The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-03-03
LOCAL AFFAIRS.

ed cltlZenS OF 81. raul presented hon. CHAS.
GR1swoLD, of Winona county, with an ele-
giant gold headed cane, as Testimonial of
Gratitude to him for his earnest advocacy of
the bill amending the State Constitution 80 as
allow negroes the right to vote. The presen.
tation was made at his room in the Iuterna-
tional by Committee of colored men. R. T.
Grey Esq, one of their number, who is quite
q graceful speaker, read the address of presen-
tation, as follows: s.s
We have been deputed by the colored citi.
zens of st. Paul to present you their respects
and thanks for the very manly qualities which
have been observed in our intercourse with
you, as well as the invaluable services you have
rendered our race and posterity, by breaking
the last link that bound our State to the old
regime of pro-slavery dynasty. What our
highly esteemed friend Jno. w. North vainly
sought to achieve, you have realized to the
special benefit OF the only portion Of humanity
in freedom-loving and Intelligent Minnesota
who have been denied their political rights,
We now place you in the line Of that long list
of illustrious names who have battled for the
rights of the weak against the Vaccinations of
the powerful. You too shall become historic
in our annals and memories. If it is character
istic of our race to. forget injuries it is an
gratitude to those who befriend us. 1t is per.
haps here most fitting moment to return our
sincere thanks to the Legislature of Minnesota,
particularly to the noble and brave Col. Col
vile and Mr.. Stowen of the House, Messrs,
Nutting and Shillock, of the Senate.
When you retire to your home you can rest
satisfied we will be emulous of everything
which belongs to the exemplary citizen. We
also present you this small testimonial of our
appreciation of the service you have rendered.
BRUDDER GRIswoLD's SPEECH.
Brudder GRIswoLD, on receiving the cane,
returned thanks in substance, as follows:
MY CoLURED BRUDDREN-Dis be mos un.
spected testimonial. Eben if had got muffin
oh de kind, l hab obtained huff reward in de
feeling dat hab dun my dooty in ADVOCATING
l was in de minority, and all sorts of opprobri-
acious names hab been heaped on me becos
beliebed de negro man war de equal OBJ de
white man. But feel no bitterness tod dose
who hab acted so tod me- I feel dat it war
de result oh dar edication. don't need to
'zort you, my belubbed bruddren, to show de
white folks dat in depribing You of cibil and
perlitical rights and social quality da be all
wrong. see In de whites Oh your ewes de
termination to do SOTO show dem dat you
shall be treated like white men be- and shall
hab de rights oh de white men, besides de
rights OBJ de black man. -
My down-trOdden breddren-your cry des-
cended up. to hebben, and your prayers war
answered. Slabery on dis cont'nt will soon be
dun gone, and de prejumdice agin euler, which
am de outgrowf OBJ slabery will also come
'stinct, and you will hab you political rights
which you descendants Joyed in old Africa
de lam of light. liberty and Civilization, whar
de white woman am free to marry de cullered
gemman, and missgenate de white race, which
am an Improvement on de generate manhood
of de human family, a gloriication and alien
able pribilig, which cherry free people have de
right to Joy.
Dis deform am Insulated by de free peoples
of Minnesota, de fuss to set de zample OBJ i'm
probing de rebelious white race
Udder States will, doubt not, foller de scent
of Minnesota, and 'stend to all de poor white
folks de same privilege, dat you is goin' to
stend to de peoples Oh Minnesota at de mex
lection, and we will lib to see de day when da
will be neiber white nor black, but de beauti-
full yaller. like de head oh dis cane, de pure
gold color, wild de hair oh de fair sex frizzled,
to make um look like our yaller gals, which
am de fashun oh all de loyal white ladies now
cas- da know how improbin' it am to missgen.
ate wild de cu!iered folks, and when dis am
done, de beginning OBJ de milliHum am come
and dar will neber be any more rebellions liz
desc 'nited States.
The cane is handsome one of black ebony
(appropriate that and has q gold head, or
which is the inscription, Presented to c.
Griswold, by the colored citizens of St. Paul
Nina, Feb. %, 1861"