreG persons remaining il
the country, which i largely ina sinary, If no
sometimes malicious. IL i insisted that thei
presence would injGre and displace white labo
aud white labOrers. Ii there ever could be
proper time for mere catch arguments. that tim
surely is not nov. In times like the present. me-
should utter nothing for which they would no
illingiy be responsible through time and in eteT
nifty l. Il true. then, that cOlorei people ca
displace any more white labor. by being tree
than by remaining siavesg Ii they stay IN thri
old places. they jistle 10 white laborers: it the
leave their old places. they leave them open :
white Iaborers Logically. there i neither me 7
nor less of it,
Now. sir. will not do logic The violence {
say ihtt that i an argument. he tells our pet
! pie. those who supported him because they bs
level he and ms party intended To keep the MOI
sltsehoijing States and all the Territories Of IN
! Union for the sole occupation of tie white rae.
il YOU do not like NV plan of di-po~ing Of th
black race; ii YOU fesr from their introiuctlo
among you. that their labor will be brought int
competition with that of YOUR own. all you hss
90 DO 90 avoid tins competition - 10 quietly lea,
| your present feids 81 labor homes 20 which. pc