The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1867-01-19

!
Of Maryland's sons to come to the Congress
Of the United States and ask chat that con-
sttnton shall not be recognized
Mr.. SAuLsBuRyr VIII the Senator allow
me to ask him question:
| Mr.. .CREswEfr. Certainly.
Mr.. SALISBURY When the Constitution
of the United States was adopted we're ne.
groes allowed TO vote in the State OF Nary
land?
Mr. CREswert. They were.
Ma. SALISBURY. When did they cease TO
| be allowed that privilege?
! Mn. CREswElJ. In 1910.
Mn. SALISBURY. Was the government of
Mary land republican in form after that?
MR. CRrswELL. 1t was so held But it
! the gentleman had listened 10 my argument
he would have heard that | contend that
where slavery is recognized and protected by
the Constitution OF the United States and by
the States, it is one thing to exclude slaves
and cha.tels from all participation in the
Government, but very different thing, when
! slavery has been universally abolished, to
! disfrauchiso fretnen and citizens. That is
nay position. The law is changed, and
events have renodelcd The whole question.
Ma. SALISBURY. Allow me to ask the
honorable Senator anotherIu little
laws Of Maryland now exclude the negro
population from voting, docs my honorable
friend say that on that account the govern.
ment of Maryland is not republican in form
within the sense OF the Constitution of the
United States. and therefore requires the
interpretation of Congress to make it rcpub-
| lean?
Nh. CREswELr. ! have argued and now
| maintain not that n State may not limit the
exercise Of the right Of suffrage, but that the
limitation must be by majority OF all the
people, and that part Of Tie people, one
| ftih, two liflhs, three ffhs, fourlifths, have
no right TO exclude any other part, however
small, 10y reason Of race or color, from the
formation cf the organic fundamental law
| id aud by which that limitation is prescribed.
| Now, sir, word 10 the distinguished Sen,
ator from Massachusetts,. This Is the great
battle upon which we are entering. We
shall contend lor the right Of every man in
this country to protect himself by his ballot.
| 1t is battle for mankind it is battle for
all lutare time and am willing, under the
| circums tauces, iuasmuch as tue Congress
! O. the nitc0 States said to the people OF
Nebraska that they should be allowed to
form Their constitution upon a certain theory,
! 10 which st that time all acccded, / am will
ing, nay ala anHiols. when we know from
! the character oL dat people aid the repre-
sen!atiyc5 they have chosen that they viii
not only stand by u3'hut that they viii be in
the very front rank ii lie approaching atrug-
! gle to maintain the Great doctrine that We
have emblazoaed upon our hauners--to ad,
mi. both those States into the Union at once.
appeal to the Senator fluu Massachusetts
to accept their aid, and let Us, having cx,
| tended our lines upon the most advanced
position, move onward in solid phalanx un
til the contamination Of cur great victory
shall conc. ] respect tho position he takes
! respect the view entertained by my friend
from Vermont, and | am wiling even TO
| vote Tor his nugatory measure ] I'm will
ing to allow hra that lceI, to feed upon ifbc
be satisfied with it, and indecl ii would be
ungenerOus in me not 10 do so, although at
the same time desire 10 state distinctly
that deny lis legal efficiency.
] suppose sir. that every incli OF these
! States in wuirh the black man has been de-
MED and is still denied the right Of suffrage
will be fought over on this. great question
{ propose 70 take ny position with that party
that speaks fer human rights. l propose
even 10 20 with that party which has the
most enlarged views Of human rights. Aud
when public officers Ly their messages.
whether Governors or Presidents, present
20 me !hc mean aTEmeat that tie negroes
| Hitherto held in slavery mary in a very little,
while acquire ali the power and consign us
to AN Inferior station, cast il to the dogs
without an answer Ii under the clrcum.
stances We are not able to MAINTAIN our pUsi
ton, 80, eco COS a2Gns. ! uO1 oo0-30.Fi0,-
900 Of born .'rcemc,l aca;r4t ! 900, 600 Of bu,
lately ignorant and degraded slaTes-thon
il is time for US To abandon all claim to tbs
boosted ascendencv Of this white race: and
to quit that proud position that hitherto VIC
have held as the FIRST and the most aggres.
siye in the cause oi light of all nations on
the face Of the earth. Such teachers &C.
knowledge their insinccrity when In the
next breath they tell us that the negro is too
ignorant To vote and rnn v,yrr he e,lnrat,d
1t is true he is ignorant. If this be his
great sin at least let his enemies cease 10
| burn his school, houses and churches. Let
him be allowed to take the money that he
pays for white schools and appropriate it to
| the wants Of his own children; let the mag.
unanimous race, the race Of property, the
race Of intellect the race OF power aud sta
ton no longer rob the negro Of the amount
which he pays into the school fund, and up.
propriate it exclusively to themselves; but
let them give him the benefit Of all he pays,
or else never more declaim about taxation
without representation. Protect him in his
| right to worship God and his right to edu.
cate his children, aid my word for il he will
put to the blush many Of Our own race who
| have wasted better opportunities. Beside,
the ballot itself ii.an educator. Let him
enjoy its elevating tendency, and when
| another generation shall have succeeded to
II IL,