Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1870-08-19

ourselves to do all in our power to secure a
free and fair election by all who are qualified
to vote under existing laws.
THE RADICAL PARTY AND THE COL
ORED VOTERS.
Letter from SOlOn Johnson.
The Richmond papers publish the follow
ing letter, written by colored man now
living in Baltimore city, but former resident
of Richmond, where he was both we'll and
respectfully known. The letter speaks fol-
itself:
BALTIMORE, August 9, 1870.
Raleigh T. Daniel, Esq.,, Chairman of the
State Conservative Executive Committee:
l take the liberty to address you this letter
for the purpose Of replying to false statements
which l understand have been circulated in
Virginia to the effect that have changed ny
politics from Conservative to Radical. When
| left the city of Richmond l desired to have
nothing more to do with political matters
but the false reports to which have referred
compel me to reply to those mischievous men
of my own race who are doing all they can to
OllSS ucu vi tuotI OWu COlol llOu GuCuI L w
not wish my old friends in Virginia to be mis-
led by these reports. l trust that consider
ed maturely my political position before a.
dopting it, and where I stood when calling
upon the colored people in the Richmond
Theatre to hear your views and those of Col.
Marmaduke johnson and other Conservative
gentlemen, there stand now, as none know
better than those who are trying to injure the
Conservative cause and to injure me by such
reports as the above.
/ would like those who have slandered me
in this respect to explain what new events
have occurred snce the period referred to to
make any intelligent colored Conservative
abandon his principles and 60 over to the
Radical party Mr.. Daniel, we are not an
educated people. Few books have been
opened to US except the great book Of human
nature. That book confirms what the Bible
has said, that re must judge men by theil
aazae hsve the Radical party
brought forth since the theatre meeting that
we should put any more faith in them now
than before7 We have sense enough to see
that they are using us only to place them
selves 10 power, and it is an insult to the in
telligence of our whole race that they expect
thus to use it, and to be permitted to use it
and not even be suspected as having any other
motive than our good and happiness.
l have always believed, and still believe
that the white men of the South, among
whom the colored men were raised, are better
friends of the colored men than strangers, who
know nothing of their ways and habits, and
who believe that, in reality, they have become
debased and degraded below the level of hu.
man beings. All theil dealings, personal anG
political, with the colored men, proceed upor
| the theory that we are in reality an inferior
type of humanity; that we are unable las, iI
fact, We too often are) to compete with then
in intelligence and cunning; that we can b.
made political slaves of, and even then MOI
recei1 as much for it as we did in the ole
days of personal slavery. / ask any respect
able colored man if one of our race in thou
tiers as he used to do from his old masters, Of
if he gets any pay for voting for them t.
office except soft, hypocritical words, that cos
nothing and mean nothing?
They tell us we owe to the Republican
party our freedom, as if none of us had learn
ed enough since the war to discover that ou
freedom was "war measure" brought abou
by the providence of God, through the neces
sites of the Federal Government, and that w
should never have had it if the men who's
fathers first sold our fathers to the Southern
people had found it to their advantage t.
keep US in bondage. appreciate that free
dom as much as any man. thank God, ant
him alone, for it. I will never part with i
any more than men of any other race will
part with their political privileges. But whel
a whining cheat informs me that he has 60
a fortune for me, which came to me by tn
will of God, and charges me hundred pc
cent. for the information, have the right tt
look upon him as an impudent rascal ant
knave. That is just what the Radicals hav'
been doing.
I believe it is the true interest of the white
and colored of the South to be friends-poli
tical and personal friends-for we are all a
float in common vessel, and if we get t.
quarreling she is sure to capsize and go dowr
with both. They were born on the same soil
raised there, live there now, and expect t.
die there. Whatever increases the prosperity
of one increases that of the other. We know
the whites of the South, and that whateve
they intend they speak out, and have no sly
secret, underhand purposes. |, for my part
have confidence in them, and if they betray
| it it will be the first time. l intend to g
with the whites of my own native land, ane
| advise my colored friends that their only
hope and safety in the future is to do th'
same This is the best and only way to Sc
cure the rights of all and to preserve th'
Union, for the purpose of saving which, ant
not on their own account, my own race wa
| liberated. am, sir, with true respect,
SoLoN JOHNSON.