The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-08-15

wxxr o. p. xonTos rsoUeHr IN lst

wu< r o. p. MORTON THOUCHT IN 1898.
ne<re surrage Antagonistic 10 Free In.
stitutiUns.
In the course of his speech In the
House. ON the "a inst, Mr.. Lamar made
the following remarks: sa ~. \.
Sir. but the other, day. q distinguis ned
Senator from the Pacific coast made
r1ost striking protest against the lurtner
immigration OF Chinese into tine ooln.
munfty there, and still more recengly
beth parties seemed to be vyin9 win
sarh other as to which should go fur-
thest IN preventing this admixture OF
the MonSolfan race with ours. 10 Illus.
trnte the disturbing force OF this meas
ure. let us suppose. that IN the SIX New
Enplnnd States and the States OF New
York and New Jersey, whose popuia.
tion corresponds most nearly TO that OF
our Southern States. In one night A,QW.-
600 Of unacoustomed, d,inoOngruous Popu-
lation, such as Mexicans ana Chlnese,
should be Incorporated into the poiltl,
cal system OF those Commonwealtns,an ana
by some paramount power ioutslue VI
those States should be 30 gcompaoted
touether as to gain control OF all the
denartments OF their government, of
ali the Offices, all the institutions, State
and municipal-A-in q word. invested
with the entire sovereignty OF their
body-politic, 1 ask you would mob the
repose OF society be disturbed; would
not All insurance OF law, OF healtfful
industry. Of business arrangements ana
inyestmen ts---would not all confidence
give way to dismay and perplexity, TO
restless Tears, wild passions, and bloody
scenes? Why, sir. the more splendld
their political civilization, the more
complex their system Of laws, and the
more perfectly adjusted their social and
economic forces, and the higher the
moral tone OF their society, the more
hideous would be the ruin and the more
refined the agony of the people subject
ed to such y catastrophe. yi
But the case aS supposed, Is not aS
strong as the case which actually occur
red In the Southern States. The 4,OO0,-
600 or people who, by q scratch OF the
pen, were made citizens and crushed
into our political SYSTEM. the sOo,OVO
voters and Office holders and legislators
and magistrates. had Just emerged from
the immetnorial condition OF slaves.
This fearful experiment was regarded
by thinking men all over the world with
the profoundest concern and misgiving.
II was viewed with disfavor by large
majority even OF the Republican party.
Its most able and it's most extreme
leaders looked upon it as committing
society to the sway Of ignorance, ser.
Witty, corruption and tyranny; ana
such was thefr sentiment until the con-
fiict OF the Republican party with Presi-
dent johnson and one other cause,
which l shall notice before l close,
seemed to sweep away every considera-
ton OF reason and justice. In 1866, the
wear in which there was in the South
certain Legislation which has been the
subject OF much denunciation OF the
South and the occasion and excuse for
the oppressive and humiliating methods
which have been applied to her people,
say In that year MIR. =. 4. Morton, IN
message to the Legislature OF Indiana,
used the following language:
Il is a fact so manifest that IL should not be
called in question by any that people VINO are
Just emerging from the barbarism oi slavery are
not qualified to become part OF our political
system and tako part not only In the govern.
ment of themselves and their neighbors. but Of
the whole United Statos.
remedy for all our national ills. doubt whether
it IL remedy for any and rather believe that iis
enforcement by Congress would be more likely
to subject the negro to q merclloss persecuu0n
| than TO confer upon him any substanti,u Denelt
BY some il is thought that suffrage is already
cheap enough IN this country: ana me ilnmeu,
from the bonds Of slavery. with all the Ignorance
and tho degradation upon them which the
slavery of generations upon southern heldS mas
| produced. woxld By a declaration to the world
| that the exc else OF American suffrage involves
no intellectual or moral qualifications, and that
| there is no diff renee between an American free
/ man and an American slave which may no be
| removed by mere act of Congress.
Here the hammer fell
| The Chairman The time Of the gen
tleman has expired.
Mr.. Garfield-AI ask that the gentle
| mans time may be extended, hoping
| that the same courtesy may be granted
when the other side shall ask to be
heard.
The Chairman--If there is no objec-
J ton, the gentleman's time will be ex-
tended.
There was no objection.
! Mr.. Lamar-Now, sir, in a speech
| which this gentleman made in Indiana
before these people became invested
with any political rights, here is his
language:
Ibelieve that in the case OF four million slaves
Just freed from bondage there should DO pc
| riod OF probation and preparation before they
are brought to the exercise OF political power.
a What is their conditionI Perhaps not
one in Eve hundred-I might say one in q thou
sandcan read and perhaps not oae IN nye
| kind -,- .,r.fr-,a.a5..
Now, sir, notice the language OF Mr..
Morton in the following sentences -
Can you conceive that body Of men. white or
black. who have been in this condition.. and
their ancestors before them. are qualified to be
| Immediately lifted from their present state into
the full exercise Of power, not only to govern
| themselves and their neighbors, but to take part
| in the Rovernment OF the United States Can
they be regarded as intelligent and independent
| voters? The mere stats OF facts furnishes the
answer to the question. !. 80 10 say that
such men-and it is no fault OF theirs; 1t is sim
/ ply misfortune and a crime OF this nation-to
| say that such men just emerged from slavery
| are qualified for the exercise OF political power
is to make the strongest pro,slavery argument
ever heard. It is to pay the highest compliment
| to the Institution OF slavery y '@' ee'+F' s-s
Then he goes on with his objections to
clothing these people with the rights OF
citizenship and suffrage. Says he; s4
The right to vote carries with it the right to
hold Office. You cannot say that the negro has q
natural right to vote, but that he must vote only
i for white men for ofice
Then, after demonstrating that point,
/ he makes this conclusion tfH
II you enfranchise all the negroes in these
States you will have at least twenty negro votes