Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-02-16
Reply Of the Colored Men.

Tie following is the published reply Of the
colored delegation to President johnson pre-
pared after their interview with him:
Mr.. President: In consideration Of delicate
sense Of propriety, as well as your own repeated
intimations Of indisposition 10 discuss or listen
TO a reply to the views and opinions you were
pleased 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 opn-
.oEs expressed IN that address are entirely IN
sound and prejulicial to the highest interests Of
our race, as well as our country, we cannot do
otherwise than TO expose the same, and, 50 far
as may be in cur power, arrest their dangerous
influence.
1t is not necessary at this time to call atten-
tion to more than two or three features Of your
remarkable address.
The first point to which We feel especially
bound TO take exception, is your attempt to
found policy opposed to our reimbursement
upon the alleged ground of an existing hostility
on the part Of the former slaves toward the
poor white people Of the South.
We admit the existence Of this hostility, and
hold that it is entirely reciprocal
But you obviously commit an error by draw
ing an argument from an incident Of a state Of
slavery, and making it basis for a policy
adapted 10 a state Of feeiom.
The hostility between the Viii Is and blacks
Of the South is easily explained. 1t has its root
and sap il the relation Of slavery, and vas in
cited on 10th sides by the cunning of the slave
masters. Those masters secured their ascendan-
/ cy over both the poor whites and the blacks by
/ putting enmity between them. They divided
/ both TO conquer each.
There was HO earthly reason why the blacks
should not hate and dread the poor whites when
in state Of slavery, for twas from this class
that Their masters received their slayc-catcLers,
zlave-driyvr- and oversoe.s. They were the
men called in upon all occasions 10y the masters
when any aeudisA outrage vas To be committed
. % the slave
Now. Sir, you cannot but perceive that the
ctuse " this hatred removed tle hatred must be
removed also. Slavery Is abolished. The cause
Of autagonism is removed, and You must see
that IL lie altogether losieal-"putting new
vine into old bottles, msuding uew garment:
Nth old clOtLCs' % lex.slate from savehold.n-
and slayciryIng premises for people whom
you have repeatedly declared your purpose t,
maintain IT, freedom. Besides even if it wer,
true, as you ailege. that hostility Of the blacks
toward the poor whites must necessarily be tn,
same m "a state Cf freedom as IN q stale Of Slave
~, ~ the name Of Heaven, We reyCrently ask
how can you IN view Of your professed desire (,
promote the welfare Of the black man, depriv
HIM Of all means Of defence, and clothe nm
whom You regard as bis enemy in the panopll
II political power, Can It be that YOU woull
recommend policy which would arm the stronl
AMI cast DOM the defeuceess2 Can You b,
any possibility Of reasoning regard this as just
far or wise
Experience prgves that those are ofteues
abused who can be abused with tie greatest i'm
punity. Men are whipped oftenest who ar
whipped easiest. Peace between races is not {
be secured by degrading one race and e1alun
7 another; by giving power 10 one race and with
B holding it rem another; but by maintaining
state Of equal justice between all parties. Frs
E pure-then peaceable.
On the colonization theory that you wer
/ pleased to breach, very much could be said
b is impossible 10 suppose, in view OF the useful
ness Of the black man IN time Of peace as
/ laborer in the South, and N time Of war as
= soldier at the North, and the growing rCspeC
T. for his rights among the people, and his increls
: ing adaptation 70 a high state Of civilization j
e this, his native land, there can ever come
? time when he can be removed from this couutr
1 without s terrible shock to its prosperity an
3, peace.
e Besides the worst enemy OF the nation coal
< not cast upon its fair name a greater inflm
q than TO suppose that negroes could be tolerate
e among them in q state Of the most degTaiiu
= Slavery and oppression, and must be cast ava
e and driven into exile for no other csuse tina
{ having been freed from their CHAINS.
o. (sigaeij GEORGE T. DowSING.
e FRrnHIcE poU5LAss.
t Washington, Feb. =, isoo. and others.