The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1868-11-04
What shall be Done with The
African?

fIFICdHG
For nor than a century the future
status of the negro has excited the at
tention, and employed tie re g OF
many distinguished Am, rican sta es
men and Folit cal eco lomr is. 1hIt
question entered into the formation
of our government, and its settlement
was wisely left to the States them.
selves, under the conviction that Con.
gross should have no power under the
Constitution to interfere with or con-
troll the domestic institutions of the
several States; but that each State
should be the sole and proper judge
of everything a~ppertaining to its own
affairs, not prohibited by the Consti-
ton. 1t was believed from the be-
ginning that such a course would Sc
cure harmony among the States,
while the interference of Congress
with the domestic affairs of the States,
would inevitably lead to disastrous
consequences, and endanger the per-
maRancy of the Union. 1t would
have been well for the American peo-
pie, if these wise councils had been
regarded by cur modern politicians,
ant, the Ie7p!e. But Tor the last forty
years there has been scarcely a Presi-
dental ca mpaien in which the negro
did not figure largely. In the palmy
days of the old Wing party, such men
as Clay and Webster entered the arc
ma and undertook to settle the African
question by colonization. These dis
tinguishod gentlemen 70 ezaw the
struggle that would lie itably arise
between the Ilac'5 and white races,
of this continent, if emancipation
take place. To tie settlement
of these apprehended differ lilies they
both addressed themselves with their
great intellects and energies, but the
blindness and ~ofstinacy OF the politi-
can, and the preiudices of the peo-
pie, thwarted all their Efforts, and hui
name designs; and the negro question
became political and partisan, where
it remains today. For twenty years
the public mind North and South,
has teen under almost constant ex-
element from the agitations concern
ing the extension of slayery-the
prohibition of slavery in the States
and Territories; and the power of
Congress to interfere on the subject.
In fact, many questions Of much great
er importance to the country, such as
Finance, Internal improvements, Nav
igation and Commerce and State re-
.ciprocity have been lost sight of, or
alr~ost wholly neglected by our pub
lie men, while sectional frenzy has
been famed into a consuming flame.
1t has entered the Churches--it has
ipsinuate1 itself into every circle, So
cial, religious and literary, spreading
bitterness, revenge, malice and ruin
wherever it went. Churches, Con
ferences, Synods and Colleges have
been broken up through its malign
and devi,ish spirit. The worst pas
sions OF men, sectional a~ntipathies,
and retaliation are the legitimate Off
spring of such teachings, Fire and
sword were pledged by religious and
fanatical zealots to remove slavery
from the land. The Constitution, sa-
cred in the eyes Of all patriots, was
spit upon and denounced as the cause
of all the evils that afflicted the negro
race in the SoIth. Ten thousand
schemes were invented, mostly ell
gendered ofhate, to torment, annoy,
and excite the South, and to render
slavery unsafe among her people.
That the slave was well fed, clothed
and housed, booted but little in this
new crusade for freedom. The slave
must he tree-he must vot he must
be q citizen. He must amalgamate
with, and elevate & the white races
The war was the legitimate offspring
of this doctrine, and vile teaching ;
and was inaugurated to bring about
these pretended reforms. 1t has been
declared, it would be q failure if the
neg o did not become enfranchised'
and to all intents and purposes, the
equal of the white man! Slavery is
abolished the negro is free? Have
we peace? VIII we ever have tn 1t
boon long sought, but ever deferred
The question is still before the public
We are under the reign of Negro Blu
reaus-a very costly luxury When
will the government remove the Off
.ciaI leeches that run them2 When