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a poor beggar woman rushed to the side of the carriage； and gently seizing the lady by the hand； exclaimed； 〃For the love of God give me something to save my poor sick children from starvation。 You are rich； I am your poor sister； for God is our common Father。〃
〃Wretch！〃 exclaimed the proud lady； casting the woman's hand away； 〃don't call me sister； I have nothing in common with such low brutes as you。〃 And the great lady doubtless thought she was formed of finer clay than this suffering mendicant； but when a few days afterward she was brought to a sick bed by the smallpox； contracted by touching the hand of that poor wretch； she felt the evidence that they belonged to the same great family； and were subject to the same pains and diseases。
The State of Connecticut； like New Jersey； is a border State of New York。 New York has a great commercial city； where aldermen rob by the tens of thousands； and where principal is studied much more than principle。 I can readily understand how the negro has come to be debased at the North as well as at the South。 The interests of the two sections in the product of negro labor were nearly identical。 The North wanted Southern cotton and the South was ready in turn to buy from the North whatever was needed in the way of Northern supplies and manufactures。 This community of commercial interests led to an identity in political principles； especially in matters pertaining to the negro racethe working race of the Southwhich produced the cotton and consumed so much of what Northern merchants and manufacturers sold for plantation use。 The Southern planters were good customers and were worth conciliating。 So when Connecticut proposed in 1818 to continue to admit colored men to the franchise； the South protested against thus elevating the negroes； and Connecticut succumbed。 No other New England State has ever so disgraced herself； and now Connecticut Democrats are asked to permit the white citizens of this State to express their opinion in regard to reinstating the colored man where our Revolutionary sires placed him under the Constitution。 Now； gentlemen； 〃Democrats；〃 as you call yourselves； you who speak so flippantly of your 〃loyalty；〃 your 〃love for the Union〃 and your 〃love for the people〃； you who are generally talking right and voting wrong； we ask you to come forward and act 〃democratically；〃 by letting your masters； the people； speak。
The word 〃white〃 in the Constitution cannot be strictly and literally construed。 The opposition express great love for white blood。 Will they let a mulatto vote half the time； a quadroon three…fourths； and an octoroon seven…eighths of the time？ If not； why not？ Will they enslave seven…eighths of a white man because one…eighth is not Caucasian？ Is this democratic？ Shall not the majority seven control the minority one？ Out on such 〃democracy。〃
But a Democratic minority committee （of two） seem to have done something besides study ethnology。 They have also paid great attention to fine arts； and are particularly anxious that all voters shall have a 〃genius for the arts。〃 I would like to ask them if it has always been political practice to insist that every voter in the great 〃unwashed〃 and 〃unterrified〃 of any party should become a member of the Academy of Arts before he votes the 〃regular〃 ticket？ I thought he was received into the full fellowship of a political party if he could exhibit sufficient 〃inventive faculties and genius for the arts；〃 to enable him to paint a black eye。 Can a man whose 〃genius for the arts〃 enables him to strike from the shoulder scientifically； be admitted to full fellowship in a political party？ Is it evident that the political artist has studied the old masters； if he exhibits his genius by tapping an opponent's head with a shillelah？ The oldest master in this school of art was Cain； and so canes have been made to play their part in politics； at the polls and even in the United States Senate Chamber。
Is 〃genius for the arts and those occupations requiring intellect and wisdom〃 sufficiently exemplified in adroitly stuffing ballot…boxes； forging soldiers' votes； and copying a directory； as has been done； as the return list of votes？ Is the 〃inventive faculty〃 of 〃voting early and often〃 a passport to political brotherhood？ Is it satisfactory evidence of 〃artistic〃 genius； to head a mob？ and a mob which is led and guided by political passion； as numerous instances in our history prove； is the worst of mobs。 Is it evidence of 〃high art〃 to lynch a man by hanging him to the nearest tree or lamp…post？ Is a 〃whisky scrimmage〃 one of the lost arts restored？ We all know how certain 〃artists〃 are prone to embellish elections and to enhance the excitements of political campaigns by inciting riots； and the frequency with which these disgraceful outbreaks have occurred of late； especially in some of the populous cities； is cause for just alarm。 It is dangerous 〃art。〃
Mr。 Speaker： I repeat that I am a friend to the Irishman。 I have traveled through his native country and have seen how he is oppressed。 I have listened to the eloquent and patriotic appeals of Daniel O'Connell； in Conciliation Hall； in Dublin； and I have gladly contributed to his fund for ameliorating the condition of his countrymen。 I rejoice to see them rushing to this land of liberty and independence； and it is because I am their friend that I denounce the demagogues who attempt to blind and mislead them to vote in the interests of any party against the interests of humanity； and the principles of true democracy。 My neighbors will testify that at mid…winter I employ Irishmen by the hundred to do work that is not absolutely necessary； in order to help them support their families。
After hearing the minority report last week； I began to feel that I might be disfranchised； for I have no great degree of 〃genius for the arts；〃 I felt； therefore； that I must get 〃posted〃 on that subject as soon as possible。 I at once sauntered into the Senate Chamber to look at the paintings： there I saw portraits of great men； and I saw two empty frames from which the pictures had been removed。 These missing paintings； I was told； were portraits of two ex…Governors of the State； whose position on political affairs was obnoxious to the dominant party in the Legislature； and especially obnoxious were the supposed sentiments of these governors on the war。 Therefore； the Senate voted to remove the pictures； and thus proved； as it would seem； that there is an intimate connection between politics and art。
I have repeatedly traveled through every State in the South； and I assert； what every intelligent officer and soldier who has resided there will corroborate； that the slaves； as a body are more intelligent than the poor whites。 No man who has not been there can conceive to what a low depth of ignorance the poor snuff…taking； clay…eating whites of some portions of the South have descended。 I trust the day is not far distant when the 〃common school〃 shall throw its illuminating rays through this Egyptian pall。
I have known slave mechanics to be sold for 3；000； and even 5；000 each； and others could not be bought at all； and I have seen intelligent slaves acting as stewards for their masters