New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-04-03

with upheavings and commissions. Just So
with the laws which regulate. govern. ana
control mankiud-if tyranny. injustice, ant
oppression obtain the ascendency. the IN.
evitable tendency viii be a disruption of the
body polite and social fabric, for these are
the antagouisnls Of justice, right, and equal.
ity. Having thus promised, in illustration O,
this fact the late rebellion in the United
States is proof positive. All thanks to AL
mighty God, who ''ruleth over the destip;es
OF nations and doeth the good pleasure of His
will among the inhabitants Of the earth. for
He has brought to naught the counsel of the
wicked and made the wrath of man to praise
Him" in the adoption Of the 18th, 18th. and
18th amendments to the Constitution.
Fl Yet it is a source Of deep regret and morti-
tication that there still rests one foul blot on
the escutcheon of the nation that there is a
relic OF the past still overshadowing this
great and enlightened Government in the de-
NAL of civil rights to this new element of
political power-the newly-enfranchised col
ored citizen. We are entitled to these
rights.
First. Because we have purchased them by
our sweat and blood. The history of the
Government clearly indicates this fact.
Second. All class legislation is incompati-
blewith republican form of government and
free institutions.
Third. Prescription is in its very nature
opposed to citizenship, both in its etymologi-
cal and political sense.
Fourth. The position we occupy in this
Governmental the body politic-renders it
necessary that these rights should be guar
anteed, protected, and secured by law
Fifth. five wouldmaintain our consistency
before the civilized nations of the earth. we
should grant these rights without delay.
Sixth, and most cogent of all, is that men
who are governed by the same laws are enti-
tied to the same rights and privileges.
Seventh. The American people are law
abiding, even though opposed to their preju-
dices.
In conclusion, you can never conquer preju-
dice by conforming to its requirements. We
then appeal to your sense of honor, justice,
and humanity. Is not the long series Of
years through which we have suffered OPP
preston, injustice, and wrong quite suffi-
cient to satisfy the most obdurate and inhu-
man? And as you cannot make indemnity for
the past we do most earnestly hope you will
give us security for the future by putting us
in possession Of all those rights common TO
our white fellow-citizens. Then will this
Government be what its founders intended it
should be-a Government of liberty and
equality.
In fine, the objections to our capacity for
the enjoyment of these privileges are not
well founded. 1t is true, all colorcd men
have not arrived at the same scale of moral
and intellectual elevation no more than all
white men, but common sense dictates pro-
priety where education is wanting. But civil
rights is matter Of law, social equality
purely matter of taste, and the history Of
the past shows We have more to fear from in
trusion than our white fellow-citizens. 1t is
the poor and dependent that are oppressed
and prescribed, not the rich and af'uent.
Yours for the right,
WIN. E. WALKER.