Year: 1868

ment against the rights of working
men. VIII it not be sickening sight t
when the Senator from Wisconsin.
the champion of the Administration
and his Democratic associates stand
up here in face Of the laboring men
Of the country, the landless working
men, who fought our battles. and put
the brand Of degradation upon the
brow of toiling men? Can they de-
grade black working men without dis
honoring white laboring men? Has
it not been true that whenever the
black laboriug man was smitten the
white working man felt the blow ?
Sir, | tell the Senator from Wiscon
sin. tell President Johnson. | tell
their Democratic, conservative, aris.
tocratic supporters, that the man who
would degrade the black laboring
man would, if he had the power put
the brand of degradation upon the
brow of the white laboring man.


If there be man in the United
States who needs the ballot for the
protection Of his manhood, his rights,
and privileges as an American citizen,
that man Is the poor, landlesS work
ing man. 1t matters not whether he
be white man or a black man, the
possession of the ballot increases his
sense of sclf-respect, augments his
power, and wins the consideration of
others. Sir, | appeal to the toiling
men of the United States to mark
this proposition TO take the ballot
from al least six hundred thousand
working men unless they are the pos
SCISSORS of freehods to the value Of
$3.50. Ifthe white working men Of
the United States are true to them
selves, to the spirit of our Republican
institutions, they will see to it that
this reactionary policy, which Is the
policy of the \ administration and the
platform of blind and unreasonipg
conservatism, shall be marked ami
branded with their sternest condem-
nation


Sir. | welcome the contest hcre in
aneuroted by the champion of the \ d.
ministration and the leader OF the
Conservatives. Standing upon the
basis of eternal right. of liberty for
all and of Justice to all, we Will join
issue with gentlemen who fight I'M
der the banner on which is inscribed
freehold qualifications for landless
working men.


The honorable Senator questioned
the patriotism Of the black men of
the South during the rebellion. He
did not assert that they were diSloval
bnt he told Us they did the work of
disloyalty. Sir, | heard these obser-
Yatlons OF the Senator, who was once
with US, If not Of us, with profound
regret. because the black men did
not raIse the banner OF msurrection,
did not maugurate a war Of races,
did not redden their hands IN the
blood OF women and children, and
thus bring destruction upon them
selves and danger to the cause of 10y
al America, the Senator questions
their LOYALTY to the country. Can
anything be more unjust, more cruel =!
In the hghtS that Hash upon us from
tonr years OF civil war the loyalty OF
the black men OF the rebel States Is
clear to the comprehension OF intel
IIgent patriotism. he unVaryInG
testimony OF our military command
crs and OF our soldiers IS that the
black men OF the South welcomed
ana cheered the old nag whenever
ana Wherever II appeared among
them.


W herever our armies marched,
Wherever our soldiers wandered IN
the Iand OF the rebellion, the black
men OF the South met them with
warm ana generous greetings Ever
were they faithful to the Hag' ever
ana their prayers ascend to GOD for
the success OF their emanclpators.
Ihey were ever true TO our sons who
longht the battles OF the country
WhIle hyIng, ana they cover with
mowers the graves OF our fallen heroes
IN the lana OF the rebelIIon. hese
people possessing lar more IntellI-
gence than the Senator accords to
them, clearly comprehended the con
dItlon OF affairs. 6lded their time, gave
thelr hopes, ana daily invoked IN their
IoWly CABINS the blessings OF Al
mighty Pod upon their country. Its
cause and Its defenders. The name OF
= hraHam Lincoln Is known ana rev
cred IN every black man cabin IN the