New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-12


the negro has had no inducements offered him to rise
in the moral or mental scale; but give him the elective
franchise and he will elevate himself because he under
stands that something will be expected of him. He
asks reimbursement because he is weak and needs
protection and because lac has earned il BY coming
the rescue when the Nation was in deadly peril five
failed TO reward the negro for lis services in the past
we could not lastly count upon him in the future lie
claimed suffrage for the negro because this is Gov
eminent based on universal suffrage. The doctrines Of
the Declaration Of Independence were not limited 10 men
of any particular class of color but applied TO all alike
lie here show ed tie dangers well the nsecurties
incorporated nto system Of government by retain
ing discrimination DISTINGUISHING a large portion Of
our citizens Without the elective franchise, the negro
would still be practically a slave. Individual owner
ship has been abolished but restore the Southern
States without this measure, shall establish an own
ershp of the blacks 10y the communities among which
they live II is necessary for the protection OF our own
white friends the loyal men Of the South; II is neces
saiy too because the blacks the friends of the Gov
errmeni, while the whites are generally IT'S
enemies. They hate the Yankee ard the Var
kee Government. Every representative OF the
Government is, and will be, hated man. The
whites Of the South with tie exception of the small mi
nor.ty of Union men, hate the Government Of the Unit
cd States as Hungary hates Austria, aud viii continue
10 hate 1t. Shall entrust political power to these
enemies and withhold IL from the blacks who are our
riendsl He argued for suffrage because the nation is
IN honor bound TO eufranchise the negro By emancl'
pating him. the hatred Of the master has been pro
voked he has lost the interest be formerly held in the
slave property, and TO leave the freedman without
the protection afforded by the elective franchise would
be to make him the helpless victim of The resentment
We have ourselves provoked. The Speaker had heard
variety Of reasons advanced against IL since he came
TO Washington, some Of them very much in conradic'
lion of tie others The first reason he heard against II
was at the White House. One Of the arguments ad-
vanced that occasion was that the Government had
already done enough for the negro lyon went into
this war slaves it said, and you out free
Mr. johnson assured the coorod delegation that If be
had not already given them sufficient proof OF his in
tercst in the welfare Of their by his past course
there was nothing he could say 10 convince
item Of II. He told them how he bad
labored in their behalf how he had suffered and been
prosecuted, and almost died for them and then he
turned right round and said he had done 10 such thing
fo he said the undertaken for tie alton
of the Union and that it was part Of the intention Of
The Government and consequently 10 part OF his Owl
intention 20 emancipate the slaves. The several OBJ
jactions the enfranclsemont Of tie negroes urged
on that occasion by Mr. johnson were here reviewed
with considerable humor and good deal Of sarcasm as
well as sound reasoning. Mr. Douglass, while admitting
the inferority OF his to the white advered 10
the time, five centuries ago. when white were
slaves in England with brass collars about their necks
ana when in every respect they compared unayoraby
with the negroes OF the present day. The negroes are
down now but will be up obedience to the laws OF
progress and civilization He did not believe in any e.
sential incompatibity Of the races. The white man
and the negro agreed very well in himself The Con-
stitution framed by the fathers contained no such
words as white and black The words were, We, the
people" The only distinction admitted that aris-
ing directly out Of the institution Of Slavery which In
stitutioD being abolished there remained only the
people, Free negroes voted tlen, and for after
ward in PENNSYLVANIA Maryland. North Carolina, Viz
ginia and other States and il only when Slavery
became strong that II demanded the withdrawal Of
this right He asked for bis only this simple hight
Of which they had been deprived and which, freed
men now belonged 10 them He did not feel yindicive
toward the Rebels for had he lived at the South and
been a STAKEHOLDER, he might possibly have been a
Rebel himself lie had nothing to say even In regard
10 jeff Davis, no objection TO raise against the mit
cation Of his punishment Here he exclaimed with
much sarcasm that Davis would never be punished,
simply because Mr.. johnson had determined to have
him tried IN the one way that he could not be tried and
lad determined not 10 have him tried In the only way
he could be ried-bu he going TO say that he Lad
no desire to rail- even at JEFF. Davis Mr.. Davis had
eyinced great quatesi he was great criminal he
was wolf, but not wolf IN sleeps cloth
ing although he was once found with Ger
tain other clothing on. But what he asked,
shall be said Of Andrew Johnson Perhaps
II would be improper 10 speak evil Of dgnitaries. per
haps IL would be better TO leave Nj johnson to speak
for himself as being the most damaging thing he can
do for himself But what" be asked. "shal be said
Of MIN who told US that traitors must lake back seat
in the work Of restoration II he now invests those same
traitors with the supreme control Of the States In which
they liver What shall be said Of him who promised to
be the Moses OF the coored race If he become their
Pharaoh nsteadf Why this must be said OF him; that
he had better never have been born" He had heard
that the President feared assassination by coored men,
he had investigated the report. and came TO the
conclusion that Mr.. johnson was only in danger
from moral assassination as physical assassination
could not be Justly classed being among the refine
ments Of Northern society. When in England the
speaker observed no special predjucce against color
and had often been courteousy approached by Ameri-
cans with the request that he introduce them TO some
noble lord On this side OF the water the same gentle
would have disdained TO ask the same favor Of
negro. The speaker ended by pcturnR the condition
Of the freedmen the nations friends when accorded
all the political rights Of the white men.
Mr.. Douglass then retired amid long continued ap
plause. after which George T. Downing (colored) OF
New.York was loudly called for, and on appearing
made q few appropriate remarks. Senator Yates