Ellsworth American., 1865-10-06
The Negro.

The Negro.
The ''inevitable negro" from the time
when the memory of modern politicians
runs not to the contrary, has been the bone
OF contention, the subject of discussion,
and the staple article OF party platforms.
With the cud of the war. it was supposed
the end of the negro as Il bone Of conten-
ton had we'll nigh come; but it proves not
to be the case. What to do with him in
the re organization Of parties, in the re-
construction of the Union of the States,
and in State constitutions. remains the
vexed question of the day and of the
country. What pity. in our estimation.
that God ever made him; or that he gave
II III dark skin: or else that by some law
of our minds. or through the obtusencss Of
the finely strung nerves of our senses, we
cannot look upon him as a brother! To-
day, one class of minds say that slavery is
dead, willie another is equally certain that
it is not dead. Gen. Banks. fresh from
the South, says that slavery is dead, bat
that there are other questions growing ont
of the war which will bind the South to-
gethpr-questons, such as the always 10y
al people would not sanction for moment
the assumption of the rebel debt, &c
In Connecticut, the question of manhood
suffrage, or as applicable to this election,
the question of negro suffrage, has been
voted ON, and the negro refused this politi-
cal right. This is in New England, and
after the war, and where slavery has been
declared as being dead In all the States
lately in rebellion, the great questions
which meet Re conventions that assemble
at the different State capitals, are, what to
do with the negro, and whether slavery is
dead, and if so, who killed it :! The Ala
bama Convention, or portion of it, was
willing to acknowledge the fact of the
death of slavery, if the Supreme Court
shall decide that the Emancipation Procla
nation is constitutional.
In Mississippi, Gov. Sharkey. did not
want tie amendment to the constitution
abolishing slavery. submitted to the peo-
pie, because he had no hope of its adopt
ion. The leading newspaper in that State
and the organ of the Governor, don; want
the negro to have the rights of being wit
nessess. He can't vote, he can't testify in
court. and what is he,
In South Carolina. member of the
convention which is in session for the pur-
pose of getting the State into the Union
again, introduces resolutions with the fol-
lowing preamble
Whereas. By the fortunes of war our
former noble and beloved Chief Magistrate
Jefferson Davis. is now ianguishng in
prison, awaiting his trial for treason aud
Uheveas, The fanatics of the North,no,
satisfied with the widespread ruin and
desn!a.ion which hey have caused, are
shrieking for his blood, Sc, &c.''
\ convention Of whites have created
commission 10 prepare code of laws for
the blacks, in this State. So the blacks
furnish staple article Of talk, and of poll
tics just the same as before the war. This
does not come from the long habit Of par
ties Of making it so, but it grows out Of
the necessity of the case. and naiamlly.-
We have settled the status of the foreign
er; We have tired of discussing womans
rights; The fr,.eslom Of Joe Smith to have
as many wives as he plcases, is submitted
tn; the late rebels in arms, the lealersare
fast obtaining their pardons,-and enter
ing actively ;nio the yarions avocations u.
HE: but the negro is mol fixed yet. His
stains is unsettled. His condition in the
,utnre is dark one. naless be proyrs HIM
self smarter than the White man, or uulcss
tlfc FrecoD DaD's Bureau dses great work
Ter him. Ills cnHditinn. present and fu
ture, nanst yet be the subject of mn,h
shsuslit, Of anxious care and Of earnest la
bsr. How il is IN be Nished that the whole
mailer might hr examined in the ,igh, oi
dsty. rather ikan in The light Of party in
terrs1--ssr rather ia the Iish, Of whether it
can lee successfully incorporated in,o party
platforms again or mol la the South the
prcjailicc is against the condition Of the
BLACK; ia the North ii is asiins: his cslor;
and ~ hesHeen both these eanss.s Tor dis
like he fares hszI, and Will costume is ssl
fare th"nyh slavery shall bc Dsnlinall,
dead.