The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1863-11-21
ADDRESS OF THK c0LOREl. CONVENTION TO
sTHK CITIZENS OF yANSlk 8 =

right of suffrage. We ask Of you calmly
to consider the reasons which We shall pre-
sent, in vindication of our right to the
boon which we clain, at your. haads, and Of
the propriety Of granting our request.
In asking you to grant Us the elective
franchise, We are not asking you to tread in
unknown paths, o. depart from the spirit
of American Institutions. We =only ask
yon to return to the old wars and the true
spirit of the Government.
This Government was founded in the in.
terests of Freedom, the founders thereof
appealing to the fundamental principles Of
Liberty, Justice and Equality, as their war
rant for what they did. We therefore hold
that to deprive any portion Of the nattre
population of this country Of so essential
right as that tf suffrage, is to do violence to
the genius of American Institutions, and
is departure from the aims of the illus
triou, founders of the Republic. .sor
To prove that you, have departed from
the faith and practices of your forefa:hers,
We have only to call your attention to the
fact that at the commencement of the pres
ent century, colorcd men voted in nearly all
of the States-slave as we'll as free. It is
only within the last thirty. five years that
colored men have been deprived Of tho right
to vote in North Carolina and Tennessee.
We mention these facts to disprove the
lie that demagogues have so often asserted,
that this Government was instituted ercla-
siuely for white men, and to vindicate the
sincerity of tho fathers, When they said
they labored for all men, by; showing that
their practices accorded with their profes.
sions.
Nor vas this Government founded ex-
clusively by white men, as is often falsely
asserted. The Tree of American Liberty,
whose spreading branches now overshadow
continent, germinated in soil watered
by the blood of black as we'll as white men.
That black men do not now enjoy the rights
for which their ancestors in common with
yours fought, is their misfortune, but your
reproach. :.. .s5v. So i- 5-'I
The white majority, corrupted by unex-
ampled prosperity. aud forgstful that "the
ways of righteousness are the ways of
peace" have abused their power to the ex.
tent of not only depriving the black minor
ity of the rights Of citizenship, but too
often of rights common to humanity.
This professedly Christian nation has in
its practice fallen far short of the maxim of
the old Heather Philosopher of Greece
that "that Government is best where
wrong done to the meanest citizen is an in
suit to the whole State"
But in the providence of God the Injustice
Of nations, as of individuals, brings its pun.
ishment. The annals of mankind, red with
the blood of slaughtered nations, is mainly
but record Of their errors and consequent
punishment. eEs
This nation has longed turned deaf ear
to the cry of the black man, till at last bis
vail, UNDECIDED on earth, was heard in
Heaven. Heavens answer is seen in
land rent in twain by civil war and drench.
I'd in fratcrnal blood. In ruined cities,
wasted fields, and desolated homes; in the
tears of parents, who mourn their sons un-
timely slain. In the agony of widowed
wives, whose husbands now sleep the sleep
that knows no waking. In the silent sor-
row and hidden tears of many beauteous
maiden, whose betrothed one shall ne'er
return, to bring gladness to her heart, and
illume her countenance with the light of
love. .z 7s44.f as .,l5@ d57i1J
Happily the nations conscience, schooled
by misfortune, is becoming aroused to the
necessity Of repairing the many wrongs
which it has inflicted on the black man.
In the progress of this war, destructive
of so many prejudices aud fruitful of so
many new ideas, it will doubtless be discov-
cred that it as necessary to make the black
man voter, as it was to make him . sol
der. He was made soldier to RESTORE
the Union. He should be made voter to
PRESERVE it. a f. g.erea
How else can you restore the Union on
any durable basis? If left in exclusive
possession of the machinery of the State
governments, will not the white population
of the seeded States, humiliated by defeat,
estranged beyond hope of reconciliation,
burning for revenge, and maddened by the
recollection of a thousand injuries, suffered |
and inflicted, seek to renew the strife on
the FIRST opportunity, when, perhaps, the
nation is engaged in a foreign war Of gi-
gantic proportions. afs.i.ra 1
The restoration Of the Union and the
elevation of the black man will 60 hand in
hand. The nation will need tho black man
to vote for her therefore it will make him
a voter. Besides, the right Of suffrage will
be necessary to the protection of the black
population of the seeded States.
Nor would a just aud maguauimous na-
tion leave its devoted though humble ad-
hercnts to be the victims of oppressive and
revengeful legislation, by the still naughty
though conquered slave oligarchy of the
South.