Year: 1867




t it SPEECH 20
..l l,fit, a.. MR.. MORRIS ,,
The debate in the Legislator. "a ."o IL


riage question naturally interested 'e"'e,
Of the Capital more than any other ,tol,s y
the session. We have read the debates pre-.
| ty regularly, but we do not remember having
encountered before any allusion to the caller
| les. On this occasion however, MIR. Atkinsol
| of Emden, familiarly known at home as Bill
Kit aud a very suitable spokesman for a ma
jority which had nothing to say and seemed
generally aware of it, concluded his remarks
with the following fine peroration: -.-...


Mr.. Speaker, l do not believe, sir that IN
this galaxy of beauty, before us, and around
us, there is lady who would be willing to
marry negro, mulatto, or an Indian. Ap-
plause. Nor do | believe, sir, there is man
on the floor of this House, who would not
shrink from, and feel horror struck at the idea
at being called grandfather by a colored child.
(Continued cheering. ..a....


Mr. Kit, who OH previous occasion had
announced that he belonged to the picket
guard of reformers, having gone to the rear in
this fearfully demorsiiz4d condition, Mr.. Nor
ris took the floor and spoke as follows:
n Mr.. Spesker,I have no holy horror in regard
to the possibility OF the intermarriace of the
races, no fear that the public or private nor
ais of the people will be debauched, or that
any physical or mental deterioration will re-
suit from such intermingling; it is simply
matter OF taste, and the only practical benefit
which can see as likely to result from the
passage of this bill, is that it throws down an
other of the barsiers to the progress of freedom
and equal rights, which have been erected and
sustained by the cruel spirit of caste and the
foolish prejudice against color which exist in
this country. e-fla1 a.


1t is not 80 much the positive benefit which
this bib will confer upon the colOred man, as
the moral power which it will carry with it,
saying TO them and the world, that we are
willing TO yield the prejudices which have
bound us in chains as strong as those which
have been upon their limbs--that we are
ready to welcome them to the great brother.
hood OF man that our sympathies are with
them in their efforts to raise themselves in the
scale OF moral being; and that we are ready
as mucn as IN US lies to atone for the great
wrong we have done this unfortunate rasse


am free to confess that ielt comparative
ly but little interest in this question. until T
witnessed the proceedings in this Holse pend-
ing the motion to lay this bill upon the table.
But when Legislative body, representing the
people OF thoroughly Republican State. less
than Two years alter the close of protracted
war that was waged for the maintenance OF
free principles, tail by only five votes in an at
tempt to deprive q member of the courtesy
usually extended to all who wish TO be heard
upon any subject properly before them; and
when to this attempt to abridge the freedom
of debate is added the Old and stereotyped
fling OF Snieger on the brain," and the poor
and heartless attempt at witticism of ''nigger
OH the heart" then this subject assumes an
interest. an Importance that did not attach it.
self to the original question.


These expressions to which have referred.
embody the arguments which are advanced
in opposition not only to- this BILL but are
made equally serviceable in the whole range
oil the negro question, and may be summed
up under two heads, viz, "nigser' and the
interiori OF the negro.


Inc hfst is the most terse, the most COM
prehensive, the easiest stated the best under
stood, and consequently the most popular; it
answers every argument and wards Off every
plea; 1t IS rung with all the changes which
ignorance, imposition, cowardice, cruelty, hate
and malice can invent There is no word in
the English language which seems to be so
prolific in its renderiDgs, and so unlailing in
its resources as this word s'nigger.v


The second argument, the inierority OF the
negro, is more fashionable. more sentimental,
more refined; it is better adapted to the skep-
tic OF a philosOphic turn OF mind, and its
theology will whitewash the basest act of in
justice. '"


Instead of attempting a direct answer to !