Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-02-15
Remarks of Mr.. Hale of Ellis.
worth before the Maine Leg.

When the question for repeating the law
prohibiting the intcrnarrage of races came
up for action in the House on Friday last
l was surprised to find the members so near
ly divided upon it, and very unexpectedly
found myseifin minority. 1t seemed to
Inc that the measure was one that would
naturally pass without much dissent, but |
learn from the vote Of Friday and from
conversation with some of the members,
that there is good deal of feeling on the
subject. For this retlssyit seems proper
that | should state how | shall vote and
give the arguments which lead me to NV
decision.
This is really the first time in recent
years when any question directly. Involving
the rights Of the negro and his personality
az fact among us. has been directly pre-
scented to a Legislature of Maine. Ever
since begun to read the newspapers and
to take an interest in the political discus.
sions OF the day. the question of the Negro
his status, his rights and his wrongs, have
occupied the mind and heart of the country
At first in very small way, but met az
The outset with scOrn aud contempt, the
movement has been ever increasing, the
current growing broader and deeper, until
ut last it became the all engrOssing topic
"f discussion and the controlling question
"fnational policy. 1t was always said by
s. uthcrn statesmen, orators and journalist.
aud echoed by the Democratic party of the
North, that we were hypoeritical in our
sympathy for the negro that it was mat
ter which did not concern us IN the least
that we would do well to attend to the in
stitution of our OWE State :; that the negro
question belonged to the South to settle, as
ia.t was the place where the race was
mostly domicilated; that we were not
competent to judge of the wants, the cap
acilies or the proper treatment of the negro
as We did not know him. 1t was always a
staple argument to assert that when the
question should be brought before the peo-
i!e Of Maine or other Northern States to
decide whether equal rights should be
grauteI 10 the negroes, we would show by
aas sste cur hypocrisy and the hollowness
"i our pretended sympathy for the races
This taunt rang through the land for years.
IL ~aS elective BECAUSE its truth Was jnev-
or tested but Ieyor believed it. al
mays maintained and still hold that the
great anti slavery movement is so strong.
the people OF Maine are so devoted to it,.
il rests Dpon foundations SO broad; that
whenever We are brought to the test We
shal be irnc to our principles. that We
shall not be So hauad by prejudice as to
deny to any person an equal chance with
us to try the race for wealth, political or
moral rights. fouud the other day 10 my
surprise that the prejudice still binds many,
White would not aspersc the mo'ives Of
any member | can but feed that the opnosi-
ton to the bill does arise from prejudice.
Skai, This be 50, Shall we confess to those
who taIptcd us 50 long with hypocrisy that
they were right, Are we liypocrites in
cLilming that the negro ought to have equ
ii rights with the white mnS Certainly it
may he charged upon us il we refuse to
pass this hill. You remember, Mr.. Speak
tir, how when last year the people of Con
ncctiaat refused TO grant to negroes in that
State the right TO vote: the dominant party
ai aver the c.nntry we've hcet0rcd and
confused on that account. 1t was SONG
thing that the Southern States of whom We
were demanding that they should confer
rqua. rights on black citizens, could jastly
POINT 10 IA proof OF insincerity. The
Democratic party we're OF course glad to
see thar vote; but what Cnionman did not