The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-04-30

To say that shareholders treattheir slaves
we'll 10 no sufficient answer. This may or
may not be true, with indifference.
suppose that in point Of fact a good man
becoming the owner of slaves would treat
them well but q bad man would treat
them i'll, and the slaves have no redress.
The question, however, is not question of
treatment; it is question of title. l in
quire whence the origin of the title of the
STAKEHOLDER to the offspring of slave
mother after the period Of its minority?
To say that the slave Is black or colored
is no sufficient answer. This may or may
not be true, with perfect indifference; and
where this law Latin, Pnrt,ls sequiter ven-
trem originated, majority of the slaves
not usually colOred men Of African origin.
They we're indifiel emily those whom the
the Romans conquered in battle and COM
PEELED to pass under the yoke. Color ut
Rome was not even u badge of degradation.
1t had no application 10 the question Of sla-
very. A very large majority Of the slaves
that rave existed during the past ages have
been either Asiatics or of Caucasian origin.
1t cannot be claimed that the superiority
Of the owner Of slave is q sufficient an
swer; for here, too, the owner may or may
not be the superior Of the slave whose SER
vices he clains without affecting the Ques-
ton at issue. 1t is not q question Of equal
ity or inequality between the party claim
ing and the party supposed to owe service.
The question is one Of right, not Of relative
excellence. If it were q claim for debt,
payable in coin or lands, and not in labor,
who would be SO crazy as to allege the su-
periOrity Of the plaintiff in native eDdOw-
ments and requirements to the defendant?
Would he not plead and prove title, or val
liable consideration rendered, and there
rest? So it must be in the enforcement of
a just claim for services.
Nor is it sufficient answer TO say that
the slave belongs to pauper race, that he
requires the guardianship OF some one else
to protect him from i'll, This, too, may be
true or not true, with perfect Indifference.
The question is not whether those that are
held to be slaves in this country have the
capacity to provide for their own wants un-
aided by others. The question is ques-
ton Of title to the services Of the adult of
spring Of a slave mother.
In fact, this incapacity does not exist.
The allegation is refuted by the cOndi-
ton of the class of people around us here
in this district in sight Of the Capitol. There
are here probably fifteen or twenty thous-
and free colored people providing for their
own wants, providing for themselves food
and raiment and shelter, sustaining their
own schools and their own churches, pay
ing their own medical bills, and burying
their own dead. There are in Maryland
probably between eighty and one hundred
Thousand Of these free cOlOred people in .
like condition, not dependent upon the
white race for their support or guidance as
guardians. There are in the free States
probably to-day between five hundred
tho6sand and q million OF free colored peo-
pie in like condition, providing for their
own wants in every respect, a very small
per cent. of them being paupers or vagrants
or in any way dependent on the support of
the white race.
But again, sir, the churches a few years
since planted a colony of Africans at LIZ
IBERIA, on the African coast. That colony
gradually grew and expanded, increased in
numbers and strength and wealth, until it
was organized as a distinct and perfect civ
il government, with it's executive, its legis-
lature. and it's Judiciary, since which it has
been increasing still more rapidly and sub
jugating and bringing within its control
the territory OF the tribes which surround
it, just RS our fathers originally subjugated
the continent on which we live. This State
thus organized, has grown In importance
until its existence as AN independent State
has been acknowledged by the great ma
tions of the world, including the United
States.
In the face Of these facts, is it proper for
All American Senator to assert AS reason
for the continuance OF slavery in this cOun-
W
viding for their own wants? The allega-
ton is refuted by the condition OF multi
piled thousands of colored men right
around the steps OF the Capitol. 1t is re-
futed by tens OF thousands Of colored peO-
pie in the State of Maryland, Of which this
district was originally a part. 1t is re-
futed by the existing condition Of between
half million and million of this class Of
people in the free States of the North. It
is refuted by the present condition of an
independent nation on the shores Of Africa.
But, Mr.. President, If the allegation were
true in fact, it does not give title to the
claimant to the services OF the adult of
spring Of II slave, nor does 1t impose Oh the
claimant or master as an individual any
obligation which does not attach to every
other humane member of the community
to provide for the slaves necessities, or TO
become the voluntary guardian OF his per-
son or property. The question of capacity
is q question for the community to decide,
and not for the creditor, who claims the
services Of the adult slave as debtor
Whether the party be eompos or non COM
to settle. Ii settled against the slave, q
guardian should be appointed for his per-
son and property, just as is done when the
party thus found to be non c0napOs belongs
to a different race. And here l may be
pardoned for diverting far enough from the
train Of my argument to state that do not
apprehend an interruption In society which
could possibly flow from the immediate
liberation Of all the slaves in the United
States. A vast majority Of them are capa-
pie Of taking care of themselves. 1t Is q
TACT that needs no proof. They have de-
monstrated it before the eyes of every
member Of Congress, of every citizen Of
this District, Of every inhabitant Of the
free States, Of every soldier and officer Of
the great armies Of the Republic, serving
in the slave districts, and Of the people 81
the slave States. This fact hqs long since
been demonstrated to the satisfaction of the
great nations of the world, who have &C.
cordingly abolished slavery within their
several dominiOns.
But il this were not true, If any consider
able portion Of them would probably be-
come paupers and vagrants, society can
protect itself from danger from this source
by applying to them the same laws which
are applied to paupers and vagrants of the
white race. There is not in the Union
probably single State that has not at this
time well digested laws on the subject,
making 1t the duty of the appropriate ju-
dicial officers to try the question of inca
pacity and vagrancy whenever it arises,
and when found to be necessary, to appoint