New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-13

OF making indammatory speeches to prove
that an unconquerable antagonism still
exists between the whites and blacks, and
OF making constant reference to u%tterances
made by prominent men in the South
years ago to prove that they are opposed
to the political, civil and social rights o.
the colored people. As an Offset to the
u%tterances of Southern men years ago, the
Picayn1e quotes from speeches Of Doug
las and Lincoln, made before tie war,
and of Morton, made in 1865. AS
Mr.. Lincoln and Mr.. Douglas were
not pro-slavery men, but IN the contrary,
friends Of the Union and progress, they
were both prepared at the commencement
OF civil war in this country to stand firm
against the encroachments Of the slave
power. No o. ever doubted Mr. Douglas
fealty to the Union, as up to tie time of
his death, which occurred soon after the
breaking out Of the rebellion, he had never
breathed a word that could be construed
as disloyal to it. For this reason we will
undertake to say that if he had lived his
opinions would have undergone the same
changes that Mr.. Lincoln's did, when the
safety of the country demanded the aboli-
ton Of slavery, and. finally, the browning
of the freedmen with all the rights Of cit
izenship. There is now no ground for
finding fault with the opinions of men be.
fore the war upon the subjec. of making
jurors and voters ofnegroes. The fault is
with those who still oppose the will of the
majority, long since determined. that
slavery is o only forever abolished
but tia: negroes, endowed with
citizenship. have all the civil, political
and socia! rights that white citizens
enjoy. The leading chiefs Of the Radical
party. whatever may have been their
opinions Of negro suffrage before the war,
have since seen the necessity for this
course. particularly in the South. in order
to effect reconstruction upon a loyal ba.
sis. Whatever might have been their
doubts as to the competency Of the negro
70 discharge i~ntelligently the duties that
have devolved Oh him as a citizen. they |
had no doubt as to his loyalty to freedom
and the government that stood ready to |
defend his rights as q freeman and
citizen. while. or the other hand, there
was much cause for doubling those
prominen: Southern men who in
stigated war, and after Il final mil !
itary defea: and surrender returned to
their homes to obstruct the viii! of the
nation in regard to the reconstruction Of
the States that had been in rebellion. It
was their conduct that forced the nation
to the course it took in the reconstruction
Of the South: and it was not finally taken
without some apprehension as 20 the re-
suit arising from the untutored condition
Of those who were TO be invested with the
right Of suffrage. Eu: the trial has van.
all apprehension, and the colored
people have exhibited an intellect, and a
will to learn. tina: have placed them far in
advance Of anything that their most SAN
suine friends could have hoped for.
Many Of them aye endowed with good
common sense-something that many of
orr prominent Southern men. before and
the war. have shown a woeful lack
oi--and an aptitude for learning that has
fitted them for many Of the
duties Of citizenship. The Picc-
;:ns furnishes evidence of this, by pub
the speech o: Mr.. Elliott "a COL
bred man.. member Of Congress from
South Carolina. upon the suffice. OF civil
/: was made in the House. on the
,ixth instant, and q portion Of it was in
eply 20 the argumen: OF .Ir. Stephens. Of
on the same subject. :Ir.
~argunen: is rather q scathing
'ebuke to the old time orator and scholar
# Georgia. and is a wonderful proof of
he progress the negro has made in this
since the adjustment OF slavery.
lie has certainly become TOO intelligent to
,e humbugged by even the adroit sophis-
ries of those who would seek to array him
.gainst his friends: and for that reason is
lot likely to suffer from the attacks Of
hose who are looking back for no good