Weekly Trinity journal., 1868-02-15
NUMBER 6.
The Asphyxia Nigrum.

few years since Wa hington letter writer
started the ingenious but altogether fanciful
theory that the secession movement was de-
velopment Of insanity, arising from ass-c ation
with the negro, and attributable TO the exhaia-
hons from that much maligned race In plain
language, the odor of the negro did the business.
The stencil was rich in carbon, and the habit
ually breathing OF it acted like chloroform, be-
numbing some Of the faculties, and exciting
others to extraordinary activity. This was the
a<ph'r'd m'grum or nigger stink Its attacks upon
Northern politicians were especially mali nant,
aud their repeated l"pses into doug faceism were
not because Of a lack Of principle, but bee use
they could not withstand the influences of this
insidious poison. They breathed the osphyria
nigrum and were at once emasculated OF all
power or purpose for good. All the phenomena
of the reign of slavery we're accounted for on
the same convenient theory.
This state of things would doubtless have con-
,nued for an indefinite period, had not the dis
covery been been nude, in II manner memorable
to history, that the burning OF gunpowder Was
complete antidote for the aspAyzia niyrum.
But while the asphy1ia s,grum has passed, as
it were into history, we observe that the self
same aroma pervades all discussions whereof the
negro is the subject, and particularly is this the
case with the practical issue Of negro suffrage.
Although the question was virtually settled by
the war, yet the ancient nebuous Perfume still
envelopes it. We may suppose it to resemble
the vase in which roses have once been distilled;
"You may break you may ruin the vase if you will
Now this argument of asphyzta nigrum-ludic-
rous rs it mayDPpeur-is about the only hrgn-
ment our oppohents urge against negro suffrage.
To all appeals for this simple act of justice,
the uuvarying response IS, ''He stnhs ~ How
elate are Democratic nosIrils ufon this point
Yet not informed why 6lack smell Is
worse than Il uhite one, nor do we know the pre-
~. h..t,r ram, flt "a
negro aud iull-blooded Caucasian pe'tume, de-
sceuded in straight succession from the IONS OF
Japheth. Our information upon this polnt Is
very vague and satisfactory, and We are not
inclined to do injustice to whole race for rea-
sons which may apply with equal force 10 men
with lighter skins. And we fear that IT odor he
made test of dsfrancni>ement, and vigorously
enforced, our opponents will find themselves
hoIsted on petard of their own manufacture, ii
the loss of the votes of that mass of scalawags
who take TO dirt and Democracy in this world,
and damnation in the next, as readily fire
burns or water runs. We have SEEN such men
and men proiessedly white-whom all the spices
of Arnby could not sweeten.
! 1t is mean prejudice, this, which refuses to
give the black voice in the government
they fought to preserve aud are taxed to sup
support. Ii Is prejudice unworthy the dignity of
intelligent citizens of this magnificent empire.
With 1t country saved behind US, if we are only
able to grasp our mission, we are Inundated by
the spectacle of n great party hagghng about
granting the right of suffrage to ii handful of
patriotic and earnest people whose only crime is
their dusky faces, aud dividing its energies be-
tween this unworthy object and a villainous at
tack on the national credit They claim to de-
scend from Jefferson and jackson The descent
is apparent.
Fellow Republicans, let US close up our ranks
and nj the mex election dispose of this question
of justice. The prejudces aud objections are
Inherited from slavery MS that evil went the
way of all the earth in the most summary man.
ner, so let US sweep from our constitutions and
statutes every trace of the old impression. For
of truth old things have passed away.-4Nar-
shall Mich. Statesman.