The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-02-16


try. Then there is a great deal done
for him on this point. The non-slave-
holder who was forced into the rebellion,
and was as those who lived beyond the
limits of the state, and his property, and,
in number of instances, the lives OF such
were sacrificed, and he who has survived
has come out of it with nothing gained
but great deal lost. Now upon prin-
ciple of justice should they be placed lii
a condition different from what they were
before? On the one hand one has gained
a great deal. On the other hand one has
lost a great deal, and in political point
Of view scarcely stands where he did be-
fore. Now we are talking about where
We are going to begin. We have got at
the hate that existed between the two
races. The query comesup whether these
two races, situated as they were before,
without preparation, without time for
passion and excitement to be appea>ed,
and without time for the slightest i'm
provement, whether the one should be
turned loose upon the other and be thrown
together at the ballot box with this enmi-
ty and hate existing between them? The
query comes up, if right there we don't
commence war of races? | think |
understand this thing and especially is
> this the case when you force it upon a
people without their consent
"Where is power derived from! We
say it is derived from the people Let Ills
take it SO, and refer to the District OF 49,
lumbia by way of Illustration. Suppose,
for instance, here in this political commu-
nifty, which to L certain extent must have
government, must have law, and, putting
it now upon the broadest basis you can
put it, take into consideration the relation
which the white has heretofore borne to
the colored races it proper to force up
on this community, without their consent,
the elective franchise without regard to
color, making it universal! No. Where
do you begin! Government must have u
controlling power-must have lodgment
For instance, suppose Congress should
pass a law authorizing an election to he
held, at which all over twenty-one years
of age. without regard to color, should be
allowed to vote, and a ma ority should de
eide at such election that the elective fran
chi>e should not he universal, what would
YOU do about it? Who would settle it !.
Do you deny that first great principle of
the right of the people to govern them
selves! Will you resort to an arbitrary
power and say majority of the people
shall receive a state of things they are
opposed to"
| Considerable conversation followed, and
Douglass offered to 90 into an argument
to prove that war of races is more like
" to come if the suffrage Is refused to
the negroes. but the President intimated
pretty decidedly that it would be of no
Use TO 90 over the ground again. The
conclusion of the conference Is thus re-
ported
The President-''I think YOU will find.
SD far us the South Is concerned. that if
Won will inculcatc there the idea. in con-
nection with the one you urge. that the
colorcd people can live and advance in
civilization to better advantage elsewhere
than crowded right down there in the
South. it would be better for them
MIR. Dougli>S-'' But the masters have
! the laws and we cannot oct away from
the plantations"
The President-"Whv not The ecy-
eminent furnishes YOU with every facility"
MIR. Dou@lass-'' There are six DAYS in
the year that the negro Is free in the South
now. and his master then decides Tor him
where he shall go-where he shall work
how much he shall work in fact he Is
divested of all political power. He Is
! absolutely in the hands of these men"
The Prc>idcnt-.' Ii the master now
controls him or his action. would he not
control him in his votes ;"
MIR. Douglass Let the negro once
understand that he has an organic right
to vote and he will raise up party in the
South among the poor. who will rally
with him. There Is this conflict that YOU
speak of between the wealthy STAKEHOLDER
and the poor man"
The FreSdent-'' You touch right up
Oh the point there. There is this con-
fict, and hence suggest emigration if he
cannot get employment III the South. lie
has ii in his power to 20 where he can
get it
In parting the President said that they
were both DESTROYS Of accomplishing the
same ends, but proposed to do so 10y ioi-
lowing different roads
Mr. Douglass, on turning to leave. re-
marked to his fellow delegates, The
President sends us TO the people, and we
will have to 90 and get the people right"
The President" Yes. sir. | have
great faith in the people. believe they
will do what is just, and have no doubt
they will settle this question right. and
hope it will Ee submitted to them for final
action
The colored delegates, not having had
their say at the White House, printed a
reply TO his remarks on Thursday, in
which they expose what they consider his
unsOund views on the franchise. They 7,
admit the hostility of the poor whites at
the South to the blacks, and say it is re-
This enmity was, they say, in
cised by slave masters, who thus secured
the ascendancY both over whites and
blacks. The poor whites were the slave