The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-08-12


efforts at the reconstruction of civil gov
erment of the States, late in rebel
lion, left us entirely at the mercy OF
these subjugated but 'uneonverted reb-
els, in everything save the privilege OF
| bringing us, our wives and little ones 70
the auction block. He has, so far as we
can understand the tendency and bear
| ing of his action in the case, RENTED
us for all our civil rights, to men, ma
jority of whom regard our devotion to
uoit,' cause and flag as that which de-
cided the contest against theml This
we regard as destructive of all we hold
dear and in the name of God, of JUS
tice. of humanity, Of good faith, oftruth
and Righteousness, we do most solemnly
and earnestly protest. Men and Breth-
rem, ia the hour of your peril, you called
upon us, and despite alltime-honored in
!. terpretation of constitutional o6li9d-
lions, we came at your call, and you are
saved; and now we beg, we pray, we en-
treat you not to desert us, in this, the
hour of our peril
We know these men-know them aOell
and we assure you that, with the ma
jority of them, loyalty is only slip
deep" and that their professions of 10y
atty are used as cover to the cherished
design of getting restored to their former
relations with the Federal Government,
and then, by all sorts of " unfriendly
legislation" to render the freedom you
have given US more intolerable than the
slavery they intended for US.
We warn you in time that our only
safety is in keeping them under Gov
ernors of the military persuasion until
you have so amended the Federal Con-
81; 1,of rx-i1l
from making any distinction between
citizens on account of race or color. In
one word, the only salvation for us be-
sides the military power of the Govern
ment, is in the possession of the ballot.
Give us this, and we will protect our
selves. No class of men relatively as
numerous as We were ever oppressed,
when armed with the ballot. But, tits
said we are ignorant. Admit it. Yet
who denies we kieoao a traitor from q
loyal man, gentleman from a rowdy,
friend from an enemy? The twelve
thousand colored votes of the State of
New York sent Governor Seymour home
and Reuben E. Fenton to Albany. Did
not they know who to vote for?
If all the colored men of that great
State could have voted in 1862, HOratio
Seymour wouldnever have left his home,
and the brave, noble and chivalrous
Wordsworth would have kept the honor
of his State untarnished through those
two dark and memorable years. How
many colored men voted for Mcclellan?
How many failed to vote for Lincoln and
Johnson? And, could every colored man
in the land have voted, whit countless
thousands would have been added to the
maiorities of the latter? All we ask is
an equal chance with the white traitors,
vanished and japanned with the oath OF
amnesty. Can you deny us this, and
still keep faith with us? "But," say
some, 1.-THE blacks will be over-reached
by the superior knowledge and cunning
| of the whites" Trust us for that. We
| will never be deceived second time
"But," they continue, the planters and
landowners will have themin their pow
er, and dictate the way their votes shall
be cast" We did not know before that
we were to be left to the tender mercies
of these landed rebels for employment.
Verify, we thought the Freedmen's Blu
reau was organized and clothed with
power to protect us from this very thing,
by compelling those for whom we labor
ed to pay us, whether they liked our po-
litical opinions or not In addition, there
| 10 SOu1CLhktS SdlN dUOul dSSlS lllllk llttu-
men and refugees forty acres each, and
chance for presumption and purchase
when it is confiscated or sold for taxes.
The noble and gallant soldier atthe head
of that Bureau said the other day to one
of his subordinates: If you find man
working the freedmen as slaves, set off
his house, garden and yard, take possess
sion of his land, and set the freedmen at
work upon it yourself" &
Have the employers of white voters
always controlled their votes? Let the
history Of elections answer. But some
Of our friends fear we might vote with
our former masters. What if we did I?
Whose business isit? IF they legislated
according to the old ideas, we would
never do it the second time, and if they
legislated according to the new ideas,
we would vote for them again. Is it
against us that we are known to posses
high regard for gentlemen--th We
like to be with them-that we prefer
them to the rude and vulgar, and the
unworthy (other things being equal)-
that We would not vote for traitors, nor
drunkards, nor rowdies, nor at the die
tation OF mitred priest nor rich rum
seller? Can the mass of the white
voters say as much? Is any one more
skeptical now as to our capacity to use
well the ballot, than almost all of you
were two years ago as to our ability to
use the bayonet2 And yet how soon
were those doubts swept into OBJ
livion, and we affirm that the same
course in regard to the ballot-trying it
will be followed by the same result.
Only give us the chance, and We promise
you, before God and mankind, that, by
patient industry, by wise economy, by
prudence and uprightness, by intense
loyalty, by unremitting zeal in the cause
OF learning, of culture and intelligence,
we will justify and vindicate before
heaven and earth the wisdom of your
course, and will demonstrate that the
right way Is the safe way.
In view of the late occurrences, can
any of you doubt for moment our fate,
if left to the Legislatures and Govern ors
of these restored States?
Look at Governor Pierpoint, of this
State-elected by men of unconditional
loyalty, and by all supposed to be loyal
to freedom and equal rights. before he
is in Richmond month he gives COM
pletety over to the "Virginia ELEMENT
deserving his former friends, and calls
together the Legislature for the purpose
of re;franchiSing the rebels of Virginia,
and cody tells them they have nothing
to do with negro suffrage Behold the
potency of wine and fine dinners!
When the United States Court set at
Norfolk and the Grand Jury indicted