The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-12-13


the negro orator. Fred Douglas which delivered at
the Masonic hail. in Chicago, the oath ult, and pub
lished in the Times of the 26th ult. He partcu-
larly bitter on Mr. johnson, as viii be from the
subjoined extracts:
In this gospel of forgiveness there is advocate.
thought president johnson stood high above the
testament But lately there has sprung up another
preacher in Brooklyn who to be equally In the
forgiying and forgetting mood believe christianity 10
be liberal enough in this direction but Beecher IS more
liberal than christianity, and is president Johnson
In the christian religion required to forgive eur
enemies and forgive them that trespass against us,
even seven times day and seventy times seYen but
upon condition. and this to be entirely omit
ted in the present caseif they repent. That is the
condition. Applausel l would cherish a spirit of
forgiveness but demand that the that shall re-
ceiye forgiveness at my hands shall repent OF the CRIME
Of which he asks forgiveness.
But am not bound to believe him if he says, II re-
pent," and act though he didn't may require that
he shall bring forth fruits meet for repentance lap
plause. Until he does that he has no claim upon me
for forgiveness cannot forgive that OF another whch
that other retains to himself AS a mere mental pro-
the thing is impossible. cannot forgive you that
feeling which you cherish in your heart for forgiveness
is to place you though you had not taen-aS though
the rebellion out of you-as though you had re-
pented of your treason. The only repentance that the
south gives proof of having is the repentance which the
burglar feels when the strong hand of the officer Is on
his collar. Applause. He isn't sorry he committed
the burglary he is only sorry that he didn't succeed
And that is what Gov Perry says-he isn't sorry for
crme he only laents the bad success that attended it.
brothers and fathers-these the who in their
heart of hearts regret the failure of the war; these
whose plantations $50 900 mem being restored
to them-from which the freedmen are being driven;
these the to whom the reins of government in
these States given, and who to make laws for
the SOUTH
I said at the beginning of my remarks that the year
drawing to close was marked by certain features,
and that might still take upon itself another feature
darker and more to be regretted than the rebellion or
assassination. believe that on the verge, my
friends, of being surrendered to the conquered rebels
that the verge of losing that for which this
war was waged, and am inclined to think that we are
to lose it it, if not through imbecy through treachery
on the part of the very man that sits at the head OF the
government.
Jefferson Davis is q great criminal! I would not say
word in mitigation Of his crime eXtenuation OF his
punishment. Punished he'll never be punished! no
danger of his being punshednot the least in the world
He's only waiting to come under the $4,000 pardon
He traitor, but he played the role Of traitor
fairly, openly and honestly. He was wolf but not
wolf in sleeps clothing though he was found believe
in a ladys dress Laughter Whatever else may be
said of him he did steal the FURNISHED livery OF the
great heavens to serve the devil in He did not by loud
and furious devotion to this rebel cause get himself
placed at the head of it merely to betray 1t and destroy
it. Whatever else may haunt his conscience IN his CELL
wonder at fort MonroewhaeVer else, the thought can
never come him there that he betrayed the TRENDS
who trusted him with power He did what he could,
and whatever consolation can be derived from devotion
to bad cause must be his.
But what shall be said of the man at ashiDgton VINO
was so loud and furious few months ago III MS de-
nuncations of and traitors and slavery and ar
stocracy and every form of class legisauon who was
only impatient with good president Lincoln because
he was too enent to the traitors what shall we think OF
him if after these protesting his deter
ninaon to punish traitors and make treason odious by
punishment declaring that treason Is CRIME, and not
difference opinion that traitors must be punished not
hardened that slavery in every root and fibre must be
DESTROYED that the liberties of the must secured
what shall we think of him after getting possession OF
this government and this cause if he shall finally betray
il into the hands of the who have tried to destroy
f. if he shall select those who gutest of this re-
beou-the rich men of the south-if he shall select
these men who led the bloody host that sought to de-
stroy this country what shall be said of him if he shall
betray us by giving the power the Shareholders taking
it away from cur friends by giving the elective franchise
to these rebels and taking it away from the brave black
men who with iron and steel fingers stood up IN
defence of our flag at the south? Loud applause.
What shall be said of this if he shall thus beray
u.s. demoraise the republican party deaden the moral
sentiment of the north, and leave children another
negro question to breed and disturbance IN the
future? Why we must say of him the scripture hath
-"Beter were it that that he had not been born
better that milestone be hanged about his neck and be
the depths of the than that he should do
this thing" We abhor very properly Jefferson DAVIS
and Booth but deeper and more dreadful execration
will settle upon this mans he shall sacrifice
white man. after this war should blush to my bones
look black man in the face and deny him the right
If suffrage.