Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-11-22
Mr.. Vallandigham to Golored Voters.

MIR. Vallandlgham to Colored Voters.
The following were Mr. V Vallandlgham's re-
marks, addressed at the Democratic celebra-
tion in Dayton, Ohio October 18th. 1870, to
the oolOred voters, of whom quite number
were present:
s'And now allow me word to our newly
made voters of African descent. 1 have no
apologies to make to night for anything in
opposition to them which may have said in
times past-nothing now to take back. My
opinions upon the question of negro suffrage
and equality remaiu unchanged. LIQUID ap~
plause.] But you have, in fact, at least been
made citizens and voters. and recognize the
fact. Some Of you speak of me as an enemy
of your race. This issuot correct Individ-
nally, have been yer friend. have taken.
you by the hand when your now white Re-
publican friends Stunned and cursed you
At my doors some of you have received that
charity, in years past, which was denied you
at the hands of your abolition friends, so called.
GCries, that's so we know it'll No col
ored man ever asked personal favor Of me
for years past. and was denied and as we'll
before you had suffrage conferred upon you as
now I would have protected you in court or
against mob quite as willingly and as ear
nestly as any other man. But my opinions
as to the question of conferring political rights
upon you in this country were honestly en-
tertained, and caudidly and strongly ex-
pressed. Yet, if you shall prove yourselves
worthy of these rights and capable of exer-
cising them as good citizens, l will, then,
very cheerfully, and in a manlike manner,
publicly confess myself mistaken. Your fu-
ture is in your own hands. But remember
that you do not hold the balance of power in
this county, nor in this district. Loud
cheers. You cannot control things by your
votes Numbering several hundred voters
here, you are yet rather source of weakness
than of strength to the Republican party
And you owe nothing to that party, except
the mere right to try the experiment of suf-
frage. They did not confer it upon you for
your sakes, but for their own as partsans and
demagogues. Loud cheers. They wanted
your votes to put themselves into office and
keep themselves in power. Beyond this they
care nothing for you. [Cries of that's so;
you're right The most of you were per-
sonal slaves. the descendants of slaves in
the South before and during the war. At
the point of the bayonet they freed you. only
now to make you, if YOU submit, political
slaves for their own profit and advancement.
anu now i, WHO owe you HOlhlnp anu W
whom you owe less than nothing politically,
warn you not to organize as colored party.
Beware of threatening or attempting TO make
all of yonr own race act and vote distinct
body. If you do. then be assured that sooner
or later the white race will antagOLiZe you as
white men and here we are as twenty to
one. In political struggle we can over
wheIn YOU. In contest of arms-in a war
of races. if you provoke tive can crush out
and eztcrminate you. Wherefore be wise in
time. The Irish do not vote in body nci-
ther do the Germans nor the Americans
horn and be assured that a ''negro party"
will bring forth a'white mans party" And
not long after will come violence and blood
Schenck has now neither law office nor house
in this city or district where Won find re-
fuge [Laughter.] If You would prove your
selves worthy to be and remain citizens, sepa
rate. divide politically and otherwise, as other
citizens do.
Identify yourselves with the commun ity in
which you live. Refuse to be made the slaves
and tools of demagogueS and when thus you
shall have established yonr fitness for citizen
ship, no one will ever attempt to deprive you
of its rights Remember that [. who speak
these words, owe you nothing, and you owe me
nothing but right or wrong, wisely or un-
wisely. you have been forced upon us citi-
zens, and | counsel you now as such. You may
harken to me or not. just it may please you
but be assured that the time will come when
you will say that l counseled you most wisely
aud we'll. Loud cheers.