按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the minority of the committee to whom the question was referred gave certain reasons for rejecting the contemplated amendment； and in reply to this minority report； Barnum spoke； May 26th； 1865； as follows：ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT。
Mr。 Speaker： I will not attempt to notice at any length the declamation of the honorable gentleman from Milford； for certainly I have heard nothing from his lips approaching to the dignity of argument。 I agree with the gentleman that the right of suffrage is 〃dearly and sacredly cherished by the white man〃； and it is because this right is so dear and sacred； that I wish to see it extended to every educated moral man within our State； without regard to color。 He tells us that one race is a vessel to honor； and another to dishonor； and that he has seen on ancient Egyptian monuments the negro represented as 〃a hewer of wood and a drawer of water。〃 This is doubtless true； and the gentleman seems determined always to KEEP the negro a 〃vessel of dishonor；〃 and a 〃hewer of wood。〃 We； on the other hand； propose to give him the opportunity of expanding his faculties and elevating himself to true manhood。 He says he 〃hates and abhors； and despises demagogism。〃 I am rejoiced to hear it； and I trust we shall see tangible evidence of the truth of what he professes in his abandonment of that slavery to party which is the mere trick and trap of the demagogue。
When； a few days since； this honorable body voted unanimously for the Amendment of the United States Constitution； abolishing human slavery； I not only thanked God from my heart of hearts； but I felt like going down on my knees to the gentlemen of the opposition； for the wisdom they had exhibited in bowing to the logic of events by dropping that dead weight of slavery which had disrupted the Democratic party； with which I had been so long connected。 And on this occasion I wish again to appeal to the wisdom and loyalty of my Democratic friends。 I say Democratic 〃friends；〃 for I am and ever was； a thorough； out and out Democrat。 I supported General Jackson； and voted for every Democratic president after him； up to and including Pierce； for I really thought Pierce was a Democrat until he proved the contrary； as I conceived； in the Kansas question。 My democracy goes for the greatest good to the greatest number； for equal and exact justice to all men； and for a submission to the will of the majority。 It was the repudiation by the Southern Democracy of this great democratic doctrine of majority rule which opened the rebellion。
And now； Mr。 Speaker； let me remind our Democratic friends that the present question simply asks that a majority of the legal voters； the white citizens of this State； may decide whether or not colored men of good moral character； WHO ARE ABLE TO READ； and who possess all the qualifications of white voters； shall be entitled to the elective franchise。 The opposition may have their own ideas； or may be in doubt upon this subject； but surely no true Democrat will dare to refuse permission to our fellow…citizens to decide the question。
Negro slavery； and its legitimate outgrowths of ignorance； tyranny and oppression； have caused this gigantic rebellion； which has cost our country thousands of millions of treasure； and hundreds of thousands of human lives in defending a principle。 And where was this poor； down…trodden colored race in this rebellion？ Did they seize the 〃opportunity〃 when their masters were engaged with a powerful foe； to break out in insurrection； and massacre those tyrants who had so long held them in the most cruel bondage？ No； Mr。 Speaker； they did not do this。 My 〃Democratic〃 friends would have done it。 I would have done it。 Irishmen； Chinamen； Portuguese； would have done it； any white man would have done it； but the poor black man is like a lamb in his nature compared with the white man。 The black man possesses a confiding disposition； thoroughly tinctured with religious enthusiasm； and not characterized by a spirit of revenge。 No； the only barbarous massacres we heard of； during the war； were those committed by their white masters on their poor； defenceless white prisoners； and to the eternal disgrace of southern white 〃Democratic〃 rebels； be it said； these instances of barbarism were numerous all through the war。 When this rebellion first broke out； the northern Democracy raised a hue…and…cry against permitting the negroes to fight； but when such a measure seemed necessary； in order to put down traitors； these colored men took their muskets in hand and made their bodies a wall of defence for the loyal citizens of the North。 And now； when our grateful white citizens ask from this assembly the privilege of deciding by their votes whether these colored men； who at least； were partially our saviours in the war； may or may not； under proper restrictions； become participants in that great salvation； I am amazed that men calling themselves Democrats dare refuse to grant this democratic measure。 We wish to educate ignorant men； white or black。 Ignorance is incompatible with the genius of our free institutions。 In the very nature of things it jeopardizes their stability； and it is always unsafe to transgress the laws of nature。 We cannot safely shut ourselves up with ignorance and brutality； we must educate and Christianize those who are now by circumstances our social inferiors。
Years ago； I was afraid of foreign voters。 I feared that when Europe poured her teeming millions of working people upon our shores； our extended laws of franchise would enable them to swamp our free institutions； and reduce us to anarchy。 But much reflection has satisfied me that we have only to elevate these millions and their descendants to the standard of American citizenship； and we shall find sufficient of the leaven of liberty in our system of government to absorb all foreign elements and assimilate them to a truly democratic form of government。
Mr。 Speaker： We cannot afford to carry passengers and have them live under our government with no real vital interest in its perpetuity。 Every man must be a joint owner。
The only safe inhabitants of a free country are educated citizens who vote。
Nor in a free government can we afford to employ journeymen； they may be apprenticed until they learn to read； and study our institutions； and then let them become joint proprietors and feel a proportionate responsibility。 The two learned and distinguished authors of the minority report have been studying the science of ethnology and have treated us with a dissertation on the races。 And what have they attempted to show？ Why； that a race which； simply on account of the color of the skin； has long been buried in slavery at the South； and even at the North has been tabooed and scarcely permitted to rise above the dignity of whitewashers and boot…blacks； does not exhibit the same polish and refinement that the white citizens do who have enjoyed the advantages of civilization； education； Christian culture and self…respect which can only be attained by those who share in making the laws under which they live。
Do our Democratic friends assume that the negroes are not human？ I have heard professed Democrats claim even that； but do the authors of t