The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1864-05-31

spring up 10 the now obscure localities
The people. will become homogeneous
our internal and external commerce vii
be increased, and with it enhanced tn
wealth and glory ofths nation h@s a
This bill makes no distinction on &C
count OF color or race it recognizes th,
equal right of all who have faithfully
served in our armies, to avail !hemselyel
Of its benefits. We give all the sam,
privilege to procure homestead, acquire
property, and enjoy the fruits Of indus
try, that we have hitherto claimed fol
ourselves. ai gesiMrH 5p eds COS
Free negroes in many of the southern
States have always enjoyed this right
We cannot expect that emancipation viii
in moment destroy the vices engend.
cred by long years of humiliation and
oppression. Because they have been de-.
graded for centuries shall we continue
to oppress them in the name Of liberty
Our Government was formed and our
Constitution framed to secure the bless.
ings Of liberty. not to promote and per.
petuate inequality. Thomas Jefferson
said
The opinion that they [the colored race
are inferior in the faculties of reason and i'm
agination must be hazarded with great diff
dence. .'-Jferson's Work, volume s, page $50.
He said afterwards
81 expressed these views, therefore. with
great hesitation, but VIII atever be their degree
OF talent it is no measure of their right. Be-
cause Sir Isaac Newton was superior to others
IN understanding he was not therefore lord of
the person aud property of others"
It's the duty of the Government to
give the colored man at least an equal
chance with our own race in the settle.
ment and cultivation of the soil in his
native land To this he is entitled up.
on every principle of equity and justice.
These slaves have purchased these lands
over and over again, many times, by
their sweat and toll through many long
years Of oppression, and have been com
PEELED to support unrequited the aristoc
racy which is now seeking TO destroy
The Government. Let US deal Justly
with them in order that we may claim
justice for ourselves. Degraded as they
have been by long years of oppression,
the white race need not fear them in the
race for power. Having vouchsafed to
them the boon of freedom, let us by our
policy seek to elevate them to the condi
ton OF freemen. Do they not deserve
from us some consideration Their
blood mingled with that Of our fathers in
The rich inheritance of freedom
purchased by the sacrifices OF the Rsvo-
luton. They acted we'll their part in
our last struggle with Great Britain !:
and in the war now being waged against
u.s. the hrst moment opportunity was
gwen they rushed eagerly to the field OF
contest, where the black flag and no
quarter awaited them. knowing that to
them the field of battle was victory or
death. and that, TOO, in defense of Gov
ernment that has long withheld from
them the pay due to those who wear the
soldiers uniform and defend the emblem
OF our nationality.
l envy not the man who will in the
light OF the heroic achievements a. Fort
Wagner, Port Hudson, and Milliksn q
Bend, and in the face Of the barbarous
and bloody massacres at Fort Pillow and
Plymouth, stand up in the American
Congress and advocate the withdrawal
from our armies Of the sable sons who
exhibited such heroism aud make such
sacrifices. Nor do envy the political
party that will record it's united vote
against paying TO these men the Just re.
ward Of a soldier of the United States.
Mr.. Speaker, they have not only evinced
a willingness TO enlist in our armies, bu,
in the States in rebellion they have been
our only reliable friends. Everywhere
our generals receive their most useful
and reliable information from this op-
pressed race. who hail the approach oI
our armies as the harbinger of freedom
to them. They have at every sac-ifce
administered to the wants of our soldiers
whenever and wherever opportunity pre-,
sented. A single incident attending tn,
escape OF our prisoners from Richmond
attests their devotion to our cause and
the brave men fighting lis battles. A
prisoner says: /:
" Some Of Captain Phelps party and other
We're pursued and fired upon All of then
kept out Of the sight of whites. but trusted i'm
phcitly the blacks. and never had their trus
betrayed After the first officers had discoy
cred themselves TO the negroes and asked 70
food, on the Chickahoniny. the negroes organ
ized into relief So uads and searched the Mood