The Lansing state Republican., 1866-02-14


beyond this particular Oiiice The amend
meu' does no- 20, t.at il eau have no elIec'
Wla-eFer upon Tie condition Oi Tie emal-
cip4tc4 o.dcA I'D any other respect. In ON
er words. they hold that il relieves uini
ifcm ms s4-ca4ei legal obligation 20 render
lis personal service 90 lis master wilhou.
compensation, and there leaves him rOta. g
l-le,r.tFabN. AMI without auy power on
tle part oi Congress IL look after MS well
beng -ru l.e moment 0i This moc1ery OF
cu44ll axiom. Ssg. such was NOT the ln-
,clt.ta % -le fI.erls 81 tlls amendment at
tne t.l' %, ls imitation here and ~ The
tne u. KS adoption. aud ! undertake. to
Say Tia, lt is not tie construction which il
gwen 10 as 0y the bar throughout The c0un-
try. aal much less by tie hberty-lovng
people.
But lei Us look more closely ar this mar
T0N construction. Where does it leave rs
Ne are Told thar the amendment simply re-
Leycs the Shave from The obligation - rem
der service 10 his master What is slave
IN contemplation OF American law. m con
temptation O1 the laws OF all the slave
states We know full well. the history O.,
TWO hundred years teaches us that he had
no rights. nor nothing which he could call
his own lie had not the right 90 become
a husband or a father in the eve Of the law
ne hai uo child. he was not af liberty 10 ln-
duige the natural affections of the human
heart tor children. for wife. or even
Tor friend. lie owned 10 property he
cause the law prohibits him. lie could
not take real or personal estate either
oy sale, hy grant. OF by descent or
inheritance. lie did not own the bread he
earned and ate. lie stood mon the face ol
the earth completely isolated from the 500
C.ety in which be happened 20 he he was
nothing but chattel. subject to the VII oi
hls owner. and unprotected i'm hi- rights
10y the laW OF the state where he happened
90 live. His rights did ! say 40. sir.
use inappropriate language Tie had uo
rights: he was an animal. he wes property
o. chattel and not man.
Now. sir. II is not denied that t.l, re,a-
ton of servitudc between the former negro
slave and his master was actually served Us
this amendment But the abused CON
Strucuon now forced upon * leaves him
without family, without property. without
- the implements Of hnShauiry and oven
without the right 90 acquire or use any in-
strumentaliues OF carrying ON the industry
OF which he may be capable. Il leaves bin
without TREND or support and even with
out the clothes 10 cover his nakeiuess. lie
is "a waf upon the current of time. he BIAS
nothing that belongs 20 him on the face %.
The earth except solely his naked person.
And here IN this state we are called upol
TO abandon the poor creature whom we
have emaucpated We are cOollv tOll that
ne has no right beyond this. and Wa ar,
told thar un6er this amendment The power
of The state within whose limits be happen,
10 be is not at all restrained in respect tc
him. and that the State through its Lcgis
lailre may az any time declare hiu I'D De d
yagraut. aud a. sucg commit him 20 jail
or assign hun 10 uncompenslted service.
Now, Mr. President ASK these gentle
men-I appeal not Only TO their know ledge
Of the true principles of construction. buI
/ appeal 20 their humanity say whether
il IS possible lnnOccniiy and sincerely {,
ascrihe 20 the advocates OF this amendment
any such cruel and inhuman purpose al
this? No, sir; l think they cannot lal
their hands upon their hearts aud say tina
10 alV0rafints fhi1 orno ,dasao..t i..t> t.l
. od r. leave the negro in so helpless ant
destitute condition. But If theirs be III,
true construction. then il IS competent fO
tl- legislature of each State 10 declare bl
law that no negro who has once been
slave shall ever, within The limits of lha
ing and purchasing property; of having
home unjor which TO shelter him and br
family. If he has one; OF having Vile an,
, family OF OF eating lhe bread be earns, thu
leaving !, in the power OF these lnteresle,
states 10 expatriato him at any momcn
? aud drive him beyond their limits: Go DE
prlye him of u home, 10 deprive MIN OF al
the fruits of his toll AND ms industry, an,
llaly 10 reduce him % a condition iunuuel'
worse than that OF actual slavery bY com
, reiling him 10 labor al such price as The
Old master may see iii 90 pay him. while "a
the same time, he not being slave La
n0 claim Whatever upon that Old master fo
support, thus treating him a. "a nuisance
upon TIE face OF Tie earth.
No, sir. such was not the intention of the
advocates Of this amendment. Its inten
ZION was TO make hm the opposite of Z
slave to make him a freeman. Aud wha
are the attributes Of freeman accordu.
20 The universal understanding OF tie Amer
lean people ls Il freeman 20 be deprive'
OF the right OF acquiring property. Of The
right OF having a family. wife, children
home What definition will You attach q,
tie word d" freeman that does not include
these IDEAS. The once slave H. no longer
slave; be las become hy IN, ans Of eman
cinat0n, q free man. II such be the case
then in all common sense Is he not entitled
20 those rights which We cOncede 20 "a mar
who is free
Mr. President ! do not understand tht
bill which is nOw before Us to contemplate
anything else but this. that IN respect 10 al
civil rights-and those are some of th'
civil rights which I have just enumerate.
there is 10 be hereafter no distinction be
tween the white race and the black race
There Is 10 invasion Of the Legitimate
rights OF the States. Il contemplate
nothing Of the kind. but # simply gives q
persons who are If different races or color
the same civil rights. That is the fall eX
tent: it goes no further, anl l sncerel
trust that this nation, having by az expen
dItnre of blood and treasure. unexamplel
III The history OF the humane race having
hY their chief Executive declared the slave
of the United States forever emancipate
AMI free. and in doing this great act ap
. peale4 10 the favor and approval OF q jus
God. having employed this class 0f person
90 the number Of nearly two Lunire
thousand IN the prosecution Of oar Just an
righteous war, VIII not now be found s
roCreant Of duty 50 wanting in simple Jus
tiee SIS 10 turn our backs upon the race all
say 90 them. We SCI yCu free. but hey0n
ibis va give yOu no protection: we al0-
you again 70 - reduced 20 slavery hy y0u
li masters. because II Is the right oi ID
state which has onsiaven YOU for two han
? lrei Years thus 10 dO. Sir, let me te
you and the Senators who have advocate
4 fhe opposite side of this question that j. *
tail in this nigh duty if We fail 10 redeeI
t-iS solemn pledge which we have given
: the slave 70 the world. and in the preSenC
P 0i Almighty God. the tine is n0t far di'
. tan- when We shan reap the fruits II on
% treacherv ard imbeciity in woes which "
have not YET witnessed. n terrOrs n Wbic
: even The civil war that has Just passed M
= furnished no example
- The following extract from the BC
= ron Commercial Bulletin contain 81