The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-04-18
TEE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT.
speech by II. ". Beecher.

The colored people Of Brooklyn Gel
ebrated the ratification of the 15tf
Amendment on the 18th inst. Among
the speakers were Mr.. Beecher anC
Senator Revels. We copy the Iri
June's report of Mr.. Beecher's re
marks:
SPEECH OF THE REV. HENRY WARI
BEECHER.
At last we see O complete and free
born tree of liberty in this land. Near.
II one hundred years ago our fathers
announced in the Declaration of In
dependence those great principles. Of
equality, that all men were born free
and equal; that Governments derived
their powers from the people, and
that they should be administered
with reference to the interests OF the
whole people; but almost Immediately
on the enunciation of these truths
came in the blight of slavery. and from
the moment that ID began to exercise
an influence in tina affairs of this
people. growth was checked. One
side OF our Constit ution grew and
bore fruit, and the other side stood
still, and as many an apple may be
seen In autumn that was FROST bitten
In the spring, so has been our Con-
stitution And now, at last. and only
now, upon the passage of the Fifteenth
Amendment our Constitu ton branch
es out, North and South, East and
West, and is full grown on every side.
Applause. Through what tribula-
tons, what tolls what sorrows, and
finally, what strifes and blood, this
great conflict has been waged, you
very we'll know. It has been the bus
mess Of my life. Applause If |
lop off my childhood, all the rest OF
my life will have been spent in this
great conflict, to right my country, to
make her worthy, not only OF love,
but of veneration and just filial pride.
am sure there are those here to-
night who feel in another way, and as
/ can not, this great prerogative and
justice which so tardily has come to
them Yet there is no one here to-
night that. IN another way, feels so
deeoly as | do the boon and bounty
and Senefactien of God in this COM
pleted work ofliberty. Maligned and
traduced. as well as wronged. it was
always said that the colored man had
no manhood; that he would be dan
Rerous to his masters in case of war
that he would be worthless to the ar
mics of the Republic. 1t was said
that he was too lazy to take care of
himself, and would become q miscre,
ant among our population. Now.
through this long struggle they have
been put to the proof. They were do
Gle and kind on the plantation; they
were brave as lions in the army.
[Great applause. They have been
self-respeeted since their emancipation
and eagerly hungry for education.
IApplause,l ! say, without fear of
contradiction, that there ID not an
other class Of our American citizens
that are so thirsty for knowledge as
our eolored fellcw citizens are. APP
plause. Tried By ordeals that not
often are applied TO men, they have
extorted praise even from their be-
reaved late masters. Even their ad-
versaries IN political organizations are
constrained to admit that they are
safe, and that they have thus far acted
in becoming manner. And it ii a
matter of congTatulation and praise
10 God who holds in His hands the
hearts Of all men, that they have been
40 guided and so wisely led. - AS 10
the future. / feel as sure that they
will do right as that / myself will do
right. Aud / feel that the welfare of
the Government is as safe IN their
hands as in the hands of any picked
men in the United States.
That they will be faithful to their
trust, the words of those fairly and
faithfully representing them tonight
are q pledge and q witness. l not only
rejoice in the termination ofthis great
struggle, aud in the equalization OF
al our citizens, but / rejoice in that
sublime cordially with which the
emancipation has been received and
greeted by the citizens of Brooklyn
tonight. Applause. No man. ten
years ago would have believed what
we see to. night. Applause. / may
say TO our brethren now standing side
by side with us in political privilege.
This is not now a vain show; it is
real, cordial, heartfelt" And though
have not been appointed to repre-
sent my white brethren, / believe that
I,do. Applause.] / believe / may
say that fairly represent every right
thinking man and every kind hearted
man in Brooklyn. EApplause
believe, too, that the more intelligent
men of the Democratic party, while
they think it unmeet as partisans tC
congratulate us, are, as private men,
glad that this thing has happened
IApplause.l And therefore, l think
/ may, with your consent, and with
the consent OF tho citizens of Brook
lyn, tender to MIR. Reyels the most
cordial greetings to-nignt. And he is
not the less welcome because he is
Revels, aud not bis predecessor, II
the United States Senate. He figure!
on the classic banks of the Mississippi
who formerly resided IN Richmond
He rests from his labors and hi
works do follow him. Laughter.
He sowed-and behold what we reap
That great revolution sprang from th
hand of Almighty God, and to tina
same hand we commit this preciou
liberty, now made symmetric and com
plete the nation over. And may on
example be suspicious to all strug
Cling islands and continents, upti
round and round the globe there shall
be one heart, one liberty and one uni
Versal brotherhood in man. [Grea
applause.
And now, sir, tender to you tn
right hand of fellowship. There Rev
els and Beecher stood up together
hand in kand, and che audience weE
wild with enthusiasm. FelloW-cit
1ens, / introduce 30 you an America
eitizen, a Senator Of the United State
of a neTiea. Mr.. Revels ITremeu