American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1866-02-22
THE Presidents Sentiments Denounced
The Question of Suffrage.

lowing IS Inc puoIlSheo reply OF the Co
ored delegation 10 President Johnson
prepared after they had their intervie,
with him yesterday:
"Mr. President, In consideration of
delicate sense of propriety as well as you
own repeated intimaIions of indisposi'io
to discuss or to listen to reply to tn
views and opinions you were pleased I,
express to US in your elaborate speech 10
day, the undersigned would respectful,
take This method of reply theretn.
believing. as We do, that the view,
and opinions expressed in that address
are entirely unsound and prrjudicial Il
the highest interests of our race, as vel
as Of our country. we cannot do other
wise than expose the same. and, so far as
may be in our power, arrest their dane
gerous influence.
at is not necessary at this time 10 call
attention to more than two or three fea.
lures Of your remarkable address.
1.-The first point, TO which we feel rs
pecialIy bound TO take exception. is your
attempt to found policy opposed to our
enfranchlsrment. upon the alleged ground
OF an existing hostility on the part of The
former slaves towards the poor white peo~
pie of he South.
1--WE admit the existence of this hos,
tilty, and hold that it is entirely recipro.
cal.
But you obviously commit an errcr
by drawing an argument from an incident
OF state Of slavery, and making It ba-
sis for policy adapted to state of
freedom.
The hostility between the whites and
blacks of the South rs easily explained.
1t has its root and sap in the relation of
slavery, and was melted on both SIDES b,
the cunning Of the slave masters. These
masters secured their ascendencv over
both the poor whites and the blacks hy
putting enmly between them. They di
vided both to conquer each.
"There was no earthly reason why
the blacks should not hate and dread The
poor whites when in a state OF slavery, for
it was from this class that their masters
received their slave ca cheers, slave dr-
vers and oyerseers. They were The men
called in upon all occasions by the mas
tiers when any hendish outrage was to be
upon the slave.
Now, sir, you cannot bat perceive
that the cause OF this hatred removed, the
cause must be removed also. slavery is
abolished. The cause Of an,agonsm is
removed, and you must see that it is al.
together ilIogicaI-'putling new wine into
old bottles. menclng new garments with
old cloths to Iegi,ate from sIaveholi
ing and slave driving premises for PEG,
pie whom you have repeatedly declared
your purpose 10 maintain in freedom.
Besides, even If 1t were true. as You al
lege, that the hostility Of the blacks TO.
ward the poor whites must necessarily
be the same in a state of freedom as in
state OF slavery, in the naae of heaven,
We reverently ask, how can you. in view
Of your profrssed desire TO promote the
welfare Of the black man, deprive him of
all means Of defence. and cothe him
whom you regard as his enemy in the
panoply of political power
Can it be that you would recommend
A policy which would arm The strong and
cast down the defence+ss Can YOU,
BY any possibility of reasoning. rei ard
his As just, fair or wise ?
"Experience proves that those are
ofteDest abused who can he abused with
he greatest impunily. Men are whipped
ot,enest who are whipped easiest. Peace
between races Is not 10 be secured by de.
grading one race and exaItng another
BY giving power to one race and with
'olding 1t from ano her. but by maintain.
ng state OF equal justice between all
parties. First pure, then peaceabIe.
"On the colonization theory tina, you
were pleased TO breach. very much could
re said. 1t is impossible to suppose, in
Jew of the Usefulness of The black man
n time OF peace as u laborer in the South,
md in time OF war rs soldier at the
Worth. and the growing respect for his
lights among the people. and lis incrras.
ny adaptation to high state of civlliza-
ion III this his native land, there can
yer come a time when lie can be re,
moved from this country without terri
IL shock 10 its prosperity and peace.
Besides, the worst enemy Of the ma
ion could not cast upon its fair name
reater infamy than to suppose that me-
roes could be tolerated among them in
tate OF the most Degrading slavery and
ppressiun. and must BE- cast away and
Tlven into exile for no ulber cause than
a'ing been freed from their chains. >
Geo. ]. Downing, Fred'k Douglass,
John Jones'. Lewis "A Duuylsss.
William Whipper. and others.
Washington, Feb. 7, 1866" S
e Phe following is The sentence in the l