The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-10-21
Facts for oolored Men.

N"tN VIVA uA'r AAuPNDhcah purify Nutu-
ever such policy was called 10 question
by a Democrat, their uniform reply was
I've praise the bridge which carried
us safe over meaning BY this that they
were emancipated by the Republican party
and were in duty bound to vote for that
party. This understanding Of the results
Of the late war is true only in part. The
Administration was Republican, but the
army was composed of men of both par
ties, Democrats as well as Republicans.
President Lincoln, in his first inaugural
address, said he had no authority and no
disposition to interfere with slavery. Only
few Of the old abolitionists, then co. OPP
Grating with the Republican party, were
in favor Of freeing the slaves. That policy
was not favored by the Republican party
at that time. 1t was stoutly resisted, by
resolution, in Congre IS and out, by the
press, and in the cabinet. When the
Chicago clergymeu went to Washington
to urge Mr.. Lincoln to issue proclama-
ton freeing the slaves and putting arms in
their hands, he refused the petition, and
said he would save the Union, with or
without slavery, as the case might be.
When, finally, the emancipation procla-
nation was issued, it was issued from the
necessities of the ioar, and not from con-
victiou of abstract right, or preference
for such policy. This fact will not be
questioned by any intelligent person.
When slavery had been abolished by
constitutional amendment ratified by the
requisite number of States, Mr.. Lincoln
having no power or authority to abolish it
by proclamation, the position of the Re
publican party, here in Mary land, was one
Of hostility to the colored man, or Of oppo-
sition to comforting upon him the privi-
lege of suffrage, or Of the ballot. When
the State Constitution Of 1864 was adopt
ed by the convention called for that pur-
pose, which convention was composed Of
a large majority of Republicans, although
slavery had been abolished by the general
government, they still made it part Of
that constitution that none but white men
should vote, and actually passed registry
law which provided that none but white
men should be registered as voters. The
Republicans held political convention in
Baltimore, in June 1866, and unanimous
ly adopted the following resolution
Resolced, That we are pledged to the main.
tenance Of the present Constitution of Mary
land (of 1891 which expressly aud emphati-
cally prohibits both rebel suffrage and negro
suffrage, and we are equally determined to
uphold the registry law which DISTINGUISHES
rebels and excludes negroes from voting, and
have no desire or intention Of resembling or
abolishing either the Constitution or the reg
istry law.
This resolution was published, with
others, and formed part aud parcel of the
proceedings Of that body, as the files of
the Republican journals of that day will
show. This was the position of the Re-
publicans then towards the colored men,
although they now find it convenient, on
the eve Of every election, to proclaim that
thoy have always been the staunch advo-
Gates of an equality of rights, and claim
to be the only true friends Of the colored
man. But the colored men are beginning
to learn better. They understand that it
was the Democrats who admitted them to
full citizenship in the State of Mary
land, and made our laws conform to
the existing state Of things by allowing
them to testify in Courts of Justice, which
they could not previously do, except us
against their own race, or in cases of cap
ital crime These things have been done
for them by the Democrats, although they
banded themselves together against the
Democrats as party. This is not all the
Democrats have done for the colored peo-
pie in Maryland. The ample provision
which has been made for the education of
their children has been effected through
the agency of Democratic Legislatures
which have uniformly exercised over the
interests Of the colored race benevolent
care which manifests anything else than
hostility towards them. Not only so, al
though the colored men have arrayed
themselves politically against the Demo-
cratic party, the Democrats, as a general
thing, have shown no disposition to pro-
scribe them for it. They have given them
employment and paid them promptly for
their services, and treated them with uni
form kindness at least equal to that melted
out to them by the Republicans nview
Of these facts, then, ought they not to
cease their political hostility towards the
Democratic party, and ought not sense
Of justice and the dictates Of common
| prudence and foresight prompt them alike
to abandon it, and induce them to cas-
their votes, with more discrimination, be
tween the two parties, as the white mer
doa They are doing so, already, in som,
of the Southern States, and their vote
give strong preponderance to the Demo
cratic party there, the utmost harmony
prevailing between the two races in al
the Democratic States Of the South.
The GREENWOOD PARK DEMocRATIC
MEETING The Towsontown Union says
ave are assured on good authority that
there were not four hundred people present
at any one time"
Misrepresentation, ueighbor, viii sub,