American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-03-21

81 4 i
like to know how it eontravenes any Re
publican or ary Democrats prime iple
thai the people should exercise their own
choice in the matter l say r. Do not
yon Republicans-do not you Democrats
believe. in the right of the people to rule
themselves? To determine what form
of Government they win have to admin
ister4it? And if the people of any dis
trict, not taking counsel from the Demo
eratie.party, should elect y respectable
eolored man, for my part, do not hesi-
tate to say that would rather sit by the
side of such man, elected BY loyal con
stituents and in a constitutional manner,
that sit with men who have striyen to
overthrow the Government, and who are
yet reeking with recent treason. ] would
rather sit by the side of such man than
by the side of John g. Breckenridge,
whom Democrats elected Vice President,
whom they nominated afterwards as Presi-
dent professedly to save the country, and
whom Democrats in Kentucky now pro-,
pose to elect to the Senate of the United
States, to,help to. govern the country
which he failed by his treason and blood
shed to destroy. ! am bold to avow that
would thousand times rather sit be-
side constitutionally elected represen-
tative of loyal constituents, ,colored though
he be, than sit beside man stained with
the hue of such infamous crimes
But there is another alarming conse-
quence to follow the Acknowledgement of
the colored men Of the District, which
the gentlemen here have urge !, namely,
hat if this measure is enacted they fear
their female relatives will marry black
men Even the respected Senator from
Berks,. Mr. Clymerl asked us in the
name of our mothers, sisters. and daugh
ters TO vote down this measure What
| iiu ie hcdu DJ thut ii luSfc au fedi
that this measure will be found to be
frought with such consequences (? Is
here really any danger, if enacted, that
oar widowed mothers, our virgin sisters
II our gushing daug ghtels will marry black
| meD (? There is 10 danger TO any Of my
elatives If the gentleman on the other
side think they have reason to fear, am
sorry for them Yet, | am not willing
/ iuterpose by legislative enactmcnts to
prevent such catastrophe in the gentle
men s family connections, at the expense
# the just rights, the en- iranchisement,
md development of the colored race
| rhcre is latent fear that this race will
get ahead of the members of the Demo
cratic party in the elements of true man
hood unless they sia' be represfed BY
disabling legislation. Such legislation 1
in not willing to enect. If they are
better men, then in Gods name let them
have q chance to show their superiority.
If they have more manhood let it be de-
veloped. If they are swifter in the race
of progress, then hope God may prevent
me from placing one ounce of additional
weight upon their limbs. Let them feel
th1inspiratiou of the genius Of our com
mon country.
| "IIere the free spirit Of mankind at length
~ Throws its last fstters on And who shall place
| limit on the giants unclaimed strength,
Or curb his swiftness in the forward faeoP
In the course OF this debate, the as
sertiou that the alarming consequences
mentioned, and others, will follow negro
suffrage, has been corroborated and argu-
ed statistically. | am fond Of that sort
# thing, aud if | had known the gentle.
man had intended to enter the statistical
arena, and time had permitted, 1 would
have had some statistics to present on the
other side. The Senator from Clearfield
| Mr.. Wallace told US lest night that the
preponderance Of muiattoes in the entire
colored popuiatica was greatest in the
Northern States where the blacks have
been free; and further, that the number
was decidedly the greatest in those States
where the blacks are granted suffrage
And, he read, ir proof OF this declara
ton, from the compilation OF the census
Of 1850, made by the De Bow, who was
in the interests of the, secessiopists, and
who went with them into rebellion
Now, taking these declarations to be facts,
they are very remarkable facts.
Mr. Wallace. Here is the census re-
port. The Senator can examine it for
himself.
Mr. Browne. Ibave it at home, and
have examined these facts before, though
unable now to recall them; but Of course
cannot now occupy the time Of the
Senate by revising the details during the
time allotted for these remarks. Blu.
do know that ii the facts be as claimed,
and prove anything clearly and logically
in favor of the gentleman's positions,
| thew prove not merely that the elective