Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-09-18
WHOLE NO. 2659.
sivs. them I no ., end Of law for their lbssl
ter protection. Bat not till them.
=, =. -. -.

ter protection Bat not till than
CLAIM OF OUR BETIER FRzLIEos. i-l''
I have made my effort without any
appeal to your humanity. There Is
side to this question that no kind
hearted, correct thinking man can con-
template unmoVed. / do not AK You
to 60 back over the shameful past when,
under our Consultation, We built our
prosperity ON the unyequited toll of
suffering millions !; bnt do ask you to
remember the same when, in the dark
est hour of our late enaiet, the Repub-
lie called on this race for help. The
world never saw 3 more t0ucAIng or
a more beautiful sight than the res
ponse made to that oslI Of our country
by the slaves of the South and The me-
groes Of the Union. How they have
been abused and degraded we all know.
How little right we had TO ask their
help, and yet how cheeffnlly that help
was given. Escaping from the dreary
plantations of the South, where for
years they hsd louged tosee the ban
ner Of freedom, and hear the tramp of
armed hosts, they at once seized the
musket and marched out toight. And
how bravely they fought let Millikin's
Bend, Port Hudson, Petersburg aud
Charleston answer. TheE had been
through all the war our loyal allies;
they were guides to our armies. snd
friends to our soldiers. No Wrstched
prisoner escaping from the slow tor
tures Of A1dersOnEille or Bell Isle,
but knew soon as be ssW black face
that he had met friend-a friend that
fed, concealed and guided him back
to lite and home. .Ulase y =
l remember conversing with soldier
from one Of our regiments on this sub
ject. and be told me that he had bean
taken prisoner, and after suffering the
vile, he succeeded in making his es-
cape. He was wretchedly weak and
i'll, covered with sores, and clothed
with rags. He hid i'm woods and
sWamps by day, and but for the assist
anee he received from negroes, he
would have perished. He never hesi-
tsted to approach slave, tell his story,
and solicit help. He was never betray-
ed and always assisted On one occa-
sion, while being guided BY friendly
black, they were pursued by rebels as
sisted By blood hounds. The soldier,
Campbell, was too weak and II to fly
with much hope of success, and the
said to him, Gross the run, msssa, aud
hide; de dogs'll folier me-deys taught
to hunt de .niggers." Ny friend obey
ed and escaped. Long after aceomps-
nying our victorious army in its march
to sea, passing through the same eoan-
try, he went in search Of the humble
friend who had saved his life, and
foud after diligent inquiry that the
dogs followed and overtook the poor
negro, and he was shot and torn to
pieces. e,e l-f2- 20
Ny friends, you who had 10 remain
at home through the late long and
dreary war, while your loved one
marched and fought you who sat
lonely and desclate By the fire atnight
and thought sorrowfully Of the one
nearest and best, who watched BY that
other fire in the distant camd youwho
turned and turned In bed, snd Ie7yed
in agony to God to spare the loFed one;
you who seized the morning journal
with trembling, eager hands, and read
read through tears the list Of the killed
and wounded, fearing that the names
so dear might be among the liss of
killed or wounded remember now tAat
the only friend he had was the humble
negro, who warned him Of danger, fed
him when hungry, was bis nurse while
sick, and his guide from death when
flying an escaped prisoner, and do'not
desert him now that he appeals 70 you
for help. If we do, We are unworthy
our success and will 60 down 70 the
latest generation by-Word Of scOrn, 8
disgrace 70 nuIuHuISy.
He only asks the ballot at your hands.
Give him that and he d we'll armed for
self protacsion. ItrB said that the
master at the South will control that
vote. l cara not. He can have that
control only through kindness, and
that IS all that contend for ~
This is the process through which
We propose to elevate the race. Give
the poorest wretch that walks 3 share
in the control Of our Government, and
you infuse manhood into his form, and
a self respect into his soul Take the
poorest and meanest foreigner Eho
comes to our shores, and contrast this
same man with himself i've years. 1t
was an Irishnan who looking at 9 ma
chine breaking stone, exclaimed: esBe
the powers, ye may break stone like
the divil, ye may take me bread ont oV
me mouth, but, be iabers, ye can't
Vote.1 There was consolation in that.
We can not Violate the plainest prln-
eiple underlying the Government, that
upon which our fathersfought outtaeir
hard fight, that claims representation
for taxation. and expect to retain our
IS 1t was given 70 Us, and
as We hope to hand IL down 70 our
children. We can not oppress the ne
gro without trsmpling on our own
rights, and to be safe ourselves we are
forced to be Just to him. .- -
-. -esi-ra-f.I