New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-02-09
THE PREsvDTNT AND THE
BLACKS.

THE PRESIDENT AND TUE
BLACKS.
T. i,some'hinguOyeli ourexperience though
4. ought not 10 be so. that deputaticn repre-
senline the most despised and abused portion OF
our people should stand face 10 face with the
| Chief Magistrate Of the Republic. demanding.
with all courtesy vet without seryility. that to
their race. as to others, the Rights OF Manhood
shall bo accorded. This conference viii figure
in history a, not the least memorable Of the
many striking events which have illustrated
the recent annals Of our country.
! II il right that they should so stand, and
should he respectfully heard and needed. For
these men tluly and faithfully represent -Four
| Millions OF DIR w-countrymen-Four Mil
| lions hitherto wrOngcd and degraded (a' the
President freely admits); yet WHO in heart and
soul are human and rational as we sre-chil-
drfn OF the same God, redeemed By the same
Savior and heirs of the same immortality. Why
should they not present their case to The Pre'-
dent ana why should he not intently hear aud
heed them?
Yet there is very much TO be urged in favor
| Of the Presidents position. There is prclu'
dice against the Blacks on the part of many
Whites. True, these whether at the South or
| the North are neither the wi-est nor the best
Os their race-cn the contrary, the baser and
viler the White, the intcnscr and bit.erer his
Inegro.hate, real or simulated. as all men do
know. A Washington or Jefferson, though born
aad bred STAKEHOLDER, lives in relations OF
familiarity. kindness and mutual regard, with
! hi. Blacks; but sandbiller," clay -eater,'
or cracker" mas; at every step proclaim his
scorn and los.hing Of 'niggers," or he might be
mistaken for q low-caste or outcast himself
And, as these creatures have not only votes bu'
fists their prejudice are facts to be weighed
ugly. hateful facts, if you vill-but not there
fore to be dsrosarled.
| II then. the President had seen III 10 say,
" MesTs. Downing Douglass and Co, you
mus, patiently bide your time. We have
abolished Slayery-be content with that for
the present. and We viii take another step
forward just SO soon as We can: mean
time. your people must hely Us, By setting
consp.cuou. example Of industry, frusslity,
know !edge.s6eking 6nd yir,ue"-we should
have felt that he had lully held bis own with
them. in the Judgment Of dispassonate. in
teiligent men. As il il, we think they
have tee best o. The argumont. When
he tell. them that he depteoate. their full enirsn-
eLisement. fearing that il all lead TO fatal
\ - 10 h.f .rRF 4.
100 obvious: Mr.. johnson. ne shall break
no laws because the laws are made just 20 U.s.
and wrong no Whites because they have given
Us our rights; and IL you mean thei wv
abuse aud assault rs ii We are
ha' is an argument against ThHs
Black" The "liberty to work" all
to the late Slaves is paralySod al
the utmost patience. tLr.ft, int
virtue, eviaced by them can never
10 the common level Of Manhood
Let not the Blacks despair. Their enfraa-
chisement depends not Oh tie favor OF Presi-
dents, but on themselves. "The meek shall
inherit the earth TLey have bp, to stand
forth examples OF patience under injustice, Of
sobriety, industry and thrift, while they edr-
cate their children even a, the cost OF some
self-denia, and they viii assuredly be recog
nized by their and our country, not rs
step.children. but as righttul iaheritors
of all her blessings. 1t i. the
first step that costs" and that has
been corclusiyely taken in the Abolition of
Slavery. There is no longer gigantic Interest
which suppresses inquiry and stcrnly iorbids
the di.pensation OF equal and exact justice.
Hencefortb, Impartial Liberty and Right are
not only every mans concern, but they are
iemonstrably, palpably 30. We injure our
selves, we mperil our future, by denying the
Right Of Suffrage TO a loyal eighth Of our en-
tire population for no better reason than their
color And this wrong we cannot afford 10 per-
sist in. and shall not Let, then, the champ
ons of Impartial Suffrage in faith and love 60
forward.