Year: 1866

question will come to the conclusion that negro


can read when the result is that he must also vote


Will they accept testimony that be has been ir


the army when they do not want his ballot brought
| to bear against them his bayonet frequently


was turing the war ? Do you suppose that they


will tax him when they know that taxation give,


him the power to interfere ir the Government 7


More than that do not suppose that the color


ed men of this district would be safe in coming tc


the polls. l am pretty sure that in the old slave
States you would have to muster the entire black


male Pr poation thct they might in safety 60 to


the polls.


| have thus given. with less preparation than
ought to have made for the discussion Of ques-


ton like this, the views entertain upon this sub
Ject. But beyond this, when we proclaimed the
emancipation OF the slaves, and put their lives in


peril for the defense of the country, did in ef
feet guaranty to them substantially the rights of
American citizens, and Christian posterty, and
heathen coun tries will demand how have kept
that faith. MIR. speaker, We are to answer for
eur treatment OF the celored people of this coun
try; and it will prove in the end impractcable to
secure to men of color civil rights unless the
persons who claim these rights fortified by
the political right of voting. With the right OF
voting everything that man ought to have, or
erjoy, OF civil rights, comes to him. Without
the right 10 vote he is secure in nothing. | can
not cons seni, after all the guards and Safeguard
which may be prepared for the defense of colored
men in any enjoyment of their iights-l cannot
consent that they shall be deprived of the ri hit to
protect themselves. One hundred and e9hty-six
thousand of them have been in the army of the
United States. They have stood IN the place of
sons and brothers and friends. They have
fallen in defense of the country, they have earned
the rig ht share in the Government, and if you
deny them the elective franchise, know not how
th=y are to be protected. Otherwise YOU furnish
the protection which is given the lamb when COM
mended TO the wolf. There is an ancient history
that a sparrow pursued by hawk took refuge n
the chief assembly OF Athens IN the bosom of a
member of that ustrous body, and that Sena-
tor 10 anger hurled 1t violently from him. 1t fell
the ground, dead, and such the horror and
Indignation because of that incident, of men in
that ancient but not Christianzzd b body-men liv-
ing in the light of nature and reason only-that
they imr cad stely PEELED the brutal Areopagite
from his and from association of human leg
islators. Wha; will be said of US, not by Christ |
ian, but by heathen nations even, If after accept
log the blood and sacrifice of these men, We hurl
them from and allow them to be the victim. OF
those sho have tvranized over hem tor centuries.
l know OF no crime that exec, ds ,ai.. know OF
none tina, is its parallel ard if this country is |
true to itself II will rise in the majesty OF it,
strength and maintain policy, here and elsewhere |
10y which The rights Of tue coiored people shall be
secured through ther own power. In peace |
the ballot, IN the bayonet.'


i. is maxim OF another language, which VT |
may well apply TO ourselves, that where the voting
register ends, the military roster of rebellion be-
gins and If you leave these four millions of peo-
pie 10 the care and custody of the men who have
and carried this rebellion, then
you treasure up for untold years the elements of /
social and civil war, which must not only desc late
and parayz5 the South h, but shake this Cove rn-
ment to is very foundation