The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-08-28


for their OWN protection2
If Mr.. Pendleton means to say,
that, IN consequence of this difference
in race, the colored man has no natu-
raj right to life, liberty, and property,
no right that white man is bound to
respect, then we can understand. him !;
but if he stops short of that, there il
nothing in his argument. 9rala.
70 Again, Mr.zPendleton says: -.
+. And all the teaching of history,
and all the observation of our expe-
rience. is that the commingling of the
blood Of the white and black races
Injuries both Go into the Southern
States, where circumstances have
been favorable to this amalgamation
go into our cities, where affection has
sought to establish the happiness of
the hybrid offspring, and you will see
that every animal Is more developed, ;.
every moral quality more depressed, ;.
every physical infrmity more exag-
gerated than either of the pure races"
{ The argument Mr.. Pendleton in
tends to make by this is that the en-
Establishment of the lcolored race
would contribute to amalgamation
and the commingling of blood. He
says I: . Circumstances have been ia
vorable to this amalgamation in the
Southern States. ~ Why does he
phrase it so delicately? Why does
he not say that stduery was favorable
to amalgamation? Why does he not
say that wherever slavery existed;
wherever the negro was degraded and
helpless; denied all rights that a
white man was bound to respect,
amalgamation existed and fourished
on large scale? and why does be not
say that, in the Northern States
where the negro is protected in the
marriage relation and treated as
man, a.nalgamation is almost wholly
unknown?
In Massachusetts,, where the col
ored man has enjoyed every political
right for more than thirty years, it is
said case has not occurred for
many years. And in this great State
of Ohio, | will venture the opinion
that the cases are extremely rare. If
you would prevent the-evil of amalga-
nation, educate, elevate and enfran-
chise the colored race. Give them
self respect. make them feel that they
are men and women. before the law
and before the world, and you will
thus have almost perfect security
against the evils of amalgamation.
To withhold suffrage from the COL
ored race is to violate other funda-
mental principles of our Government.
We say that the Government exists
only by the consent of the governed"
and here is race that is governed,
but has never consented, and has no
means to consent or dissent ttt
We say that taxation and repre-
sentation should go together" and
here is a race that is taxed but not
represented.
But more than all this, the colored
man has helped to fight your battles,
and has mingled his blood with yours
on many field; he has been patriotic
and loyal, while thousands of whites
in your midst have been disloyal; he
has paid taxes and helped to bear all
the burdens of the State; he has
shown intellect and capacity; he has
displayed enterprise and valor, and
why should he not vote? The answer
is prejudice, prejudice. which is ever
strongest In the weakest breast.
To that unfortunate class OF peo-
pie who have no politics but hatred to
the negro. and who live in deadly fear
of amalgamation. and that if he has
equal rights given to him he will be-
come their superior socially, intel
lectually and politically, | tender my
profound sympathies. Their case is
beyond the reach of human aid, and
all that we can do is to smooth their
passage to that bourne where they are
not married or given In marriage, and
where they will be safe from the social |
dangers to which they are exposed
here. aFstI a8 iii't' '4iH
+. s RECONSTRUCTION. or e.
6 When the war ended in the Spring
of 1865, nine of the rebel States were
left without governments of any
kind. The officers composing the
rebel State governments were either |
killed, captured, or had fed, and
State authority of all kinds had dis.
This presented case ex-
pressly provided for by the Constitu-
ton of the United States. which de-
clares that the United States shall
guaranty to each State a Republican
form of Government. State govern
ments had ceased to exist, and it was
the duty and the right of the govern
ment Of the United States to reorgan-
lze new ones Upon loyal republican
basis. Mr.. johnson recognizeI this |
condition of things and the power of |
the government of the United |
States, but assumed the right to mi
tate plan of reconstruction himself |
independent of Congress.
This of course was clearly without |
the limits of his constitutional power.
MT 1t was declared hu him OF tho