The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1868-12-08
Letter from John =. Harris, tAs colored
Orator, to his Race.

IL VIII be recollected, that. during the
political Presidential canvass, that John
\. Harris the colorcd orator met Attor-
ney General Montgomery and other Rad.
ical speakers at Van Buren, in debate and
skinned them alive. Since his return To
Memphis, his home, he has issued the
following address to the corored men of
Tennessee. He speaks to the point and
the address is worthy Of the careful pc
rusal OF all black men p b.. .'l
To the colored Democrats of the Stoie OF
the State Of Tennessee .iaf. .,.'
You have done your part in this cleo
ton. You have been abused, insnltel
and some Of you have been assaulted but
if you are like me il has made your faith
in the Democratic party but the stronger.
Let US renew our efforts, and we will no,
leave one peg for the Radical party to
hang their hopes on. While they are
talking Of driving us from this State and
OF killing us, let US threaten them with
nothing but the most powerful weapon
that the Goddess of Liberty has handed
down to this mighty people-the ballot
My fellow colored Democrats, let us obey
the laws and vote with our countrymen
until every man in the great State of Ten
nessee shall have access to the ballot box
for | tell You, my colored friends, the de.
NAL OF the best, or some of the best citi.
zens Of the State the right to vote is ope.
rating against you and you only You
will find what l am telling you is true
When the Radical party becomes con
WINGED that they cannot longer control
your vote, they will try to keep you from
voting at all Why do l say sol Be
cause, don't they tell you if they had their
way with you that they would reduce yen
again to slavery This should be enough
for you to look at, and think is enough
to show you that the Radical party wants
you to do the voting and nothing else.
When you, the colored people in this
part of the State, had it in your power to
do something for yourselves, you said
you would not do anything to better your
own condition, but would do all that you
could for the white Radicals. Yes, you
have carried some of these fellows in
your bosoms until you have warmed
them into life, and they have bit you, and
you had better join the Democratic ranks
and be cured Even some of your Dem
ocratic friends tell you of what you made
in this election. If you made what |
made, you made the good will of your
countrymen. That is my proudest boast
Now, my colored friends, belong to what
party you may, you can help the men that
are denied the right to vote And when
the men that cannot vote become voters
through you, the olive plant will spring
up on every. hill top in the State of Ten
nessee.
Do you know that if we could have
universal suffrage the colored man could
vote in all the States? Let us keep up
our Democratic clubs just as if we had
another election on us. If we expect to
win we must work night and day. These
fellows may attempt to insult You, but
don't let them do it-dont notice them
Some of them that you at one time laugh
ed and talked with will walk by you and
not speak to You. Don't mind that either
for you are that much better off by their
not speaking to you. And another thing
/ hear that some of you that voted the
Democratic ticket are walking the streets
and cannot get anything to do; but mind
that It will all come right You stick to
the Democratic party ] for one will stick
to it as long as it is party, for believe
in the men of this country, be they white
or black. Now my colored Democratic
friends, they tell you that you are work
ing for money; but the Radicals use the
money in the election and not the Demo
cratic party, for the Radicals have taken
all the Democrats had for taxes, and of
course you know that they use it. The
Democratic party is in favor of all mems
freedom, and for the whites as well as the
blacks voting, and when we all vote then
all will be well with US. ~
Now don't let 1t be said OF you any
longer that you are trying with strangers
to keep your countrymen DISTINGUISHED
They know that it is work against you.
Let us, the colored people, take sides
with the unchangable friends and lovers
of the people of Tennessee. Let us aid
in enfranchising every man in the State
of Tennessee. My colored Democratic
friends, it is your right to vote-then
work with the Democratic party who will
guarantee you always that right If we
he true to ourselves we can elect men
that will do justice to all men, instead of
saying to the negroes they have no more
use for you until another election.
JOHN I. HARRIS.