The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-09-12

elaVerY-those Wnom We nave aosO
lutely delivered from the burthens
which they brought with them here.
"Now, MIR. Chairman, said Mr.. Nc
Queen, 1 put this question: Does q free
negro aspire to the blessing, merely for
the cake of acquiring a right to vote,
or does the blessing Of freedom bring
along with it a pride of character which
makes him aspire to this right; or, in
other words, would he reject the boon
of freedom, il prt IF 9red him unassocia,
ted with a right to voteG The proba
bility is, that the right OF suffrage never
enters his head when he is struggling
to obtain freedom; he is willing to &C
cept of it On almost any conditions you
may dictate. Now, it is proposed to
invest the free negro with the most
important privilege which Ia exercised
by the white population of the country.
Whence do they derive their title TO
this equality of privilegeG Are they
recognized by public sentiment as con
shutting that class Of the people from
which the political power OF this coun
try should flow in the whole, Or even
in paru9 Is there any gentleman on
this floor VINO would be willing 30 see
the right of suffrage extended TO free
persons OF color, il they were likely to
constitute a mel ,rity of voters IN the
StRte7 What cad disasters would flow
from such a state of things es this9
We'll, il we would not be willing to in
vest them with the right OF suffrage, in
case they were a majority, il is not a
sound principle to extend it to them
whist they are q minority; for no
principle is a sound n which cRnnoG
be carried out. The public sentiment
of this country does not admit them to
the enjoyment of any flee OF honor or
profit; yet, strange to tell, the law Of
the country permits them to have a
voice in excluding white persons from
Office.
Nov, sir, said NJ. Mo leen, I do
insist that there is a broad partition
line between the fitness of free negroes
to exercise the right of suffrage, and
free white persons. The negro came
to this country in a state Of slavery,
with no expectation Of sharing in the
distribution of its political privileges,
and with no expectation on the part Of
otherF, that he would ehare them. He
came here debased be is yet debased,
and there il no sort Of polish which
education or circumstances a give
him, which ever will reconcile tbs
whites to an extension OF the right CT
suffrage 20 tha true negro. And unless
we adopt Our laws 70 the public feel
ings OF the countrv. they wilt forever
constitute an Cff4nce to the people.
The Government OF this Ssaee never
rendered. the free negro a slav3. II
found him IN a state of slavery, and
reduced I'd that condition by the agency
Of others; but the Government OF tbie
State, in his emancipalon, has placed
him in a Detter condIsIon than it f1uud
him, and 10 a better condi ion than ne
had a right to expect. But because it
has relieved him from the yoke OF his
master, add extended over him toe
aegis Of it's protection, does this fur
nish any solid reason why the State
should invest him wish the 20 of
railing over others9 TIE white portion
of the population Of this country con
stitutes the proper depository of politi
cal power. They bed for it, they
wrote for it, they spoke for it, they
expended their treasure for it; their
wisdom and valor has preserved it /;
they have exercised it in Justice and
10 mercy oye the white ana over thc
black Tn5 right CT suffrage is found
ed not OILY on the interests whicl the
voter presents for the protection OF tae
lazy IN tins c1mnuuIy in which rs
lives, but also On the - mGathy Of feel
ing with those who surround him enc
she lively iagetasS be cha1Iahes for tn
preservation Of the existing lnatitu
tons Of the COUNTRY. No person can
read the Virginia BIZ of Rights with
OuG OSAuS LO2CtSLy EGEOCA Win the
manner in which The essentials to tae
right OF suffrage are defined in it's 6 h
Article. 1t is there procIai ned, tna5
all men having sufficient evidence If
common interest with, and attachmauG
to the community. ar enEi5Ied e. tbe
right Of suffrage. There !s no State in
the Uaion in which the rights OF mar
are more clearly comprehended than
in Virginia, But the very sauna in
strument which defines what kind OF
person a voter should be, excludes free |
PERSONS of color from vntina H.