The colored American., 1866-01-06
A TRIBUTE.

Hear what our Governor says about
US in his Inaugural AeitlreSS:
At this time propose only a reference
to prominent points demanding atten-
tion, and general principles which should
govern our action. And first | present
to you a we'll merited plea in behalf of
the emancipated African. Hitherto the
faithful boudsman of the race from whose
personal dominion he has just been dis
enthraled, but upon whose benignity and
justice he still depends for protection and
advancement, he stands before you an
object of peculiar interest. Happy in
this pasS bondage, which lightly taxed bis
physical energies, abundantly supplied
his wants, as well in infancy and in old
old age as in vigorous rnanhool-as well
in sickness as in health-aad which leaves
him at its close immeasurably elevated
above the contemporary native of Africa,
descended from the same ancestry, he
looks anxiousl y to his future, and feels
that it is still measurably in the hands
of the proprietary race. It is undenia>
bly, true, that during all the years of his
ensiavement, he has been marvellously
quiet, profoundly content with his cons
dition. And what shall be said of his
department during the last half decade
of sad memories? Whilst your strong
men were in the tented field, far away
from unprotected wives and children, he
cultivated their lands, tended their house
holds, and rendered al seryile obscr>
vances as when surrounded by the usual
controlling agencies. And since the
first of emancipation, which he neither
forced nor implored, although sometimes
unsettled in his purposes, aud inconsis>
tent in his service by contract (the natu,
raj esult of a transition so sudden and
SO thorough } [ take you all to witness
that, In the main, his conduct has been
praiseworthy, beyond all rational expecta
ton Tell me not of instances of ins
subordination as a slave, and of indcco>
rum as freedman, that have transpired
in certain localities, or characterized
particular individuals. These are excep~
tional cases, the general race being quite
otherwise. Do cur own race render un-
varying obedience to the mandates OF
law. Are our own offspring, through
years Of minority always subordinate to
parental autEority2 Shall, then, the less
cultivated African be held to strictcr
accountabIy or be judged by higher
standard of moral rectitude Tell me
not the race is ungratful, The asser>
tion is against the truth of tradition and
experience. / here declare that, in my
Judgment, their fidelity in the past, and
their decorum under the distressing in
Auenccs of the present, are without a
parallel in history, and establish for them
a strong claim upon our favoring patron
age As the governing class, individu
ally and collectively, we owe them un-
bounded kind less, thorou h protection
incentives by moral suasion, by appeals
to their interest, and by just legal re-
straint, to do righ that they may dc
we'll. Their rights of person and pro-
perty should be made perfectly secure
so secure that they may realize their free
dom and its benefits; and of 1T they
should be encouraged and stimulated to
make kenefit. To this end the courts
must be opened to them, anu they must
be allowed, in the assertion and defence
therein Of their rights, in civil and crimi
nal cases, the testimony of their own
race. As essential to their well being
they should be guarded, on the one hand
against the crafty maehinations Of the
designing. and on the other against the
fatal dolusion of social ard politica1
equality.