Wilmington journal., 1873-07-25

ing prejudice and wicked hate against
us, have still put forth all their great
powers to render imperative the laws
passed for the benefit of his former
slaves No. The greater wonder IS
that to-day he is found in his native
State, standing side by side with his
former slaves, extending to them his
hand, and saying "Let bygones be
bygones. For us is the future. Hence
forth, hand in hand, we 60 together in
the race of life. We, as white men,
cast to the ground the prejudices o.
our forefathers, and of ourselves. Re-
cognizing in your deliverance the in
scrutable disposition of Almighty God,
and the irrevocable decree of destiny,
we will no longer throw obstacles in
yom pathway, but, by our influence,
aid, and countenance help to light up
your future pathway, which has hith-
erto been SO dark. Even as the fetters
of slavery have been stricken from your
limbs and dashed to the ground, so
have the fetters of prejudice and hate
been torn from our minds and dashed
to the winds, to be known no more,
forever"
Instead of shrinking from your
Dounden duty, you would approach it
hOpaful of success Instead of wan
tonIy suppressing the dictates of an
unquieted conscience you would man
fully accept the issue, and cherishing
sound convictions, based on justice,
humanity and truth, appeal to the
hearts, minds and cOnsciences of your
people. to rise above the unreasonable
prejudice of the past, and to do unto
us what Won would have us do unto
you.
And now, secondly, what would be
the effect of such an action on your
part? Why, sirs, this vexed question
would be easily solved. 1t would lead
to Il full and unconditional recognition
of the civil rights of the colored man
as member Of the great human
family and as Il part of the body
| polite.
In acknowledgement of their just
cinims for services rendered in days
gone by. and a full reparation for in
| iuries done them heretofore, and ac-
cording to them full and entire equality
of human rights, with no discrimi
mating laws or proscri ptive actions on
account of their color, then would
your State and her people take courage,
slowly, possibly almost imperceptibly,
and by degrees she would emerge
! from her troubles and adversities, and
under tue guidance of her best citizens
white, colored, native or by adop-
tion-of ability, honesty and moral
worth, she would arouse from he1
letharg gy, and, under the fostering
care of all whose interests are alike,
present picture of contentment, unity,
happiness and prosperity. When, and
only when you will do this, the people
of this State will have Il claim upon
her colored citizens.
Having performed your whole duty
i'll yielding your influence and protec.
tion to them, you can then consistently
demand their allegiance. Remove
every cause of our complaints against
you and destroy every pretext of pol
icy or evasion !; first protect, and after
secure allegiance. You have used the
crushing process, now try concilia
ting one.
But, gentlemen of Louisiana, yor
must not expect to accomplish all this
without trials and troubles. You viii
find men who viii heap obioquy upon
these white men who have initiated
this ''beginning Of the end" They
will be stigmat;zed as losing all Low,
and homage for their ancient custom:
and usages of ante 6ellAlla times, anC
as being lost to all honor, integrit,
and devotion for the Lost Cause tina
they have sunk so low as to be com
PEELED to seek the level of the negro
and a hundred other such sensational
unnatural charges but meet then
with determination and firmness. Tel
these crOakers that in surrenderins
your prejudices and recognizing TIL
civil rights of the cOlored man, yol
only yield to him as Il freeman of th'
United States, thet to which he is ell
titled as such.
Ask him who would upbraid you
What has the negro done They hav'
committed no sin you cannot say tina
they deserve punishment for sin
never committed.
We, the colorea people, are, lie
peat, guilty of no crime. You, th'
white people of this State, if you hao
taken the proper course, would hav'
easily acquired the confidence of til,
colorcd people, and have had th'
Government in Your hands, and Tia,
Northern MINI who would have beer
l,l, ca IN Office would have been place.
there because of his moral worth, an,
not IA he iilS been from necessity Bl
to the contrary, yonr course was sucl
as to satisfy the coloreI man that Ia
coHid not trust you, and he firmly be
! leved, of his own accord, that the mo
ment You came into power You woult
deprive him OF his civil and politica
rights. You, by your own action, for
teited entirely the confidence of tn,
colored people of this State.
Year after year have we waited ant
hoped for the consumlnation of tn,
last closing act of our great life's
drama, the full and unconditional re
cugniti"n Of our civil rights.
Year after year You have kept II:
from The full enjoyment of them have
been swimming i'll the charmed circle o
policy AID temporary expcdients, bu
to-day wr feel that, by your presen
actint.. these questions are to be liz
longer e.sadcd.
You can not shut your eyes, nor clos.
your ears to the demands of your State
and SO deep are these interests bonni
up III the preservation of your Stat,
that You must meet the issue fairly anC
fearlessly.
Let all those, both white and colored
having an interest in the future welfare
and prosperity OF the State put asd,
falnthedrtedness, and openly ant
stand upon the grand principles whicl
must and viii live, despite the effort
of tyranny to overthrow them or a pre-
judiced policy to check their expires
sion.
The general scope and tendency o
this movement must be beneficial i
carried ont i'll an honest, manly man
ner. It has for its object the downfall
nl hereditary prejudices, the oblitera
ton Of past usaSes and customs, ani
the full acknowledgement of the civi
rights, privileges and immunities whicl
pertain to any man created in the i'm
aga Of his Maker, and guaranteed t.
HIM by the constitution inl laws O
the land. Said laws are and must b,
fundamental i'll all just free govern
mcnts, and it is impossible for any on,
to stand by and see them ignored O.
permit them to he violated or denied
When reason and i1Stice shall hay,