Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-09-07

! Mr.. DOUGLASS then spoke Of the negro as
/ being useful to the people, North and South
/ being willing to work for his living. In
| conclusion, he said there was four or FIVE
millions Of blacks on this continent, and the
| question was whether they should be made
a blessing or a curse-a blessing to them
selves and to us, and blessing to the whole
country, or curse to themselves and a curse
to the whole country. Statesmanshiphas but
one answer to give, and it has fallen from
the lips Of the eloquent Senator YATES.
| [Applause.1 Philanthropy has but one
answer, and it is given out from Thousand
platforms and precepts this very day. Ii is
this; The theory of the incorporation of
the whole black element into the American
body polite Any thing less than this will
prove an utter fallacy, in my judgment
You want me to speak my honest senti-
ments. Cries ofyes, yes. We ask a right
to all the different boxes, TO the witness, to
the jury box, and ballot-box. Applause.
l tell you we want the box, for all in that
box are certainly secure. Weout to ask for
that especially. Any body denied it is in
bad box, certainly. Laughter. / ask it
because the negro is man. And we have
recently become aware that great revolu-
ton is going on in the United States, andssit
is for manhood suffrage, and the same argu-
ment by which you urge the right of men
to vote can be urged in its full strength for
the right of man to vote regardless of his
color. We want it not only because we are
men, but because we are here in this coun
try, part of it. The masses of men in all
countries can take care Of themselves.
Wherever they move, thrones, dominions,
principalitfes and powers have to give way.
When they move crowns and coronets are
rent. When they move they must be re-
spected.
"We hear froWn Downing street that the
good people of old England assembled at
Hyde Park to assert their right to suffrage.
They were not black people, but white
men, Englishmen, and as the people they
rose in their might. When the Govern
ment did not wish to permit this meeting
they rose, and declared they would meet,
and they did meet. Downing street turned
pale, as well it might, for it would have
cost the privileged classes of Old England
dearly had they persisted in denying the
right of assemblage to the people.
| go for this right, because the theory of
our Government is democratic theory; be-
cause our Government is based upon the
idea of universal suffrage. 1t knows not,
it should not know, either country, or man
ner, or color, Englishmen, Irishmen, Ger
mans, nations, countries, tongues, or people;
and it should not deny the right to vote,
especially toa class for apeculiar complexion.
I" / have another argument. 1t is this
The black man has deserved it. / dc not
say that the black man fought better in the
late war than the white man. | dc not
mean to say that you could not alone have
put down the rebellion. | believe you
could The white people were of sufficient
bravery and strength to cope successfully
with the rebellion, to put down the slave
masters 1.-The South, and rescue their hire
lings. But this l do say-that while l do
not say that you could not go it alone this
/ do say, we helped you to put it down.
TApplause Gentlemen, let not that fact
be forgotten.
awe have deserved the right of suffrage,
for we we're your friends during the whole
war, when you scarcely knew who were your
enemies, or who were your friends Who
succored your poor prisoners when escaping
from Castle Thunder, Andersonville, and
Belle Isle? They hated and feared the
sight of a white man, and eagerly sought
the company Of a black man. Applause
"All | ask you, what the negro race asks
7
YOU, is to declare for them the right to live,
to sue and to be sued, as some reward for
their sacrifices in the war, for many negro
has fallen on the battlefield. LGreat APP
plause.
Even while 1 say that we deserve the
right of suffrage, even while | plead for my
race, you must remember that you may
want us again" Applause.
A voice" What do you think Of BEECH
ERp Laughter.
DOUGLASS have been asked that ques-
ton if once, thousand times, and have
never been able to answer the matter salts
factorily to myself, but 1 will tell you
story. One evening BEEcHER was taking
tea with very pert and fippant lady, who
said to him: Mr.. BEECHER, can you tell
us in what condition SAUL was when he was
caught up to the third heaven p BEEcHER
with that suave manner Of his, replied:
Madame, if Saul. did not know himself
don't see how can know BEEcHER does
not know himself. l don't sec how can
know [Applause.]