The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1867-05-16
The COlOred Men know how to
Vote.

A meeting of eolored men was held at
Yorktown, Virginia, on the 18th April, to
commemorate the death of Abraham Lin
coin. Among the speeches made on that
occasion was one by D. Norton, mulatto,
formerly a slave. The following extracts
will serve as a sample of the whole:
FELLOW CITIZENS: 1 have been invited
to make q speech in honor of Abraham
Lincoln, but my predecessor has said so
much and said it so we'll, that the wind is
taken out Of my sails. Abraham Lincoln,
President of the United States I have
not words to express my feelings, when l
think of him. Iknow he was President
after Gods own heart; man who carried
out the designs of his Creator. He never
faltered moment never shrunk, when
the Democratic party, worked up by their
newspapers, were bowling like pack Of
hounds, calling him ''rail-splitter," "hOg-
driver" everything but a gentleman
When he thought the time was ripe, and
the people ready, he issued the Emancipa-
tion Proclamation, regardless of fear, and
knowing only the duty Of God. I consider
him my father, your father, of every one
with black skin. He was an instrument
in the hands of God to work out the saliva
ton Of this dOwn-trodden people. am
proud to say, feLLoa0-citizerS fellow-citi-
zens of the United States; fellow-citizens
with black skins! How often have we
been ashamed to say that we were men?-
Oh, how often on the 4th of July, has my
blood boiled, listening to the cannons
laundering over the hills, and men with
white skins shouting "liberty' and "inde-
pendence," while in yonder Ioathsome cell
sat slave with fettered limbs, weeping
and mourning because the stars and stripes
denied to him liberty and justice, and
crushed low beneath the sod Of the earth
every instinct of manhood? Abraham
Lincoln, the great emancipatorl I thank
thee, Almighty God, that thou didst raise
up one man after thy own heart, who, by
the Emancipation Proclamation, wrote
freedom to every slave. 1 believe it is inn
possible for man to do what he did unless
inspired by God.
| I appeal to the nature of your manhood,
when I ask you if your long marches, fet-
ters on your hands and feet, rope around
your waist separated from your dearest
companions; the wife who was your guide
star tie one bright light of your dark
life, oh, how you wept in heart! Do you
remember those daughters that you had in
strugted with all the fondness of a father
to grow up pure and respectable, sold to
such men as John A. Jones? Ia noted slave
dealer.) Do you remember those daugh
ters, as they were driven away, waving
ltheit hands in agony, crying, Farewell,
father, farewell foreverv' Where was your
heart then? Buried in weeping. Oh, well
might the slave pray, be merciful, o Lord!
Why was it that we were thus crushed,
our backs lacerated, our clothes wet with
our own precious blood sticking to us?-
Ill IL
heaven and earth, while the stroke of the
mean tigers lash drew blood from the
quivering flesh, because they dared to feel
that they were men, and had the right to
rejoice in Gods free sunshine. Now, these
rebels, the poorest people on Gods earth,
are sueaking around asking for your votes,
Your U0te-fOr what? A vote to drag you
down to the lowest hell. But no slave
driver shall ever again sting my back with
his lashs You and l must look to the Re-
publican party that elected Abraham Lin
coln-the man that icave US freedom, and
said that under the stars and stripes not
slave should breathe; men upholding such
principles we must vote for when the vot-
ing time comes. Do. not let HIS curse those
who have labored for us, that have stood
by us in the dark hours of the past; do not
curse Sumner, Wilson, or Stevens; uphold
them and their party, which IS leading US
on to the north star. How easily my lips
can frame these words; "The grand Re-
publican party of the North" Their in
terests are our interests, and if we make a
mistake, we are damned for eternity.
The rebels claim that we will vote for
them, saying you are "hesh of our flesh
and bone of our bone" Why, did they
not know it before? I know I am flesh of
their flesh and bone oftheir bone, but they
never knew me. They said, depart from
me, ye cursed" and went. Now, they
come to me, and say so kindly, "John,
won't you take drink" but III see, God
helping me, that John don't take the drink.
Are you going to sacrifice your children
for Picayune glass of whisky, sacrifice
your interest, your party, and your honor
for paltry sum? Would you encourage
the party THAT fastened the shackles on US.
and classed US among dunb-driven cattle?"