The loyal Georgian., 1866-03-10
REJOlNDER OF THE NEGRO
DELEGATION TO PRESIDENT
JOHNSON.

LEAL0h 11ON ~ AL5lOINA
JOHNSON.
WASHINGTON, Thursday, Feb. s, 1866.
The following is the published reply
of the Colored Delegation to President
johnson, prepared after they had their
interview with him yesterday.
Mr.. President: In consideration of
delicate sense of propriety, as well as
your own repeated intimations of indis-
position TO discuss or to listen to reply
to the views and opinions you we're pleas.
ed to express to us in your elaborate
speech to day, the undersigned would
respectfully take this method of replying
thereto.
Believing, as we do, that the views and
opinions expressed i'll that address are
entirely unsound and prejndicial to the
highest interests of our race as well as
of our county, we cannot do otherwise
than expose the same, and, as far as NAV
be 70 our power, arrest their dangerous
influence
1t is not necessary at this time to call
attention to mo than two or three fea-
lures of our remarkable address.
The first point to which We feel especi
ally bound to take exception is your at.
tempt &c found a policy opposed to or
enfrsochisement, unon the alleged ground
OF an existing hostility on the part Of the
former slaves toward the poor white PEG
pie of the South
We admit the existence of this hos
tility d hold that il is entirely recipro-
cal.
But you obviously commit an error by
drawing all argument from an incident Of
state of slavery, and making it basis
for a policy adapted to state OF fec
dom.
The hostility between the whites and
blacks of the South is easily ex-
planned. 1t has its root and sap in the
relation of slavery, and was melted on
both sides by the cunning of the slave.
masters. These masters secured their
aseendency over bnth the poor W ties
aud the blacks by putting enmity be-
twees them. They divided both to cou-
4uCl CdCIls
Tnere was no earthly reason WHY the
blacks should not hate anu dread the
poor whites. when in : tate of slavery,
for It was tr3m this class that their mas
fers received their slave catchers, slave
drivers, and overseers. They were che
meu called III upon all occasions by tile
masters When any tiendiSh outrag was To
be committed upon the slave.
New, Sir, you cannat but perceive that
the cause of this hatred removed, tie
cause must be removed also. Slavery is
abolli he'd. The cause OF antagonists is
removed, aud you must see that it is alto
gether illogical putting new wine into
old bottles, mending new garments with
old clothes'>>>to lcgislate from slave
holding aud slave driving premises for
people whom you have repeatedly d.
clated -FOUR purpose to maintain in free
dom. Besides, even if it were true, as
you a!Iege that the hostility of the black.
tow Ri che poor whites must necessarily
be the same III state of freedom as III
state of slavery, in the name of Heaven
we reverently ask, how can you, in view
of you protested desire to promote the
welfare OF the black man, deprive him of
ali mtahs OF netense, and clothe him whom
you regard as his enemy in the panoply
OF political power? Can it be THAI you
would recommend a policy which would
arm the strong aud cast down the defeti
celess F? Can you by any possibility OF
reasoning regard this as just, fair or
wise?
Experience proves that those are Of
tenest abused who can be abused with
the greatest impunity. Men are whipped
o teuest who are whipped easiest. Peace
between the two races is not to be secur
ed by degrading one race and exalting an
other, by giving power to one race q
withholdmgl 1t from another, but BY main
taiuing a state of equ justice between
all parties first pure, then peaceable.
On the colonization theory which yon
were pleased to breach very much coul4
be SAID. 1t is impossible to suppose, ID
view of the usefulness of the black man
in time of peace as laborer 10 the Sout1
aud III time OF war as a soldier at the
North, aud the growing respect or his
rights among the people, and his incrcas
ing adaptation to high state Of ciyllza~
ton in this his native land, there can ever
come time when be can be removed from
this country without terrible shock 10
It's prosperity aud peace.
Beside, the worst csemies of the ma
ton could not cast upon its fair name