Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-04-17

The Immigration Of NssrOes
A few days before the adjournment Of
the Legislature, Mr. Converse, of fFranklin
Introduced bill designed to prevent the
immigration Of negroes into the State.
But Mr.. Converse, like other COpperheads,
-laa- was 80 fast and furious that he OvershOt
his mark altogether. Hewas so totally Op-
posed 20 all African tsint that the reading
ofhis bill prohibited the immigration Of
aslI persons having q visible aduixture Of
African blood" but did not sag a vOFd
o0aisst he iseonsiag Of Fu-e BLoodsd 4 frieans
Only those having "visible admi1ture"
were excluded, and thus, even under his in
tsnssly negotiating bill, negroes as black
Is theaoe Of spades might flow into Con-
verses State and county by thousands, and
all the blundering aristoerot could do
would be to swear. Converse should be full
Of ofgratitude that his bill was not passed,
but laid upon the table
But We observe, in the record of q GER
tain days Legislative proceedings, the fol-
loving memorandum:
a The bill to prevent the immigration Of
negroes Eas reported back.
Mr.. GrisEold moved to amend so that
only those who had been slaves shall be
excluded from the State. Lost-yeas % )
nays 49,"
Mr.. Griswold, it appears, has special
antipathy to escaped or freed slaves. He
would not have his constituency of Cuya-
hoga county think him other than an anti
Slavery man. By no means His speech
in favor Of the Oberlin Rsscuers (when, Of
course, he had no prospective ideas of Leg
oho fha denfhg of
his anli-Slavery sentiments. And so he
does not oppose, outright, the illtOPrevent
eOlored immigration. But he makes com
promise with his conscience and his con-
stituents and moves to amend by e1clud-
frg onIy those who have been slaves. He
acknowledges that black skin is no crime;
only sad misfortune, which life Of la
Dor and good behavior may induce us TO
forgive. But to have been a slave; to have
been born slave child Of 8 black or white
father; to have been reared up for market
ike pig or colt; to have been sold away
from a mothers care and thrust under
the cruel lash Of brutal overseerj TO
have been kicked, cgfed, whipped and
branded ss q slave; to have suffered day by
day amurderous thraldOm, killing out light
and hope and life; to have had all aspira-
lions save the hope Of liberty crushed out
By tyrannical bondage; after all this, to
have dared To claim ownership in his own
poor body, and to risk life in gaining
haven Of safety on the north side Of the
Ohio riVer,-this is q crime for which no
penauce can Suffice The honorable Re-
preventative proposed to shut the door in
the face of all those slaves who have
brought important information to our
commanders to all those who have
guided our scouts, or constructed our fOrti-
fcatons; to all who like Robert Small Of
Charleston harbor have delivered valua-
bls rebel supplies into the Union hands.
These men have lsbOred faithfully for US
wherever they have hsd the chance but
Mr.. GrisWold would say to them, when the
war is over and they venture to enjoy the
freedom, they have earned, q Stand back.
Tsu were very well SO long there was
eampdrudgery for you, but you have been
q slsve and the great State of Ohio declares
that for that objectionable sin, you shall
not occupy foot Of her abundant sOil|
Fortunately, there were enough members
Of ghs House who had State pride and self
respect enough to vote the amendment
down two 70 one.