The New York herald., 1870-04-27
THE NEG:1O VOTE.
Manifesto from the National
cu m Capital asaeni
PRocL AMATION OF GEORGE 7. DOWNING.
A Southern Writer Reviewed and the Political
Duties Of The Negro Explained.
WASHINGTON, April 20, 1870.

body polite creates for him political consideration
hitherto unknown. The HERALD has said harsh
things about him, but have ever been charltapy
disposed In relation thereto; for have been asked
In Its oce It did not say as harsh things OF othefs
as 1t did Of the colored man. But, though u may
say hard things OF him. still 1t gave the fullest and
most accurate account OF all his resolutions, docu-
ments, sentiments, claims and appeals, and gave
them circulation where he would have HIS appeal
CO. where they would not reach but for the HERALD
1t was sfact. which was forced to acknowledge,
one that was understood IN the HERALD of1ce-a
fact that was worth something.
The political consideration now due TO the coored
man gives rise to many anxious queries; among
them is whether the republican party WIN have and
retain his vote. 1t may be well for me TO copy TWO
resolutions from series, passed unanimously, at the
large national convention OF the cOlored people
which assembled year ago in this city. They say
that the original abolitt0nsrs- who were not
ashamed or afraid to declare uncompromisingly,
when it endangered their lives to 10 So for the I'M
mediate abolition OF slavery, and that colored men
should enjoy all the political, educational and reli-
gous rights that any other citzens might caim-have
large and an abiding share of our gratitude for
their heroic sefsacrifcing advocacy and defence of
the right, out OF which mas grown the present al
vanced public sentiment.n The convention
further resolved, "That whatever shortcomings
may be laid to the republican party, it is the party
through which the rights legally secured to the
ored Americans were secured; that it has our graft
tude and shall receive our support; that no other
party need hope to ALLEVIATE us thererom, unless by
outstrippng it in consistency and in an honest advo
cacy of genuine democratic principles" You will
observe that the convention were mindful OF the he
roism and selfsacrifcing advocacy and defence Of
the righ-rue to such friends as Charles Sumner and
Wendell Phillips. You VIII note that there are con-
dit1Ons annexed TO the coored mans adhesion 10 the
republican party.
the late amendments to the constitution, adopted
because the rights OF black men have been outraged
have each section empowering Congress to
enforce them by appropriate legislation The
coored man knows that it is essential
to have retained in power the party that pro-
posed these amendments, to the end of having such
appropriate legislation enacted as shall enforce the
provisions In question, as well as Tor the general In
erest Of the country; he knows that II VIII be neces
sary to have judiciary and executive to interpret
and enforce the same until oil parties shall readily
acquiesce therein. This points TO the colored mans
adhesion to the present dominant party, and gives
no hope to any movement either in the interest Of
Chase or 0her BrSOaSSe Ss par Of Salmon
Chase had a commanding power among colored
men, including the freedmen OF the South, but it has
regain their confdences What can he dol
What is he likely TO dol Does he hope
to regain their confidence by writing let
| ters to colored men urging them to favor
| the enfranchisement OF men who forfeited
| their rights, and who at present do not let
manly col6red marf the proper time to grant am
nesyis to be Judged by the action OF the al ties to
be immediately benefited. God grant that 1t may be
soon for the sake of all parties for the sake Of our
| common country.
Can the democratic party hope for our votes un Ter
any circumstances Certainly not, so long as II loses
no opportunity to unnecessarily. IN obedience to
seemingly inyeterate hate. oEpse every move look
| be affected by local influences, some remembering
comparative kind acts, some through misrepresenta-
| tons, frald, fear. staryaton; some Though
|
| black the same"--but the mass OF the col0red
people win be found voting with the e., republican
number will be more or less large as the mass shall
be more or less informed. The leading men in each
| community must be conferred with by those known
| to them, who can get near to them, who shall be
| well informed, going among them quietly, dispens
the wiIes OF the enemy and to be true to the party
that has done so much for them: to disregard the
Oyerures OF parties who, while they speak laudatory
| ing disrespect and outrage them 1 do not know a
more fitting illustra ion of the same than the article
in Lippfncotps Aaqazt,e for April, entitled "The
| Negro in the South" by Edward A. Pollard
| The animus Of the entire article Is open TO
most severe criticism, which, however, l DO not
purpose to give. The author confesses that he was
educated to regard the negro as specifically inferior
TO the white mana lower order OF human being
He illustrates the truthfulness OF his declaration in
| detailing a circumstance He was travelling on a
railroad In the South, on which smoking being eX-
cludea Ire IRON a an tne cars put ae Kn0wn a
his white fellow passengers and entered this parcu-
lar TO add to the volumes OF smoke and nuisance
which It's nsuted passengers, ma e and female, We're
forced to endure. He had no word OF reprOach for
the outrage. With no feelings or sensibility he
stretched himself out, occupying four seits. CoOred
passengers male and female forced by a hellish pro-
scrpOn into this car In which alone smoking wa, al
lowed were forced to stand, with seats thus occupied
| by gentlemen who would have the cOored men Of
| the South regard them as their ''champions and
frends.n No ready promptings Of honor and respect
induced the chvalric gentleman to Immediately yield
! his obtruding occupancy OF more than his right to
| any OF the travelling women who stool in the aisle
or want Of Of seats seats Me continued 70 @ pun ms cigar IN
He instances the occurrence to make good his point
to exhibit ito him) the proper submissiyeness Of 1.-THE
negro in the South''-to unjusty represent that he
does not desire what we regard his rights as clti
zen He stigmatizes it as insolence" for negro to
attempt TO intrude into theatre, hotel railroad
car, where the distinctions of society have ex-
ing this .socia eqaallty.n No .,i1a Intelligent
demands any legislation which shall make social IN.
tercourse imperative. Social intercourse Is and
| should never consent to admitting into my social
circle to social intercourse, all of the white persons
should claim the right TO choice, to have regard to
character, appearance, worth, education, refnement
but nevertheless, in all those places instituted fol
public convenience, this right TO assist being obtained
by license, claim by virtue Of my civil rights to be
respected therein without regard to my color. The
same party, using the argument OF the old slave
among the Just and thoughtful white peo
l
they VIII seize every opportunity to vote into ONCE
every native white man Of the South willing to con-
cede their rights He says the world is giving the
negro great notice. 1t is well disposed toward
every effort he puts forth 10 make true progress and
to take or the reproach Of his He says this
| large and beneficial regard encourage him To con-
tinue for time pupllage, to work steadily on, and
not TO ruin his future and destroy the whole expert
ment of his race in this country by eager childish
desire to appropriate suddenly civilization and in
nuence beyond his time and present capacity. He
says there are decent and honorable white men IN
the South who are willing to give the negro his
proper rights. He asks the negro to give up
his causes OF resentment against the native
| whites OF the South, and to abandon
| as well his false friendship with tile
North and his hopes In the selfish and eeting policy
of an alien party. To all OF which would In brief
| reply, Why Conlne the championship to white per-
| sons ? Why not have some from among themselves ?
Why not. II the objection does not lie his color
| select Band whose ability he so highly extols in
his article TO vote him into Officer Does not the old
| spirit stick out here, .te negro very well in his
| place?r Why draw this nice distinction between
native white men OF the South and others? Does it