New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-01-15
c,eptable to the colored people of that State
than to the whites.

ceptable to the colored people of that Stat'
, than to the whites.
Now, sir, having spoken as to the inten
ton OF the prohibition imposed by Massachu
sets, | may be pardoned for a slight inquiry
as to the effect of this prohibition. First, il
did not in any way abridge or curtail the eX
ercise OF the suffrage by any person who al
} that time enjoyed such right. Nor did il
discriminate between the illterate native anG
the illiterate foreigner. Being enacted FOL
the good Of the entire Commonwealth, like
all just laws, its obligations fell equally and
impartaliy upon all its citizens. And as a
Justification for such measure, it Is fact
too we'll known almost for mention here that
massachusetts, had, from The beginning OF
her history, recognized the inestimable value
of an educated ballot by not only maintain.
ing system offree schools, but also enforcing
an attendance thereupon, as one of the safe.
guards for the preservation of real republi-
can form OF government. Recurring then
sir, to the possible contingency alluded to by
the gentleman from Kentucky, should the
State of Kentucky. having first established a
system of common schools whose doors shall
swing open freely TO all, az contemplated by
the provisions of this bill, adopt provision
similar to that of Massachusetts,, no one would
have cause justly to complain. And if in the
|
should produce a constituency riyaling that
OF the old Bay State, no one would be more
highly gratificd than I.
Mr.. Speaker, have neither the time nor
the inclination to notice the many illogical
and forced conclusions, the numerous trans.
ters OF terms, or the vulgar nsinuations which
further cucumber tho argument of the gentle
man from Kentucky. Reason and argument
are worse than wasted upon those who meet
every demand for political and civil liberty
by such ribaldry as this-eXtracted from the
speech of the gentleman from Kentucky:
II suppose there are gentlemen on this
floor who would arrest, imprson. and fine a
young woman in any State of the South if she
were to refuse to marry negro man on ac-
count OF color. race, or previous condition of
servitude, in the event Of his making her q
| proposal of marriage, and her refusing on that
ground. That would be deprivlng him of
right he had under the amendment, and Con-
gress would be asked to take it up and saw.
This insolent white woman must be taught
to know that it is misdemeanOr to deny
man marriage because Of race, color, or pre-
vious condition Of servitude > and Congress
will be urged to say after a while that that
sort OF thing must be put a stop to, and your
conventions Of colored men will come here
asking you to enforce that right
Now, sir, recurring to the venerable and
distinguished gentleman from Georgia, Mr..
STEPHENS, who has added his remonstrance
against the passage of this bill, permit Inc to
say that share in the feeling of high per-
sonal regard for that gentleman which per-
yades this House. His years, his ability, and
his long experience in public affairs entitle
him to the measure Of consideration which
has been accorded to him on this floor. But
in this discussion l cannot and will not forget
that the welfare and rights of my whole race
in this country are involved. When, there
fore, the honorable gentleman from Georgia
| lends his voice and influence to defeat this
measure, l do not shrink from saying that it
is not from him that the American House of
Representatives should take lessons in mat
tiers touching human rights or the Joint rela.
! tions of the state aud National Governu,euts.
While the honorable gentleman contented
himself with harmless speculations in his
study, or i'll the columns Of newspaper, we
might we'll smile at the impotence OF his
efforts to turn back the advancing tide OF
opinion and progress !; but, when he comes
again upon this national arena, and throws
himself with all his power and influence across
the path which leads to the full enfranchise-
ment OF my race, l meet him only as an adj
versary; nor shall age or any other consid-
Grafton restrain me from saying that lie now
offers this Government, which he has done
MS utmost to destroy, very poor return for
its magnanlmOus treatment, to come here and
seek to continue, by the assertion Of doctrines
obnoxious to the true principles oil our Gov
eminent, the burdens and expressions which
rest upon five millions of his countrymen who
never failed to lift their earnest prayers for
the success Of this Government when the
gentleman was seeking to break up the Union
OF these States and to blot the American
| in Prov fhnr Low ~
applause.]
Sir, it is scarcely twelve years since that
gentleman shocked the civilized world by an
nouncing the birth Of government which,
rested on human slavery as Its cornerstone.
The progress of events has swept away that
pseudo-government which rested on greed
pride, and tyranny; and the race whom he
then ruthlessly spurned and trampled on are
here to meet him in debate, and to demand
that the rights which are enjoyed by THEN
former oppressors-who vainly sought to
overthrow a Government which they could
not prostitute to the base uses of slavery
shall be accorded to those who even in the
darkness of slavery kept their allegiance true
to freedom and the Union. Sir, the gentle.
man from Georgia has learned much since
1861; but he is still a laggard. Let him put
away entirely the false and fatal theories
which have so greatly marred an otherwise
enviable record. Let him accept, in its full
ness and benefcence, the great doctrine thai
American citizenship carries with it ever,
civil and political right which manhood car
confer. Let him lend his influence, with al
his mastery ability, to complete the proud
structure Of legislation which makes this ma
ton worthy of the great declaration which
heralded IFS birth, and he will have done tina
which will most nearly redeem his reputation
in the eyes of the world, and best vndicate
the wisdom Of that policy which has permit
ted him to regain his seat upon this floor.
To the diatribe of the gentleman from Vir
ginia, ]Mr. HARRIS who spoke on yester
day, and who so far transcribed the limit:
of decency and propriety as to announce upor
this floor that his remarks were addressed t.
white men alone, shall have no word O
J reply. Let him feel that n negro was no
, only too magnanimous to sinite him in hi
weakness, but was even charitable enough
to grant him the mercy of his silence
!, Laughter and applause on the floor and ir
; the galleries. shall, sir, leave to Others
; less charitable the unenviable and fatiguins
task Of sitting out of that mass of chaff Thu
, few grains OF sense that may, perchance, de
serve notice. Assuring the gentleman tina
, the negro in this country aims at highe
degree Of intelligence than that exhibited b,
him in this debate, cheerfully commen(
him to the commiseration of all nteligen
men the world over-black men as well a.
white men.
/ Sir, equality before the law is now tn,
broad, universal, glorious rule and mandate
, of the Republic. No State can violate that
: Kentucky and Georgia may crowd thei
: statute. books with retrograde and barbarou
!, | Il Al