Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-10-01

Antecedonts OF the Hadical Candidato for
Vice President.
The Louisville Democrat gives the re-
cord of the candidate of the God and
Humanity" party for the Vice-Presi-
dency:
In his letter Of acceptance, Colfax says:
IF there had been no Republican party
slavery would to-day cast its baneful
shadow over the republic. With
out Republican party the civil rights
bill-the guarantee of equality under the
law, to the humble and defenseless as
well as the strong-would not to-day be
upon your nationsl statute book"
This is very pretentious spectacle for
protection to the weak. 1t is uttered
after the negro is free ,after his freedom
is guaranteed by the Southern States;
after it is enforced and protected by the
army and navy.
Let us try tho opinions of this man
while the negro was slave-when be
had not this protection. Let us see what
this professed philanthropist held then
about slavery and equality before the
law
March l, 1861, Mr.. Colfax voted for an
amendment to the fugitive slave law,
which, provided for the return of, and
trial Of the title to an alleged fugitive
slave claiming 10 be free in the State or
district from which he escaped.
Then he would allow the negro slave to
be caught while escaping and reduced to
bondage .e.r,,r
In some of the States were laws based
upon that equality which Colfax now
processes. These laws prevented the
cspinre and return Of slaves December
II, 1860, Mr. Cofax voted for Mr. Adrian's
resolution recommending repeal of the
personal liberty bills enacted oy most of
the States of the North. He would not
then allow the State to prevent the return
of the fugitive to "chains and slavery
On the llth of February, 1861, Mr..
Sherman, of Ohio, offered the following
resolution
Resolred, That neither the Congress
of the United States nor the people or
governments of the non-slaveholding
States, have the constitutional right to
legislate upon, or interfere with slavery
in any of the slave.holding States in the
UnioH" Agreed to-yeas, l62; nays, o. |
Colfsx voted yes"
This is fatty opposed to his equality
before the law, and is an acknowledg-
ment of the lawful right to enslave by
the general government.
January G, 1868, he voted Sl0,000,00 J
to pay for emancipation in Missouri.
May IL, 1868, he voted for like mea-
sure referring to Maryland, and in this
recognized the institution of slavery.
April 8, 1862, he voted to tax slave !
property.
In these votes he distinctly recognizes /
the negro, whose equality he prates of, as
q chdftei
April IL, 1862, o Senate bill to remove
the disqualification of negroes to carry
the mails was introduced into the House
aud tabled, Colfax voting aye. He thus
refused to allow the negroes the equality
before the law he now commends.
This is very plain and simple. While
the negro was weak and powerless, Col
fax regarded him as slave, and voted
for laws recognizing him as slave,
and keeping him in bondage; but when
he war had given the negro freedom,
when the Southern States had emanci-
pated him, and the whole army and navy
was on the side Of the negro, Colfsx
marches forward in iwaddle about defend.
ng the weak and powerless. He voted
% crush and enslave him. 1t is only
lfter he has become strong and powerful
hat Colfax volunteered any assistance;
Ind let the negro become weak and pow
,rless again, and Colfax will be as much
or onnressing him as he everwas