Year: 1866

pacity for close observation; but it i:


nevertheless true that the great mass
Of the African race appears to have
low estimate Of the value Of truth
as an element of character, as O
means of advancing their interest
among their fellows equally as
among the whites.


1t is certain, ! think, that no suf.
ficient allowance is made by those
who object most strongly to the pol
icy Of concoding this policy to the
black man, for the degradation Of
his condition while in state ofslave,
ry, and the absence, for tho most
part, of any stimulant or induce
mcnt to excite their ambition to
cultivate the virtues Of truth and
regular habits, tho foundation Of
character. With the great mass OF
them, there has been no fair field
for cultivation of truth and honesty
After all the reflection | can give
the subject, 1 believe that the con
cession of this right to testify in all
cases where the black man is con-
cerned, is necessary TO the security
Of his own personal rights; and it is
my opinion, if he were allowed to
testify in all cases, it would not be
attended with the Inconvenience or
disadvantage that is generally ap-
pretended, The weight that is Civ
on to all testimony by witnesses de-
ponds chiefly upon the character of
the witness, and the penalties against
perjury, operating equally upon the
black man and the white, would soon
produce a percoptible reformation.


The millions Of the African race
in the South, enjoying comparative
ly n temperate climate, are advanced
in the arts of civilization far beyond
their race in savage state, or even
the more civilized descendants of
slaves within the tropics, where they
can subsist upon the spontaneous
productions of the earth; yet all ex-
perience teaches that where large
numbers of the race are left to their
own guidance, under the most ia
vorable circumstances, the mass of
them are doomed to perish before
arriving at the average period of old
age common to their race. Of the
four millions recently freed in the
South how many have already per-
ished by disease or the vices to
which they. are exposed? We shall
probably never know tho extent of
the mortality since the commence
ment Of the war. We may reason
ably conjecture that within the next
decade, or ten years, two and q half
millions will have perished, and in
the next succeeding decade, not
more than half q million will sur
vive! What a field for the display
of the expansive benevolence Of the
true philanthropist! What scope
for the employment of the active,
charitable associations Of the rich
and populous North; and l know
that there are true, generous, and
noble hearts at the North, as well
as in the South; but, still, when all
is done that can be done to mitigate
the condition of the African race in
the South, it is melancholy to re-
fleet that small remnant onl y will
survive the present generation.


The President atCne time appear
ed to attribute some importance to
the selection Of such members of
Congress in the elections by the
people, as could take the tost oath
of 1862, believing, no doubt, that it
would be the removal of an obstacle
that would give rise to delay, or at
all events might be an impediment
in the way Of prompt organiza-
ton of Congress, including Sena-
tors and Representatives from the
South. l see that very little care
was taken in the elections which
have occurred, to select such men
as could be expected to take that
oath, and / rejoice that it so hap
pened, and hope that no man from
the South will, on any account, take
the oath, or do anything by which
such test of qualification can be
drawn into precedent, or be sane
toned, even for a day for it is
clearly ono of those insidious inno-
vations or encroachments upon the
wisest institutions of government
that occasionally take place in time
of great political excitement and
disturbance, which, if adopted, be-
come precedents, to justify changes
that destroy or revolutionize the
government itself If the fanatical
party in the North had succeeded
in forming conspiracy to effect a
total change of government, there
could be no more effective device
adopted than the test oath enacted
in 1862. A little reflection will be
sufficient to detect the manner in
which il can be made to accomplish
the purposes desired.


If the qualifications prescribed
by the Constitution, for members Of
Congress, or any officer necessary
to the Government created by the