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Do our Democratic friends assume that the negroes are not human？ I have heard professed Democrats claim even that； but do the authors of this minority report insist that the negro is a beast？ Is his body not tenanted by an immortal spirit？ If this is the position of the gentlemen； then I confess a beast cannot reason； and this minority committee are right in declaring that 〃the negro can develop no inventive faculties or genius for the arts。〃 For although the elephant may be taught to plow； or the dog to carry your market…basket by his teeth； you cannot teach them to shave notes； to speculate in gold； or even to vote； whereas； the experience of all political parties shows that men may be taught to vote； even when they do not know what the ticket means。
But if the colored man is indeed a man； then his manhood with proper training can be developed。 His soul may appear dormant； his brain inactive； but there is a vitality there； and Nature will assert herself if you will give her the opportunity。
Suppose an inhabitant of another planet should drop down upon this portion of our globe at mid…winter。 He would find the earth covered with snow and ice； and congealed almost to the consistency of granite。 The trees are leafless； everything is cold and barren； no green thing is to be seen； the inhabitants are chilled； and stalk about shivering； from place to place； he would exclaim； 〃Surely this is not life； this means annihilation。 No flesh and blood can long endure this； this frozen earth is bound in the everlasting embraces of adamantine frost； and can never develop vegetation for the sustenance of any living thing。〃 He little dreams of the priceless myriads of germs which bountiful Nature has safely garnered in the warm bosom of our mother earth； he sees no evidence of that vitality which the beneficent sun will develop to grace and beautify the world。 But let him remain till March or April； and as the snow begins to melt away； he discovers the beautiful crocus struggling through the half…frozen ground； the snow…drops appear in all their chaste beauty； the buds of the swamp…maple shoot forth； the beautiful magnolia opens her splendid blossoms； the sassafras adds its evidence of life； the pearl…white blossoms of the dog…wood light up every forest： and while our stranger is rubbing his eyes in astonishment； the earth is covered with her emerald velvet carpet； rich foliage and brilliant colored blossoms adorn the trees； fragrant flowers are enwreathing every wayside； the swift…winged birds float through the air and send forth joyous notes of gratitude from every tree…top； the merry lambs skip joyfully around their verdant pasture…grounds； and everywhere is our stranger surrounded with life； beauty； joy and gladness。
So it is with the poor African。 You may take a dozen specimens of both sexes from the lowest type of man found in Africa； their race has been buried for ages in ignorance and barbarism； and you can scarcely perceive that they have any more of manhood or womanhood than so many orang…outangs or gorillas。 You look at their low foreheads； their thick skulls and lips； their woolly heads； their flat noses； their dull； lazy eyes； and you may he tempted to adopt the language of this minority committee； and exclaim： Surely these people have 〃no inventive faculties； no genius for the arts； or for any of those occupations requiring intellect and wisdom。〃 But bring them out into the light of civilization； let them and their children come into the genial sunshine of Christianity； teach them industry； self…reliance； and self…respect； let them learn what too few white Christians have yet understood； that cleanliness is akin to godliness； and a part of godliness； and the human soul will begin to develop itself。 Each generation； blessed with churches and common schools will gradually exhibit the result of such culture； the low foreheads will be raised and widened by an active and expanded brain； the vacant eye of barbarism； ignorance and idleness will light up with the fire of intelligence； education； ambition； activity and Christian civilization； and you will find the immortal soul asserting her dignity； by the development of a man who would startle by his intelligence the honorable gentleman from Wallingford； who has presumed to compare beings made in God's image with 〃oxen and asses。〃 That honorable gentleman； if he is rightly reported in the papers （I did not have the happiness to hear his speech）； has mistaken the nature of the colored man。 The honorable gentleman reminds me of the young man who went abroad； and when he returned； there was nothing in America that could compare with what he had seen in foreign lands。 Niagara Falls was nowhere； the White Mountains were 〃knocked higher than a kite〃 by Mont Blanc； our rivers were so large that they were vulgar； when contrasted with the beautiful little streams and rivulets of Europe； our New York Central Park was eclipsed by the Bois de Bologne and the Champs Elysees of Paris； or Hyde or Regent Park of London； to say nothing of the great Phoenix Park at Dublin。
〃They have introduced a couple of Venetian gondolas on the large pond in Central Park；〃 remarked a friend。
〃All very well；〃 replied the verdant traveler； 〃but between you and me； these birds can't stand our cold climate more than one season。〃 The gentleman from Wallingford evidently had as little idea of the true nature of the African as the young swell had of the pleasure…boats of Venice。
Mr。 Johnson； of Wallingford： 〃The gentleman misapprehends my remarks。 The gentleman from Norwich had urged that the negro should vote because they have fought in our battles。 I replied that oxen and asses can fight； and therefore should； on the same grounds； be entitled to vote。〃
Mr。 Barnum： I accept the gentleman's explanation。 Doubtless General Grant will feel himself highly complimented when he learns that it requires no greater capacity to handle the musket； and meet armed battalions in the field； than 〃oxen and asses〃 possess。
Let the educated free negro feel that he is a man； let him be trained in New England churches； schools and workshops； let him support himself； pay his taxes； and cast his vote； like other men； and he will put to everlasting shame the champions of modern Democracy； by the overwhelming evidence he will give in his own person of the great Scripture truth； that 〃God has made of one blood all the nations of men。〃 A human soul； 〃that God has created and Christ died for；〃 is not to be trifled with。 It may tenant the body of a Chinaman； a Turk； an Arab or a Hottentotit is still an immortal spirit； and； amid all assumptions of caste； it will in due time vindicate the great fact that； without regard to color or condition； all men are equally children of the common Father。
A few years since； an English lord and his family were riding in his carriage in Liverpool。 It was an elegant equipage； the servants were dressed in rich livery； the horses caparisoned in the most costly style； and everything betokened that the establishment belonged to a scion of England's proudest aristocracy。 The carriage stopped in front of a palatial residence。 At this moment a poor beggar woman rushed to the side of the carriage； and