Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-09-09
"NIgger /" Equality.


Pssgirk that our rebel contemporaries may think as
dsooureous IN not joining with them in the discussion
Of the important subject embraced il our headline We
viii cal the attention Of readers to few important
features Of the subject not often ventilated by the rebel
Democratic speakers and press The pot phrase niger
equality 30 earnestly hnrpsd on by the rebel press we
vii howevu correctly state in inquiries writing it
easgro equality" The other mode Of expression is poll
ticaIy. socially and personally hty applicable to those
who 80 learnedly use H. Niger meaning either
white black or rod, who Is tho embodiment Of low and
mean ayericc-Glshy and sordid and psrsimonious-
Very strictly and truly speaking all those who have
raised aud keep up the cry o. Niger equality belong
70 the class above stated and defined and to the
question Of equality they equal to themselves and to
the Devil far their ability extends in the perpetra
lOa Of harm and mischief ythefn9t often acting in
bold open ground, but like the skuking wolf law
ordered cur snapnns IN tho dark and the besls of
honest But TO negro equality coming square up
20 the question LET dissect It and what II is
Democraac-rebe speakers and newspapers have been
and seeking to work up popular prejudice against
the Radical party by their illusions the subject be-
happens that almost the entire colorod popula
on Of the country IL the exercise Of sousble dscre
ton stand in support Of enlightened free government,
and opposed to the seymOurBlair revolutionary rebel
faction
AT the outset we will draw proper line OF distinction
between tho two kinds Of equality Of The two races
white and baok-both Of which we edmt exists -
First social equality, which has limited existence
second legal equality which has general existence in
leading respects the country. By the social
equality do not mean the moral action Of General
Washington when he lifted his hat and politely bowed to
negro who had bowed with uncovered head to the
General. Tbs Generals that responsive
20 inquiry Of his travelling companion may be here
stated full explanation In itsoE cannot permit
oid negro excel IN poiieness and eUiliy.
The limited equality between the two races what Henry
Clay ia bis celebrated speech in New Orleans defined
one Of the three modes by which slavery would eventually
be sbolished-grop out--the amsgamation Of the two
races white and black. We admit that the chivalry
Of The South have inaug uraed this equality fearful
extent South oaFolins, State, we suppose is en-
titled to the Of tie Banner uegrosquality State,
whilst Louisiana, Georgia aud Mississippi come close
up IN the rear. This species Of equality meets with
unqualified Interpretation. We believe the should
not thus be banded. Our education social aAd moral
bad rs 80 TO think and speak and we doubt whether
what is styled The chvalry Of the South could convince
us Of our error yes we frankly admit that adj
vised as to VIA, the great moral and pbanthrOpic
motives are, impeing this equality as it is subject
which has not been thoroughly discussed in southern
literature whether those scions Of tho nobos branch Of
che Caucasaa rcce-the fathers Of those golden yellow
tribes have sought 20 improve their race or were
msrcy understanding 70 oe their precious blood 10
eulghten and iglfcs inferior race is left open as
dsbssbs question. But wheihtr the motive BE- the one
the other, Il Is said that the liberal amendments to
general laws making The colored competent Wit
in courts Of justice q not we'll relished by
many those ehalrc bloods but esteemed by them as
radical oppression, recognizing iu many important
parties contract instead " only one rs hereto
FORE But let take view Of tho secondegal equal
tyi IN other ~eras equality before The law which
simply tAh The white and black man, not under dis
ability for violation Of law shall have an equal Geld be-
fore them for The enjoyment Of life and liberty and for
The pursuit Of happiness. In other words it is just
aud equitable recognition Of manhood in accordance
with the true genius Of enlightened American Gov
srnment II the man be freeman and has aOt By his
acts closed such door against himself he Is entitled
Of right participate In TIE Government Of which he
pArt-bol only to exercise the right Of suffrage but
to receive such suffrage II the electors choose to bo,ow
L. Such simply and truly fair and honest insrpro-
taton Of great Amori,sn ccie Of republican laws
Set asids and disregard thss laWt yield to passion
prsladoe and hatred and you reach different c0nclu
sion Of eoue Such Is the admirable aud valued glory
Of our ae American republican theory that the poore
man ~ al the land-no matter what his color stands on
grounds OF legal equality with the weahiesi millionaire
The ignorant poor boy standing on this asd Of legal
equality may look up and thank God may ssalt uD. by
force Of energy industry and strong wiz and oceury
places q proa. and honor But there Is difference bs
tween equal eia" AID equal 70. rb,ys s,v.v,
have and always viii be grades in soeiev. A IL var
80 IN time o. peace, there arc esptron, and ,og,ppe
minds Those who lead aud tbose y,,o eollo,, t..si
equality does DOT presume social ana r,,so,., ,so,1
The Law Goes not aud eshuot MAKE ,h, .s, ga
may be mide equal but The contestants A. s.t,sr >,
el''ory and fast aFe unequal Who ,s,s "a. - ,n.;.,
- : psrsonal aud social equality existed between
-. "ees'sf and the Massaehuseit. t,.s.,, -.
.@ ~as no higher than he eulti,,on Of hi.
n, !, M. NE Se'sesn Henry Clay ana "a. rns, by,.
stand .ou,l -, @euntains Yet l,olore he law thew
brsathsd u. - l'ss, baked in the same LIGHT
obsyed ths sam. - srsak Of the same ssus,.in.
h' ability to The souRou up.,. eon'risa'sd, each Of
tssnl To carry out The poor a.. 'hs same Govern
rebe-Dsmocraia o. this question. theory Of the
b. each equally the sAms-that IA -, And fox sas
foxes because hey enjoy, IN common AN, s' or bod
sane forest with its air, iis veudare ass y. Of IA
o. che eagle and the sparrow must for he Ans
have their identity merged.
We cannot better illustrate these thsorjs. oft.., =