Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-12-12

guilty from the leg timate consequences of willful
transgression.
The colored citizen is thus most uuhappily stu
ated; his right of suffrage is but hollow mock
cry 1t holds to his the word of promise, but
breaks 1t always TO his hope, and be ends only 10
being made the unwilling instrument of increas-
ing the political strength of that party from
which be received ever-tightening letters when
he was n slave, aud contemptuous refusal of civil
rights since he was made free. lie resembles in
deed those unhappy csptlves in the East, who,
deprived OF their brthright, are compelled to
yield their strength TO the upbuiding of the mon
arch from whose tyrannies they have most TO
fear. and to fight agsiDst the power from which
alone deliverance might be expected. The fran
chise intended for the shield and defence of the
negro has been turned against him and against his
friends, and has vastly increased the power OF
those from whom he has nothing to hope and
everything to dread.
The political power thus appropriated by south
ern Democrats by reason Of the negro popoula-
ton, amounts to thirty five Represent tives in
Congress. II is massed almost solidly and offsets
the great State of New York; or Penusvl.anis
and New Jersey together; or tie whole of New
England; or Ohio aud Indiana united or the
combined strength of Illinois, Minnesota, Kansas,
Csliiornis, Nevada, Nebraska, Colorado and Ore
gon. The seizure of this power is wanton usur-
patton; II Is fisgrant outrage; it is violent per.
version of the whole theory of republican gov
eminent. IL iuurcs solely to the present advan-
tage, and yet, believe, 10 the permanent dis
honor OF the Dcmoci attic party. 1t Is by reason
of this tramplug down of human rights, this ruth
less seizure OF uDlawful power, that the Demo-
cratic party holds the popular branch of Congress
TO day, and will in IS than ninety days have con-
TO OF this body Also thus graspug the entire
legislative department of the government through
the unlawful capture of the Southern States. If
the prescribed vote Of the South were cast as its
lawful owners desire, the Democratic party
could not gain power. Nay, if ii were not count
ed on the other side against the instincts and the
interests, against the principles and the pre-
JUDGES OF It's lawful owners, Democratic success
would be hopeless. 1t is not enough, then, for
modern Democratic tactics that the negro vote
shall be slleDccd; the demand goes farther, and
Insists that II shall be COUNTED their side, that
all the Representatives il Congress and all the
Presidential electors appUrtioutd by reason OF the
negro vote shall be so cat and 20 governed as to
insure Democratic success-regsIdess OF jus ice,
in del ince Of law
Add this 1t u.tice is wholly unprovoked. |
doubt II II be III The power of III. most sea, ching
investigation to show that in any Southern State
during the period OF Republican con rol, ally legal
voter was ever declared from The iieest exercise
OF his suffrage. Even the reveuges which wou Id
have ltaped into life with mauy who despised the
negro, were hnIed out of sight with a magnani-
miy which the superior race" fail to follow and
seem reluctant to recognize. | know it IS said In
retort Of such charges against the southern cleo
tons as | am now reviewing, that unfsrness of
equal gravity prevails IN northern elections. l
hear II IN many quarters and cad 1t 10 the papers,
that in the late exciting election in Massachusetts,
Intimidation and bulldozing, If not 50 rough and
rsncorous as III the South. were yet rs ptead
and effective.
have read, and yet refuse to beve that the dis
stinguished gentleman who made an energetic but
unsuccessful canvass for the governorship of that
State, has Endorsed aud approved these charges,
and have accordingly made my resolution broad
enough to include their thorough investig ation.
| am not demanding fair elections the South
without demanding air elections in the North
also But venturing to speak for the New Eng
land States, of whose laws and customs | know
something dare assert that in the late election
In Massachusetts, or any of her mel shborlng
Commonwealth, 1t will be impossible to find even
one case where voter was driven from the polls,
where voter did not have the fullest. fairest,
frees, oppOrtun y 10 cast the ballot of his choice,
and have it honestly aud faithfully counted 10 toe
returns Suffrage on this continent first
made universal 10 New England, and in the ad-
mnstration of the sfiair-, her people have
found no other appeal necessary than that which
Is addressed TO their honesty Of conviction and TO
their intelligent self-lnterest. If there be any
thing different to disclose pray You show it to
us that we may amend our ways.
But whenever q feeble protest is made again, Il
such Injustice as have described in the South the
response we get comes TO in the form of tau ut
"What are you going TO do about il :" and How
do you propose to help yourselves 7" This is the
stereotyped answer OF defiance which intrenched
wrong always gives TO nquiring justice and those
temper of the American people. For let me as.
sure you that against the complicated outrage
upon the right OF represen taon lately trum ph ant
in the South, there will be srrayed many phases
of public opinion in the North, not often hitherto in
harmony. Men who have cared little and Aft .cted
to care less, for the rights or the wrongs of the
negro suddenly fnd that vast monetary and
commercial interests, great questions of revenue,
adjustments of tariff, vast investments in manu-
features, in railways, and in Mines are under the
al of tic
was obtained by depriviDg the negro of his rights
under q common Constitution and common laws
Men who have expressed disgust with the waving
of bloody shirts and have been offended with talk
about negro equality are beginning to perceive
that the pending question OF to-day relates more
pressingly to the equality of white men under this
Government, and That however careless they may
be about the rights or the wrongs of the negro
they are very jealous and tenacious about the
rights of their own race aEd the dignity OF their
own iresides and their own kindred.
| know something of public opinion in the
North. l know great deal about the views,
wishes and purposes of the Republican party of
the nation. Within that entire great organiza.
ton there is not one man, whose opinion is en-
titled to be quoted that does not desire peace and
harmony anu friendship and a patriotic and fra !
ternal union between the North and the South. |
This wish - spontaneous, instructive, universal
throughout the Northern States; and vet, among
men Of character and sense, there is surely no
need Of tempting to deceive ourselves as to the
precise truth. First pure, then peacable. Gush
will not remove grievance, and no disguise of
State rights will close the eyes of our people to
the necessity of correcting great national wrong |
Nor should the South make the fatal mistake Of
concluding that injustice to the negro is not also in
justice to the white man should 1t ever be for.
gotten that for the wrongs of both q remedy will
assuredly be found. The war, with all its costly
sacrifices, was fought in vain unless equal rights
for all classes be established in all the States of
the Union and now, Ia words, which are those
of friendship, however differently they may be
accepted, tell the of the South, here on this
floor and beyond ths Chamber that even if they
could strip the negro of his constitutional rights
they can never permanently maintain the inequal-
ity of white men in this nation they can never
make a white maus vote in the South douby a.
powerful in the administration of the Government
as a white mans vote in the North.
In memorable debate in the House of Com.
mons, Mr.. Macauay reminded Daniel O'Connell.
when he was moving for Repeal, that the English
wings had endured calumny, abuse, popular fury,
loss of position, exclusion from Parliament rather
than the great agtaor himself should be less tina
British subject; aud Mr.. Macaulay warned him
that they would never suffer him to be more. Let
me now remind you that the Government under
whose protecting flag we sit to day sacrificed my