Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1871-11-16
WAS FMEla REAfLfA BENJAMIN BAN
MEIER! ssa
TALLAHASSEE, FLA, Ger. 1871.

TALLAHASSEE, FLA, Ger. 1871.
To the Editor ofaie Nem National Era:
1 have been writing a number of
short sketches of distinguished col
ored men for the newspapers OF Flo
rida, and they hare been widely CO.
pied, with all sorts of comments.
My object was to incite the color
ed youth of this States to acquire
knowledge, and fit themselves for
the higher walks of usefulness.
Among the sketches was one Of
Benjamin Banneker, drawn largely
from Wells Brown book, and some
old pamphlets that have been in
my possession for a long time.
A gentleman Of prominence in
this State sent the sketch of BAN
neker into Kentucky, and it is
fiercely denied that any such man
as Banneker existed, and 1 am
charged with inventing the sketch
for mere sensational purposes.
Banneker died in 1903, and I
have much concurrent testimony
that such man as Banneker did
live, and every fact alleged is veri-
table truth, SO far as documentary
evidence is concerned. 1 have seen
in Philadelphia Autograph letters
of the correspondence between
Banneker and Thomas jefferson (;
and beside, in Pennsylvania and
Maryland, many literary societies
among the colored people have
borne the honored name of Ban
neker, and exist at the present
time.
I would just as soon think Of
denying the existence of Washing
ton, Stephen Girard, Benjamin
Franklin, or Napoleon the First, as
the existence Of Banneker; and yet
if the ordinary concurrent testimony
that such men as Washington and
Franklin ever lived was denied, ]
might have some trouble to prove
to o mathematical certainty that
Washington and Franklin were
other than historical myths.
Now to place this matter beyond
q reasonable doubt, and to enlighter
the Hunters of Kentucky" and
squelch the loud Shrek and queru.
lous complainings of the Savannah
Ne,os, I propose that some OF your
correspondents in Baltimore seel
out the publishing house Of God
dard g. Angel, in Baltimore, who
published Banneker's Almanac, and
send me q certified letter for publ
cation Of the transactions between
the firm and Banneker. The fact is
that the food of light that has ruled
over the minds of men since the
late war, concerning the mental,
moral, and physical future posi-
bilities of the negro as the coming
man of higher and and better civ
ilization than the world has yet
witnessed, strikes terror to the
coward hearts Of the men who have
so long tfampled him under foot,
and outraged every consideration
ofhonor, justice, or decency. When
Thomas Jefferson, protesting against
human bondage in this country,
said, Il tremble for my country
when I remember that God is Just,
he was impelled to that utterance
by the high, full, vivid, moral con-
ception that God, as the moral
Governor of the Universe, must
bring Righteousness to the line and
Judgment to the plummet.
The great law of compensation,
under republican ideas and institu-
tons, must bring to the negro even
handed Justice, when merit, worth,
mind will be the standard of man.
hood; and it is to this standard OF
moral excellence I would incite and
arouse young mon Of color to bestir
themselves persistently.
I know these young men; and
appreciate the longings, the aspira-
tons, the laudable, struggling am
billions Of many brave heart to
break through the gloom of the
long night of sorrow.
What Banneker, Aldridge, Alex
ander Dumas, whose writings are
to be seen in every part of our
country to-day-(how few, when