Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-03-22
UNwIsE LEGISLATION.


pending bill OF Senator Harlan, to endow the
hoet of negroes from the South which the war
has precipitated into this city with co. equality
with our bona fde citizens In the man assInent
Of the property Of the latter, a. that may be
involved In the conduct OF our municipal
afairs. Such is the sum and substance OF the
p, o ct Of law to which We refer. We have
Low perhaps twenty thousand negroes among
Us, " no have heen very properly freec nom
Sbof daze as q necessary incident OF the war.
Nineteen -twentieths OF them are "a Ignorant
Ard utterly Incompetent TO exercise the right Of
sufff age intetiigsn'ly, and for the substantial
Inter ests Of society, "a il Is possible for humsn
beings 10 be. A large majority Of our fellow
Ct zsns. impelled by motives Of humanity and
true patriotism, have done their best to ale
~aate their condition and 70 superinducs such
astate OF public sentiment here and else where
S. will soonest SO improve them, as class, ss
TINT they will in due time come to be In a con.
dttion to use their recently cQuired lib,rty rs
Will test conduce t. their own substantial
interests and those OF the community at urge.
The columns OF the Star prove that we ara
smonK that number. Yet In common with
Nineteen twentie his OF cur fellow c,tizens o.
this Gstrict, an perhaps OF all the loyal states,
W. SIC no good likely to result from thi, effort
to ties iow upon them political equality with
the Write race here, in vCiving the right 10 igis
late equally with ref,ren ca to the property OF
every desc ription in this city.
To do cannot fail to rsrnlt them into the
hards Of tie most interruptions and lrrsspon.
sible gang of demagosues that may lid tor their
support at the polls under pledges to pay for
try Io1eing social equality with them on tbs
whites here, il not eventual wti's inherently
Ia all relations of life. 10 loyal State in tina
1IriCr )r.uld stand such rriAiuO an tho ~ ~
their own legislators with their interests, or
With thsIr social sentiments, which all sensible
men krow are, while thy exist, bu. part and
EHscei OF the nature Of men.
The people of this Dia1Iic are helpless to
pfotsct themselves against such pernicious
legislation by Congress, and can only appeal
~ the common sense and sense OF righE and
Nrcng with which every Nom Der 10 supposed
% be endowed, to ward of from them tne stats
Q! things which such legislation, 1! consum.
mated must euperinduce. None have labored
n. ore earnestly and conscientiously than our.
selves 70 bring about desirable results -
ciety at large from the altr red condition Of ths
colored race il the United States growing out
Of the war. We sincerely desire TO secure for
the experiment Of emancipation the continu-
ance Of every existing advantage undsr which
q IL now being wo, ked out, or that may posi-
bly, be sec ured for 1t.
Above all things do We desire to ward or
conflict of races Such q conflict will inevi.
.Ably result lin tho present temper Of the white
lal ORIG mssses) from threatened temporary
SUCCESS Of schemes to force negro co uality pom
the people Of the whole United :; ates By legis.
la;ise action. He is NO statesman no does not
feresse that those VINO 90 before the country
responsible for such a policy Will BE- utterly
discovered from connection with American
public affairs. To risk such an issue now, will
Dc TO insure the eucc@ss Of the rebellion, ~
weakening the hands Of the Government for
the prosecution OF tie war, 10 An extent making
Huturly power!ess throughout the land.
We TIT refore inplore Congress in this coa-
nectiGn 10 Let Well enough alone. Do not risk
the generation OF q now issue which canno.
possibly add strength to those charged with
the Gu,y Of conducting the war for TIE Union,
auo y hich 10 ust inevitably weskan them i'm.
neBssly with all who though steadily sus-
tainiD the Frssi6enrs emancipation policy rs
necessary to the restoration OF the authority Of
the Government over the States in rebellion,
are a. steadily opposed to having social and
political equality Of the contraband negroes,
and, IL deed, OF tie negro Is a race, forced upon
them ny unrefiecting legislators, who do no.
realize that all will at accept the Initial n
CT such cyst. N and policy IN this District by
Con6Ies as practical proclamation Of those
who vots for it, OF Intention to carry it ous
every where il they can.