The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-03-10

Now suppose that large proportion of the
anti-slavery men of the North have more or
less Of an aversion to the society of negroes.
They feel it far more than the shareholders do.
This instructive aversion TO negroes may be
wrong; but do not profess to be free from it,
and must confess a similar disgust and aver
sion toward low, ignorant and dirty foreigners,
and also TO the same class among the native
Americans, and with the additional conviction
that they are more excusable. / should not
wish any of these for bedielows, or for matri-
monal connections. could. if needful, so far
overcome my repugnance as to associate with
them from a desire to elevate them. But it
would be matter of principle, and not Of
taste. / do not suppose our Saviour associat-
ed with publicans and sinners because, as a
matter Of taste, he preferred them as compan-
ions.
But however unwilling l might be to stand
on terms Of social equality with the low, vul-
gar and unkempt from the old world. or the
new, do not believe it would be right to en-
slave them; to buy and sell them like CATTLE
Many OF them have fed from poverty and op-
preston. to find a refuge here. They have my
good will-my best wishes, that they may i'm
prove in all respects, become free from the low
vices which long expressions have engendered,
and secure for themselves and their posterity
that intellectual and moral elevation which
they lack.
So with the slaves. As a class they are ig-
norant and addicted to the low vices, which
are commonly and almost necessarily inciden-
tai to slavery. As a matter of taste would
not wish to mingle with them in the social or
domestic relations of life. But do not wish
to see them oppressed and denied all chance
for Improvement. believe 1t is as wicked TO
enslave them, as any other class of human be-
ings; as wicked to oppress, abuse or despise
them, as it would be the poor and degraded
among ourselves. for in general they are not
half as guilty. There seems to be a portion of
our army in the field, who have no principle
In the matter; they dislike negroes and there
fore abuse them, without any regard to what
is just and right. In general, presume, those
who do SO belong to a low class at home, and
are glad to find somebody whom they regard
as below them, somebody over whom they can
show their power.
There is a constant effort on the part of
many papers and politicians to mislead the
public in this matter. The New York Herald
and the more respectable Journal of Com
merce (if the hypocrite is more respectable
than the debauchee) are continually changing
the issue, arguing the question Of emaneipa-
tion as though it we're a question whether the
ignorant slaves shall be put upon social and
political equality with the educated and intel
ligent whites. Of course these editors know
better. But they dare not take the naked
question of emancipation on its own simple
merits, and argue against it. They would
not like to affirm that the colored man ought
TO be held as chattel. and denied all person
al rights-the right of the husband to his wife,
of parents to their children, and of women to
their chastity-,naking all these things de-
pendent on the mere will of the owner So
they dodge the real question, and talk about
social and political equality. They seek TO in
fame the preiudices OF our soldiersand people,
and enlist their prejudces in favor of slavery
And the country is suffering in consequence,
and will, fear, suffer yet great while long
er. until we are willing to be just 10 the poor
and degraded, and though we may not as a
matter of taste be fond Of negro society.
L.