Semi-weekly Louisianian., 1871-09-14

a
"a Richmond, Virginia obtained, it is
said, at the request of Democratic COM
munity. Also, it is said, that a black
man has received the appointment of
Consul General and Minister Resident to
the Republic of Liberia, Africa, which re-
quired Recommendation from nearly the
whole Of the Republican members Of the
Senate to obtain the notice Of NJ. Ssere-
tary Of State, Hamilton Fish This min
lister, I am told, persistently refuses 70
recognize the application of black for
any position. And, indeed, ] am further
informed that his prejudice to color
caused the removal OF the accomplished
Haytien Minister, Colonel Roman, from
Washington to New York city. Other
members of the Cabinet, it is said, largely
share these feelings against the pure ne
gro race.
think it may safely said of the differ
eut State Governments. the blacks being
studiously neglected, except indeed to
persistently make appointments OF incom-
petent black men to positions which only
| bring discredit on them and their race.
And in not single instance does 1t occur
to my mind in which competent black
man has received an appointment from
State executive. with single exception,
that of the Governor of far Southern
State, who appointed black man IA
special fayorite OF his) as one Of four har-
| Dor masters-the others being white e-he
having to employ q white men at one
hundred dollars a month to do his duties
for him; when in the same city there were
u number Of well qualified black men, not
one of whom ever received an office OF
equal significance. The fact is not ig-
nored OF the Governor of South Carolina
honoring a black man VITA an appoints
ment Of aid-de-camp on his staff, an of
flee purely of honor, yet an honor which
any gentleman might accept. and Is duly
appreciated by the recipient.
True says he "this is no fault Of
our broica brother but of the gov
ernments. " .
Proceeding to argue the claims
of the race in proportion to the
ratio of population, he claims fol
the two million and a half pure
I
blooded blacks a. proportionate en-
ioyment of Federal and State pa
tronage. He charges that the rea
negro Remains to-day as before
emancipation political nOnentity
before the governments of the
country; and he calls on Mr.
Douglass to aid him "to crush in
infancy the offspring of the monster
wherever found" And this is to
be done by effective reorganization
based upon intelligence, respectable
ity and honesty"
The reply of Mr.. Douglass is a
comprehensive, manly, generous up
probation Of the whole situation
He sets ont with willingness to
admit that the pioneer reconstriic-
tionists were not immaculate. But
| ~
says he:
| / haze, however, no tears to shed ovel
| that part of our past, and no denuncia
| tions for the carpet-baggers who assumed
the leadership in the matter of reconstruc
ton. Upon the whole, they have done
pretty well-at any rate, their prominence
was inevitable, and am disposed to make
the best of it. Your narrative is strong
and striking, but not strange. The desti
tuition of political knowledge among the
newly enfranchised and emancipated peo-
pie of South Carolina, the sullen contemp
! and indifference with which the old slave
holding class looked upon all efforts to
bring that State into harmonious relation:
to the National Government, tho absence
| of any middle class among the pativt
white population, possessed of sufficient
intelligence and patriotism to take tn,
lead in the needed work OF reorganization
the pressing Necessity for the early con
summation of that work, not only recon
cile me to the employment of such hand:
a. We're found ready to engage in tina
work, but make me thankful that any wer,
found to lead in its performance.
He reminds the Major of a histor
ical fact, that the men who lay thu
foundation of States are not always
the most scrupulous. He claims
that the material was the best avail.
able-they did yeoman service and
we should be thankful. Mr.. De.
lany is reminded that ignorance car
never cope with knowledge. Thai
our race were made dupes was one
of the consequences of their degra-
dation and ignorance; but Mr.
Douglas rather thinks that we are
rising out of this now:
The colored people of the South ar,
lust now going to- school. 1t is hardly
worth while to lament that the school il
not better than it is. 1t is the best al
hand, and the wisest course is to make tn,
best of it. They cannot expect TO ge
something for nothing. The best things
come to any people only through suffer
ing and toll.
On the lament over the altered
manners of the people, Mr.. Douglas
administers cutting rebuke.
l hardly think you arc quite just il
what you say of the changed manners o.
the eolored people of South Carolina. i
does not not seem to me that their degen.
eraey is so compete as you describe it K
be. Were you not NJ. Il. DELANEY.
should say that the man who wrote thus
OF the manners Of the colored people o
South Carolina had taken his place witt
the old planters. You certainly cannot b.
among those of the South who prefer the