, 1870-04-16
RATIFICATION OF THE FIF-
TENTH AMENDMENT AT
SPRINGFIELD,
speech Of Governor Palmer.

AAe Sp5!u&Ae4a 1Pt]7so4 gives 1ne Io40NlnR IT.
port OF the speech Of Governor Palmer Al the ratt-
1cation OF the F1fseen,h Amendment BY the col
cred people Of Springfield, on the 18th inst:
After some introductory rsma11D, Hova1nor
Palmer said that fer twenty-five yes1s ho had
been politician, xnd this was the fist time
he bad addressed N assembly under such cir
cucnssances. A nation We Ind wi7nl,ippsd
an ideal Of Lbezty-we had worshipped the
'dea OF our fathers, and had valued liberty for
ourselves, and yet at tho time there vera
urea millions Of people who we're in
slavery, and Ind no rights: and. l,,er
than this, public men had read tho Dac-
lacation Of Independence, and said this ueans
Whte men, xnd did not mean all men. He had
been told that tho doctrine that it did uesn
al was dangerous: and in 1857, good vtils
IN the LIE Of man, but little in the Life OF
slavery: and there were those Who, for 80 d.
ing. had been confined in the penitenfixr.
and he hadbeen informed tha. therc wero come
III the pcnitentiasy of Kentucky now. for talk-
inG about it. Since that time, the plan had
been with some to extend slavery oysr
the land, and, in making ron alsyes.
they would make us slaves. In 1851
~. Lincoln WA nominated that great
martyr Of liberty, that greatest OF msttTry-
and be VAS elected The people Of the South
said they would break up our system OF liber-
Y, and u vas then that we came to the con-
joy and exercise to-day. We said give the
oondman liberty, and it was done; and by
reason OF thia now address Won "a American
c1t1zens- 1t now makes NO difference where !
man u born-i9 this country he il an Ameri-
shared BY them We Live and when va deny this
We pef1Ah. On Last TuesdAy, said he, I ssv
you around with 1 little piece OF whits
paper that makes the traitors treubla.
ION pns that paper in box, and
atom xoo,a tnls hne yong responsibilities citi-
these responsibilities, for yon ur now a. much
seaPonnole Tor the progress OF intelligence
and virtue as other men. Under the nav noni-
tlon Of the coloEed man, his duties have been
increased Under this head the speaker mo
eeeded to eAy thai, a. husbands and fathers,
they weza bound 10 educate their children. and
PAY taxes: The public schools wero open to
them, And they refused this privilege, the7
bad the key to open, to obtain knowledge. and
% ADVISED them not to stop short of this.
They should insist upon their nghta and take
nothing not leas- The speaker hero refo.red to
sa ne pFejndiees against color, and the love ali
had come whom 4 common manhood WA
recognized: Liberty VIE not in danger un-
" some submitted to oppression II race
= Z, uaampied ~ upon, 1t would not be long un-
es~~A-AS "NAA4A ASc oABJGCl14 10 EQ8 came
treatment; and he advised thon 10 stand to
every raeht they possessed. Those who had
struggled to give the eolored man rights. could
not adord to have them Lost He sdvieed
them, Il one Of their duties, to get homes for
NE taeu aamnes, for n the family relation lies
the foundation Of al virtues; and homes were
necessary to the existence Of family reIstiona.
IheT should make their homes happy and edu-
cate their children. He referred to the fact
That Tor yexIs the colored man had been =
cause e OF political dissension in the nAtion, and
tne enve masters Were responsible for it. sh-
would rob the colored man would rob the
white man h11 he the power.
In this connection he referred to tho noble
%aa nho9 vi rho o1ly .boat thirty yea.a since, was
later, citizen Of Springfield. Oaas ii. Hatch.
vas driven into be1try to escape the mob foT
having signed = petition to abolish sl.verv in
The D'stHct Of Columbia; and little later
stu it wa difficult for : Republican to live
vas tay Of Light. In this connection be re-
felEed briefly to his courre On the slavery ques-
ton. Wien that cou1se Was in opposition to the
views ot the party with which f,e then. acted,
md, although admonished, he still persisted
n .1ona h's ,.;fn 9onIss. That party hsd AL
slayeg ~. He hid told the eolorei
people that the good time would come, Ind it
bad come He called upon them to remember
that they were Of Is much Importance as
White man in the political world, aud thev
shoula not forget tie righta Of Others, TheT
hsd Ind sufficient experience to fully noT
themselves, and also to know the ya1uo of
hberty. He warned them to bo yieilsnt. md
10 Sivo their aid to sustain good goyetumeut.
md not to follow or support those Who would
introduce bad messnrca, He charged thrm not
70 be ungratefu1t to the Republican party. Which,
had conferred upon them the great boon Of liz
esty. He also advised them to occurs hon1os
and property, Is it gave tho,u responsibility
and lndnenco with men, and thereby tfa1-
would be enabled TO help the unfortunatn.
and that the colored msu could esy. As conia
tho Q1lAkers, "our friends have never seen
the poor house." Liberty WIS now upon
permanent basis. and We should strengthen it
by giving It 70 AL Wherever our tla; floats
It Is over the free. In conclusion, be told
them that he had made the last speech be
should ever make to them III colorcd people,
that they were American citizens, and Is such
DO should address them. He referred to
the Outstanding Of the great Anti-slavesy soci-
ety, that bad struggled 10 long and manlullv,
Is oue Of the most sublime esrectaclcs the world
ever saw: their work was accomplished md
they had laid aside their a,1nor. He spoke Of
what the co!ored people had done during the
WIZ. rs soldiers, tealnster~, etc; they had nut
on the uniform once, but bad laid it aside for
the peaceful pursuits OF f1etmen, and urged
them to remember the responsibilities Of their
new situation.
The Gove1nors 8 remarks were received With
the uost rapturo1s applause.