Year: 1865




But the gentleman says the races can
not live together. and should he sepa
rated I combat this proposition with
the stern logic Of facts. | say that
they have lived together ever since the
early settlement of the country by our
ancestors. and are nolc living together in
this STATE. as we'll as every other state of
the Union This population has not yet
proved dangerous one by any means,
as 4 general thing, and never viii SO
prove But if a practical plan for the
separation of the two races should ever
he presented. | presume there are but
few men anywhere, of the dominant class
who would oppose it. No such plan
has been presented yet, and, probably
never viii be hence we are m duty
loand To do for them the best we can
uuler the circumstances which surround
us at the present Instead of attempt
ing to keep class in our midst IN scrN1l-
jtF and ignorance. it would be far better
anI safer TO give them full justice, by
granting to them, ut lea the right 10
make valid contracts in the State, and
the further right, if they desire It, To
have homes on our soil


But the gentleman from Monroe sud
denly eviHccs much fear of the negro -
Ieis afraid lie will degrade the white
race to his level, and then chase 1t out OF
the country. At this point of his speech
he drew terrible dark picture; his
white lips and chattering teeth, showed
plainly that he was in great trepIdauon
NJ his Gwu fearful statement OF the case,
F. aud have no doubt that every time he
booked Off the page from which he was
reading, his distorted vision beheld a
I4tG
ready to charge upon him, and amalga-
mate with him on the slightest proyoca-
ton During almost the entire period
of the war, it was resolved in Democrat
ic conventions that the negro would not
fight; that his ignorance and stupidity
were such that no amount of training or
eiucation would ever elevate him above
his present condition. Democratic stump
orators. and Democratic newspapers
adop' ed the same view, III consonance
with all the Southern papers, and the
most surerb exhibition OF Valor on his
part failed to draw from them any thing
hut calumnv and detraction. Bat now
that il IS proposed to strike ont the thIr-
teenth article Of our Constitution, 50 as
to 10 Justice to the negro, by allowing
him home within our limits, and 4 va
i'll title to the soil he may purchase with
the fruits of his industry and economy,
the gentleman from Monroe suddenly
becomes alarmcd lest this same negro
should outstrip linn in the race Of lite.
and finally gain the ascendancy TO such
an extent as to chase the whole Demo
cratic party out oi' the United States.


sometimes think that might be done.
without dana -ing vilization very mHch
but again ] conclude that it Is probably
better that the organization should re
main, face 20 face with the dreadful lie
gro, rs n living witness in .faror of the
dGctria Of the total depravity of man. The
gentleman arraigns the radicals, 50 call
c1 hv himself. for commencing the agj
tatiou of the negro question il the be-
ginning, which agitation, he alleges, pro
yohea the late civil war, and conse-
ruences which followed therefrom. |
cannot. sir. take the time of this House
L. arguing the question as to who was to
blame in the beginning, but state his
toricaI truth, when l say that deeper
raaicalsm mas characterized the politics
Of which the gentleman is a leader, in
times past. than ever was eyinced by
any other organization Of a political
character which has existed since the
adoption OF the Federal Constitution
This every well informed man knows,
and every candid man will admit.


The gentleman, in his speech classified
thirteen different reasons for opposing
the passage Of this resolution, each of
which might be the basis of a speech,
hut | have neither the time, nor the in
el;nation to discuss them all This sub
icet has been discussed so repeatedly that
it Is a useless consumption of time 10 re
peat the arguments for it. or against it.
and | therefore propose to take leave OF
II so far as | am concerned, in a few
moments. and trust its fate to vote of
the members Of this body. believing that
they will act As becomes just and inteiIi
gent men. The l0th reason assigned by
the gentleman for opposing the resoiu
ton. reads in these words . Industrious
negroes would compete with white la
borers. compelling the latter to work side.
bv side with the former, which would
tend to the degradation of lahor."-
Well. sir, there Is not the slightest prob
ability that negro laborers will ever be
come so numerous, under any state of
circumstances, as to compete in any ma
terial degree, with white labor, or cause
it reproach in any way. I believe when
the administration of James Buchanan,
aud its supporters. here and elsewhere,
were endeavoring by every means, both
fair and foul. 10 entail upon the people
Of Kansas the blight OF negro slavery.
the gentleman endorsed the policy, and
studiously closed his eyes to the question
Of tie degradation of free labor, when in
competition with the labor Of the free
white man there.


But circumstances have changed, and
despite the gentleman's efforts to de
monstrate that he is always the same. he
yet proves himself a creature Of circum-
stances, and subject 10 variation, except


n his warfare upon the unfortunate
niger. In this, it may be reasonably
supposed, that he will remain unchange-
able while life lasts. or his tongue is able
% lisp the words = Democratic party.
Sir, the repeal of this Article will not
grant the right of suffrage to the negro,
in the State. nor will il give him dollar