Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1870-10-14
PORT TOBACCO, MD.
FRIDAY MORNING, OCT. ID, 1870.
LETTER FROM F. P. BLAIR, ESQ.
Relations of the White and Colored
.. Races

and has ever been practical and earnest
friend Of the colored race:
SILVER SPRING, Oct. 2. 1870.
Messrs GEO. WHEELER & T. j. TALBOT
Gentlemen I thank you for your invi-
tation to the meeting called by your club
for discussion on the issues of the day.
Age and habitude, which unfit me from
making political harangues, disqualify for
= the service you propose. When | sur
rendered my press was disarmed for po-
litical discussion. 1t makes me sad to
say this, for know that our country ought
to command the service of every true and
capable man. To offer nothing more than
good wishes and zeal in such times as
these is an admission of imbecility that
pains me.
We capitulated for peace, and the terms
were the rights conferred by the Consti-
tuition, yet the six years of peace have
been employed 10 enslaving US. The civil
war ended. The leaders who have profit
ed most by the power and renown and
riches it has transferred from the conquer
ed to the conquerors are not satisfied
They would now make war of castles,
and make new acquisitions and seek re-
venge on those they have siuce injured,
lest If not utterly crushed their wrongs
might grow into reproach and retribution.
They are notcontent with the enfranchise-
meDt of the freedmen, with the cheerful
acquiescence of the former owner, but
when the boon had received the legisla-
tive sanction of every slave State, they
turn upon the emancipators and disfran-
chise them. Then they tell the freedmen
We do this to strip them Of the power, of
tie ZIG KITS recently conferred on you. We
keep them down by military force as an
other means Of preserving your liberty.
and ia this way the colored race is made to
believe that its safety lies only In organic
ed hostility to the whites, to which the
armed power Of the government prompts
by its menaces and readiness to give sup
port The whites are thus made to feel
that the other caste is marshaled In ranks
against them and holds the sword of the
Nahooal Government over their heads at
the polls and over their civil governments
wherever any pretext can be shown for
intimidation. This attitude of war be-
tween the races is fostered to break up
the natural ties which grew up with those
born and reared on the same plantations
and rendering mutual services. 1t was
really the relation of family-of parent
and child-among good people, except
that the pupilage between the more capa-
BILE and inferior of the two races was con-
tinued through life Those who would
suhjugate the whites and blacks alike to
their political power BY melting hostilities,
know that the independence of the freed.
men, rendering the owners of capital and
the soil Of the South dependent on them
for labor. would become a new bond Of
smity between them. aud to prevent this
all the policy of the Radicals is directed.
To thwart it the Democracy should expose
the motives of it to the weaker race, and
convince them of the mutual interests
which bind both races to sympathize with
each other, and expose the selfish policy
which animates the men of other States
who would prey upon the South by setting
its children to sacrifice each other that the
stranger may take the country as a spoil.
We must convince those with whom in
our relations we were ever united in kind
10 sv.cpathies that we are still trustworthy
friends. Our position now, without au'
thority over them, but whose necessities
invites their skill and ca, rt,acity for labor
With wages to make their lands r. r,~"htaole'
would meet theirs. not as that of dcp..n'
dence. but Of equality. in dealing. The
laws Of the government State and Nation
al, recognize all the rights as the same
for both classes. The National and the
State Legislation alike guaranty them and
make them sure. Convinced of this, the
freedmen should not allow themselves to
be made the instruments or pretext to ep-
elase those who have been benefaetors to
the eolorsd race ip both the relations they
have had with them. If they assist the
enemy who disfranchise and put them
under foot, can they expect to find these
violators of the rights Of white men just
to those of another race? May they moi
be put down in turn, and will they then
be found lenient task-masters Look tc
Lowell and other factories at the North,
where they work their own blood as heart.
lessly as their machinery, on pinching
wages. and when worn out with age Of
sickness dismiss than to penury. while
enriched millionaires themselves from tht
profits Of their laborers and the bonuses