Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1866-03-01

he has. That is all true. Again, we talk
about the Declaration of Independence and
equality before the law. You understand
ali that, and know how to appreciate it; but
now let US look each other in the face Let
US go to the great mass of colored men
throughout the slave States. Let US take
the condition in which they are at the pres
time, and it is bad enough. We all know
and suppose by some magic touch you could
say to every one, You shall vote tomorrow.
How much would that ameliorate their con-
dition at this time?
Now let us get closer up to the subject,
and talk about it. What relation has the
colored man and the white man heretofore
occupied in the South? | opposed slavery
on two grounds; First, 1t was great mo-
nopoly, enabling those who controlled it
to constitu an aristocracy, enabling the
few to derive great profits, and rule the
many with an iron rod, as it were, and that
is one great objection to it in a government
its being a monopoly. | was opposed to
it upon the abstract principle that in getting
clear of monopoly we were getting clear Of
slavery at the same time. SO you see there
were two ends accomplished in the accom-
plishment of the one.
Mr.. DoUGLAs-Mr President do you
wish
The PRESIDENT am not quite through.
Yet slavery has been abolished; O great
national guarantee has been given-one that
cannot be revoked. l was getting at the
relation that existed between the white man
and the colored man. A very small proper
Of white persons, compared with the whole
number of such, owned the colored people
of the South. Let us talk about this matter
as it is. Although the colored man was in
slavery there, and owned as property in the
sense and language of that community, yet
in comparing his condition and his position
with the non slaveh older, he usually est;-
mated his Importance and his position just
in proportion to the number of slaves that
his master owned, with the non-slaveholder.
Have you ever lived on plantation?
Mr.. DoUGLAs-I have. your Excellency.
The PREsIDENT-When you would look
over and see a man who had large family
struggling hard upon poor piece Of land,
you thought a great deal less Of him than
you did Of your own master?
Mr.. DoUGLAss-Not I.
The PBEsIDENT-Well, [ know such was
the case with a large majority of you in
those sections. We know there is an enmi-
ty. We know there is hate. The poor
white man on the other hand, was opposed
to the slave and his MASTER for the colored
man and his master combined to keep him
in slavery, by depriving him of a fair par
ticipatiOn in the labor and productions of
the rich lands of the country. Don't you
know that the colored man, in going to hunt
a master, as they call it, for the next year,
preferred hiring to man who owned slaves
rather than to one who did not | know
the fact at all events.
Mr.. Observation-Disclosures they treated him
better.
The PREsIDEsT-They I'D not..consider it
quite as respectable to hire to a man who
did not own negroes as one who did
| Mr. Observation-Disclosures he would not be
treated as well.
The PREsiDENT-Then that is another
argument in favor of what / am going to
say. 1t shows that the colored man appre-
| ciated the slayeowner more highly Than he
did the man who did not own slaves. Hence
the enmiiy between the colored man and
the non-slaveholders. The white man was
permitted to vote, for the government was
derived from him. He is part and parcel
Of the political machinery now, by rebellion
or revolution, and should you come back to
the objects of this war, you will find that
the abolition Of slavery was not one of its
objects. Congress and the President de-
| clared that it was our part to suppress the
rebellion. Abolition of slavery has given
us an incident to the suppression of a great
rebellion. The colored man went into this
rebellion a slave. By the operation of re-
bellion he came out freedman equal to a
free man in other portions of the country.
There is great deal done for him on this
point, the man stakeholder who was forced
into the rebellion was as loyal as those that
lived beyond the limits of the rebellion.
In numbers of instances the lives of such.
were sacrificed, and he who has survived
has come out of it with nothing gained, but
a great deal lost Now, upon a principle of
justice, should they be placed in q condition
different from that which they were before?
On the one hanl, one has gained great
deal; on the other hand, one has lost a
great deal and in political point of view,
scarcely stands where he did before.
Now we have got at the trade that existed
! between the two races. The query comes
up whether these two races, situated as they
were before, without preparation, without
time for passion and excitement, and with
out time for the slightest improvement, wheth-
er the one should be turned loose upon the
|
box with this enmity and hate existing
between them. The query then comes up,
will we not then commence war of races
think | understand this thing: and espe-
cially is this the case when you force it up
on people without their consent. You
have spoken about government Where is
the power derived from? We say it is de-
rived from the people. Let us take it sc
and refer to the District of Columbia by
way of illustration.
Suppose, for instance, here i'll this polit-
ical community, which, to ascertain the poin
must have government, must have law, anG
putting now upon the broadcast basis yot
can put it, take into consideration the rela
ton which the white has heretofore borne tt
the colored race, is it proper to force upor
this community without their consent, tn,
elective franchise, without regard color
making it universal?
Now where do you begin. Government
must have controlling power, must have {
Judgement. For instance suppose congress
shall pass authorizing an election to be hell
at which all over 21 years of age, withou
regard to color, should be allowed to vot
and majority should decide at such al
election that the elective franchise shoul'
be universal, what wopld you do about it
, Who would settle it? Do you deny that tn
, first great principle is The right of the PEG
pie to govern themselves VIII you resor
f to an arbitrary power and say a majority Q
! the people shall receive state of thing
they are opposed to ~
Mr.. DoUGLAss-That was said before TIL
war ~ 69 eca
: The PRESIDENT am now talking abou
principle, not about what somebody said
: Mr.. DOWNING" Apply what you hav