The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-03-27

one OF his TRENDS In the South he appeals
to them to do just what This recommendation
urges Congress to require. George e. PEN
dleton is the advocate of the very principles
of this resolution which these gentlemen op-
pose, and he appeals to the South to adopt
these principles for the reason which he gives
in this letter. He says:
"ln this State (Ohio) the negro enjoys practically
all civil rights He may acquire and hold property,
make and be sued and give testimony In
all courts and in all In some parts OF the State
public schools for the education of colored children
are established under the authority of law, and
supported by the taxes levied the properly all
according TO the enumeration of white and colored
children The laws which created disability on the
part of negroes in respect 70 these evil rights
repealed in the year 1s4S, after contest qui memo.
riabe in the history of the state Their repeal was
looked upon with great disfavor by large portion of
the people dangerous innovation upon Just and
well settled policy, and vote in that direction
signed many meWbers the Legislature to the repose
of private life. But am not aware that any evil re-
suits justified these apprehSnsiOns, that any effort
was ever made to rempose the disabilities. On tho
contrary, the new policy, If may cali 1t So hss been
found SO consistent with justice 10 tt negroes and the
interest of the whites that one-certsny party
in Ohio would be willing TO abandon It,"
Here then is the direct endorsement by
George II. Pendleton Of the very doctrine Of
these resolutions and he says that in 1S48;
after great contest in Ohio, a contest more
bitter and malignant than these men are
making against this proposition now, it was
| carried in spite Of them. And notwithstand-
ing the fears and predictions that were ex-
pressed, the result has been beneficial and
now no one in Ohio would be wlllieg to re-
turn to those old laws. And upon tn 8 point,
Mr.. Chairman, beg to note a very sudden
change on the part of ouc opposition friends
here as to the value and beauty Of slavery
! Why, sir, it is only short time ago when
every one of their representatives men,
whether public speakers or writers for the
public press, agreed in eulogiziug the benefits
ana rights of sfaveey' In 1864, they flooded
| the States with the opinion Of celebrated
Bishop, which was designed to prove thai
slavery was divine institution, and that it
could not be abolished without great danger
to the people; and yet sir; within short
year we find every one Of these men converted
to the doctrine or humanity and Of liberty
and now disavowing all belief in the
Righteousness of slavery and pretending to
rejoice in its overthrow. This is very en-
couraging, and warrants us in looking for a
similar change to the rghtfuness of the
truth asserted In this resolution, on the part
of the opposition. listened to distinguished
gentleman last evening commenting upon the
negro in bis natural condition and contending
that be was incapable of making progress or
with what to me very singular anneunce-
meut on his part, that be did not want slavery
re-cetnGlished d, but wUuld give the negro Ine
right to acquire property, and he would event
educate them. | do not very we'll understand
how people who can make no progress eau
! be educated but that is a matter for the
gentleman himself But that gentleman did
not speak of any statistics in regard to the
colored man which have been taken within
the last thirty years his figures were al ken
prior to that time; and he even went hack
thousand years to, hunt up evidence against
that race but WAS finally constrained 10 wind
up with the admission tha. they ought not TO
! be re-euslaved.
Sir, feel great encouragement when see
so many conversions of that character aud
we are strengthened in our determination 10
persevere in pressing other improvements up
on the country for feel certain that in less
| than another year these gentlemen will stand
up and avow themselves in favor of what they
now look upon as radical propositions. Why
not2 They not half so radical as these
| other measures which they so lately opposed
! but now endorse. But on this point of the
! inability of The negro to make progress, ask
to be permitted to read the following dispatch
| "WAsHlSGros, January so
"a novel incident occurred to-day before the COM
/ mittee FreedinenS ~ fairs. Among Others Gov
eruor Aiken, of South Carolina gave the South sidO
view of the condition of things in his State, rejecting
severely. upon the freedmen, aud nduIgihg IN nlucs
of the fppant prejudice against the negro. He was
followed by an intelligent coutraband, just arrived
here from Charleston, who asanished the c"unniuee
! by straightforward statement OF facts concerning
his race in the South, and the animus OF tie recon
| structed whites toward the negro His narrative IN
spired all bearers with ts truthfGlness, and his
ca of acts of cruelty made deep impression upon
the committee. 1t was admitted by all that Governor
Aiken had found more than match in he eoiored
witness" .. .
Mr.. Speaker / take it that il is pretty good
evidence that there is some ability to make
progress in these people. Here is one Of tbe
South Carolina chilalry ,one of the ornaments
of the Sonth, who comes up to Washington to
! present his case; ana there comes up with
him one of his own ex-slaves, very likely, who
goes before the committee and there answers
this Southern leader-and answers him so
well that those who were present declared
that he was more than match for his late
master. SIR, there are many such slaves
throughout the South. listened 10 one nv.
self not long since, who was destitute of anr
education whatever, who had been worked
all bis life so hard that he had no opportunity
to acquire information except that which
God gave him in his humble position, ret
whose faith was so strong that it ought to
have put to shame the timid and desparing
of the North. As he appeared to manifest
considerable intelligence, asked him If st
any time during the war he or bis people
doubted the success of the North. He replied,
'.Massa, we knowed dat de Great Bein above
had hand in dis matter, and he would give
victory to de right, and we knowed dat de
North was in de right; and therefore, we
never had doubt of de final result" | say.
sir, that such flithfulness, intelligence and
loyalty as these men everywhere, at all times
exhibited from the first firing on Fort Sumter
down to the surrender of Lee, is entitled tn
more consideration and kindly treatment than
has yet been awarded it. | will here read
you few orders for the purpose of showing
that these men were faithful to the URion,
Notwithstanding we attempted to drive them