The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1867-04-19
The NelU South.

l. e LlOct SlSllllcdllt SptCtstCio VI tiio
hour is that of the political meetings of
white and colored citizens in the southern
states. So sudden and amazing a vindica-
ton of the radical policy was scarcely to
be expected. That policy declared that if
you would learn to swim you must jump
into the wafer If the late slaves were
ever to enjoy equality of rights they must
have every protection which all other citi-
zens have, and the chief protection is the
vote. Until they were voters the dOmi-
nant class would have no interest in treat
ing them fairly and if the country
would have peace and acquiescence and
prosperity that interest must be created.
1t is done, and we see the result. Instead
of the slave code, the barracoons, the auc-
ton block, the paddle, the nine o'clock
bell, the mounted patrol, the lurking,
nameless fear which John Randolph de-
scribed, we have equal citizens meeting
upon a common ground and Wade
Hampton and Governor Orr, who were
yesterday risking their lives and fortunes
in war to perpetuate slavery forever,
are now calmly reasoning with the late
slaves, and appealing to their common
sense and the ordinary motives of intelli-
gent human beings. The words and ac-
lions of these gentlemen entirely discredit
their previous assertions, and are the most
startling commentary upon the system of
slavery and the arguments by which it
was supported. The late slaves are nei-
ther more nor less men than before If
they are capable of being influenced by
such arguments as are now addressed to
them, was it not an inconceivable wrong
to hold them enslaved Ought such per-
SONS to have been treated as chattels ;
The speeches of MeSsrs. Hampton and Orr
and johnson increase our respect for the
colored citizens, but they are the most ter
rlble indictments of the speakers.
These speeches, however, illustrate the
qualities of the southern politician which
are not the most conspicuous but which
are very Observation-Disclosures and
practically. Accepting the situation
without debate, the orators Use a plainness
of speech and directness of argument
which show the accomplished leader,
lou are now citizens like the rest of uS. :"
they say in substance ''you are southern
men so are we, and our interests are
common. You are growers OF cotton.
Well, congress taxes every bale you raise.
and does not tax the wheat of Ohio or the
lumber of Maine Is that fair ! Shall
We not wish TO send men TO Congress who
will labor TO remove that tax SO in
our state governments whom shall We put
In office Our neighbors and friends
whose interest is necessarily the same as
our own, or the strangers who have come
among Us to plumber us There are many
such from the North who call themselves
your friends Yet in Philadelphia these
friends of yours will not let your people
ride in the street cars, and in Ohio and
Michigan and New jersey they will not
let them vote nj I'LL. Such things show
You that II is not love OF YOU nor respect
for your rights, but merely their own III
interest which dictates the action of these
Northerners. As for Us. Judge Us by our
deeds. Ii we deceive yoI, then turn else
where. If we show that we are your
i.;>-'i'. ill IL To-. L~.... A.. Ill ~ lu
live together to act together -
Nothing could he shrewdcr than this
kind of speech, and nothing more promi>-
inc. Its object Is evident; but it is lcsiti-
mate. Like all other men the new citizens
must learn from experience which party
is really the friend OF justice and humanity.
We do not believe, as we have before said,
that Mr.. Hampton and Mr.. Orr and the
other old leaders understand the colored
citizens Any better than these citizens I'M
derstand them. The new voters will trust
and follow leaders of their own people
As one of these, James Sims, SAID at
Savannah: They knew enough to fight
right, and they would vote right Colored
men are not fools" 1t is men like Sims.
who have felt the iron in their souls, who
will control the colorcd vote Mr. Hamp-
ton and Mr.. Orr may speak and may feel
kindly. But men whose wives have been
at the mercy of masters, and whose chill
dren have been sold away, do not forget.
81 trust hereafter" said Mr. Wade Hamp-
ton at Columbia, "there may be mutual
forbearance and cooperation be-
tween all classes of our people,
God grant it d. but there are those who
can not forget that there has not been such |
fraternity hitherto and they will re-
can they help it ?-who
are responsible. 81 have not even a home
here" said Mr.. Hampton, with true
pathos, ''for my home and the homes of
all who love my name have been laid in
ashes " 1t is terrible fate; but could
he not imagine among the dusky crowd
some man who had never had home be-
cause his very manhood was denied, look
ING at him sadly, and saying: "Ah.
Wade Hampton, you tell us that you are
our friend; yet it was in the vain effort
to degrade us into chattels forever that
your home was laid in ashes, and those
who love your name were destroyed"
But not the less do we see in the speech
es of such men as Hampton and Orr the
signs of new era and nobler Union.
Hapers Weekly.
President LincOIn's Death.