The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-08-01
THE COLORED POPULATION.

For nesrS half OF century the colored
race in this country, in spite Of themselves,
have exercised controlling influence in
American politics. and according to present
indications II seems destined to present the
uppermost and pivotal question which Is to
divide parties for some time to come.
Years ago II was curious to see how the
south regarded this people To them the
negro was laborcr, worth 30 much money,
and destined to slavery by God Himself, who
had pronounced the curse upon Canaan, and
doomed his descendants to interminable seryi-
tude. Slavery was, therefore, q divine insti-
tuition, and he who fought against It only en-.
deavored TO contrsvene the DEGREES of Jeho-
yah.
In the South, and from many divines In the
North, we had learned dissertations and scho-
lasuc essays, all designed to show that the
ancient malcdiction,' cursed be Canaan was
intended 10 apply to the African race as found
in slavery In thls country.
The learning o. which some OF these people
displayed in the discussion of the question OF
the negro status was wonderful. They gave US
long arguments upon the chronological char
acterist!cs OF this race. The science they shew
in this discussion was immense and amazing.
We were and are still told that the "nigger"
is but the "higher development OF the monkey
race and are not human.
1t was astonishing to see what an amount
of learning they displayed, and what fsmi-
liarity with science and scientific terms they
constantly exhibited They could tell you all
about the tGidi ruT FAILURE, the elongated eaies,
and upon the subject Of the depressed noses
and pTotruding lips they were eloquent. There
was no end to their jokes about amalgama-
ton and miBcegenation and all that All this
kind OF reasoning or pretended reasoning,
when viewed in the light OF that inspired
cnunciation that God hath made OF one blood
all men to dwell on all tho face OF the earth,
and Of that other declaration OF Mr.. Jefferson,
the apostle of Democracy, "that all men are
created equaln &c, must be regarded AS moth.
ing less than nonsense and boBhi
The truth of the matter is that the men Of
the South looked upon this question Of negro
from more practical standpoint than their
Democratic brethren OF the North. While In
the South the slayeoWner was willing to ac-
cept as sound any argument which conceded the
right to town and work and whip" Snmbo,
the more intelligent men among them knew
that such arguments as were drawn or pre-
tended TO be drawn from Scripture and sciences
were nothing less than sheer, bald huE4hus-
gerry. The fact was the negro was worth 10
them so much In dollars and cents, They
could work him In the corn, cotton, sugar,
AHu rice HtIu5t anu nc was lHGTcIOTC hct uOWn
IN the ledger as so much capital. There WAS
prejudice in the South against the negro
because he was black, or ignorant or smelt
bad. He was rated and estimated for what he
would bring in the market, and what lie could
do in the field and other servile labors. The
South, therefore, wished to keep the negro In
what they called his normal condition be-
cause OF what he was worth to them In dollars
and cents.
In the North, however, 1t was far otherwise.
There the oolored man was political issue.
He doomed up before the Democratic party
and troubled them. He would not be down at
their bidding. Every year he grew strong and
became OF more and more consequence, and
as the negro assembled and his rights as a man
and human being began to be acknowledged,
the Democratic party began to decay until It
went into hopeless minority. Then came
the war, and the negro WAS there too. Then
cRmo peace, but the everlasting negro was
here also, and the colored man to-day looms
up. He is the central figure, the pivotal ques-
tlOn, In our American politics at this very
time, and there he will remain until justice 10
done him.
Give him his rights, acknowledge his man
hood, no longer insult him and his Maker by
talking OF his inferiority as to rights; let
him be free as God made him, and give him
all his rights as guaranteed In the Con stitu.
ton and in the Declaration of Independence,
md the question will be settled, the negro
vote will be divided. The colored race 10 not
from habit and will not unless upon compul-
sion become clanish. The tendency of some
races In this country is to become clan
nish, but 1t is not so with the coIorcd race
When once this race is perfectly free and can
rest secure In all its rights as citizens 1t will
develop an independence, a selfreiiAnce, and
freedom OF action under the laws not lnfc-
rior to that Of any other race.