Year: 1867




crustation Of the hardened con-


science, and make men feel and re-


alize their true situation.


1 have proved that these mill
tary bills violate the Constitution,
and that you, in carrying them,
out, violate it and your amnesty
oath and your registry oath. And
what is your purpose? It must
be- a great good. you seek, to in
duce you to commit such crime
and folly.
Sometimes men wink at what
is by strict technicalities wrong:
in the individual, to accomplish
some great good to the public. /
do not recognize the correctness
of such action but what do you
propose by trampling upon the
Constitution and violating: your
own solemn 'oaths It is to save
the State and preserve liberty?
This is not the object, but the -pur-
pose is as infamous as the measure
resorted to effectit. You first pro-
pose to abrogate your State Gov
ernments by authority Of the So
called Congress-a mere conclayc
of a portion Of the members Of
that body. By whom is this die
tated? The principle that who:
ever forns~a government should
form it for themselves as well as
for others, is a correct one but
the men who propose this for US
do not live in any Of the ten States
to be affected by their legislation.
It is not made to suit either black
or white, or any other class of-our
people, but to suit themselves,
while they are not affected by it;
and if you act upon their propo-
sition, in q manner to suit your
selves, you will not be- accepted
by them; nay, you violate the Con-
stitution to subvert the Govern
ment. And by carrying out these
you distranchise your
own people. Suppose we aoncede,
for argument, that it is right to
all the negroes: If
this be right, by what principle of
law or morals do we .disfranchise
the white people? 20, but" you
say, "the whites have been rebels"
Then they should all be disfran-
chised, and not~a part Of them.
Besides, the government you are
to frame is to be a civil govern
ment, and last for all time, and for
peace, when there can be no reb-
els. l see it stated that General
Siskles has advised that the dis
franchising feature be repealed or
modified, and for the reason that
the enfranchised class are not fit
to fill the Offices. Well, if he has
done 50, he has acted wisely, and
has shown himself capable Of ap-
preciating one truth. And it is
great truth-one that will hide
multitude of sins and it might be
we'll for his fame if this recommen-
dation alone could be remembered
of his administration. In the fact
that republican government, can
rest upon and be perpetuated only,
by the virtue. and intelligence Of
the people, you propose to exclude
the most intelligent from partici-
pating in the government forever!


You will by these measures in,
augurate war Of races. A peo-
pie who will abrogate their own
government and disfranchise the
most intelligent of them at the
dictation Of those who are not to
affected thereby, and live under
the dictation Of a foreign power,
have no conscience; but if you
have a conscience, I hope to reach
it. BY all you hold dear [ warn
you that by accepting these mill
tary bills you inaugurate a mea-
sure that will exterminate the At
rican race. Some Of you who have
come among us are taking the ne


GRO by the arm-telling him that
You are his friend, and that you
gave him his liberty! Te hypo-
critics! YE wH1rED sEPULcHREs !!


Ye mean in your hearts to deceive
and buy up the negro vote for
your own benefit. Applause.


The negroes know no better; but
I would ask them: If these men
are faithless to the Constitution of
the country, how can they be faith
full to you.?' Yet these men admit
in the very act that they are dis
regarding the Constitution They
take an oath to support it, with
the purpose and intent formed be-
forehand to violate it, and vote
for measures contrary toit! They


are not fit to be trusted by any


animal, dog or man! [Applause.]


Such a man would betray his point


er, and such a woman sell her


poodle! They are not capable of


being the friends Of anybody but


themselves. I don't pity the


whites so much who are to suffer


bv these measures. "You knew


your duty and did it not" and if
YOU are beaten with many stripes,


we have the authority Of Scripture
for saying that your punishment