Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1874-04-16

'"0'''up'O e'aI'allon the Old, lnlrm and
helpless who no longer by reason of the
policy Of the Government, had neither
shelter. clothing. food, means or physical
strength o procure tbcn.i
Had Congress refused to have exercised
this right aud to have cared for these
helpless creatures, tho refusal would
have, not only astonished, but brought
upon us the Just frownS and indignations
Of every civilized nation under the sun
and yet Mr.. Butler had his doubts as to
this right aud therefore refused to vote to
continue these hospitals. Is there a col
ored voter in this or any other District
in these United States who will approve
OF the doctrine here announced BY Mr..
Butler! If SO the colored people old
and young, male and female, ought to
denounce him aud brand him as an ene>
my and traitor to bis race and people.
But Mr.. Butler says he had his dou %
and gave the benefit of this doubt to the
colored people by refusing to vote to
continue these hospitals,
Strange way to give the tcncft Of a
doubt. ColOred men can you see it?
If a jury trying a prisoner shopld give
him the benefit of a doubt by refusing to
vote fol or against him what benefit would
ho get from such a doubt, I guess he
would remain a prisoner still, would he
not? To give him the benefit of the
doubt the juror always votes to release
him ; but Mr.. Butler would have you give
the benefit of the doubt to the prisoner
BY keeping the poor fellow in Jail. If
one of these poor, old and helpless crea-
lures should approach Mr.. Butler and
beg a piece of bread, | imagine he would
say to him 81 have my doubts about the
propriety of feeding you, but l think so
much of the colorcd peopie-especially
about election times-I will give you the
benefit of my doubt by simply refusing to
give you any bread at ALL"
Now in April, 1869, about COO ofthese
old and helpless colored people were ask
ing him for bread. but instead of bread he
gaze them the benefit of his doubt by re-
fusing to vote them either bread, shelter
or clothing 20 save them from starvation,
suffering and want.
An intclligcnt colored man re marked on
reading his strange excuse, well | have
my doubt about the propriety of sending
Mr.. Butler back to Congress and he shall
have the benefit of my doubt in the same
way. I'll not vote for him bat will use my
influence and vote for Judge Gillenwa>
ters."
Thus will every sensible colorcd man
in the district bestow upon Mr.. Butler
the benefit of his doubt. SO let it be.
THE XIV AMENDMENT
Mr.. Butler grows quite angry and says
| accused him of being present and re-
fusing to vote on the fifteenth amendment
and that this is "~outrageously false"
Hold your milk, Mr.. Roderick. l said
you refused to vote on the Bingham and
Shellabarger amendments on the 30th Of
January, 1869, and the record SO shows.
See manual page 800 and 400. But he
says lie was sick on the 30th of January
and told Stokes, &C., flat he would &C
even on wheels, if necessary, to get to vote
on this amendment.
Let us see how anxious he was to vote
and low he did vote on this important
measure.
The reader must remember that thu
proposition before the House on January
30th simply gave the colored man the
right to vote, but not to hold Office. Tht
article as passed by the Senate is a
follows "no discrimination shall be mad,
in any State among the citizens Of til,
United States in the exercise Of the eiet
tive franchise or in the right to hold o6l@
in any State on account of race, color
nativity, property, education or creed"
On tie 10Th of February, 1869, thu
article was before the House and a vote
/, was had thereon. Where is Mr., Butler
now? Is he still sick? Not much. Lie
! is present and votes, and strange as i
) may seem to our colored people he vote.
! NAY. That is, he votes against givin!
the colored man the right to hold Office
5 by virtue of the Constitution. Here are
) more benefits of a big doubt. See Nam
: ual for 1869 page 4oS and 404.
i. Did he send for Gen. Stokes, the Ser.
geant at arms and the big carriage to BE-
) carried to the House to give this vote
that the poor colored man might receive
; the benefit, of his doubts as to his rights
Lat him tall IN HE navk lottar R,k