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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； traveling every year to New Orleans； Nashville； and even to Cincinnati； to dispose of their masters' crops。 The tree colored citizens of Opelousas； St。 Martinsville； and all the Attakapas country in Louisiana； are as respectable and intelligent as an ordinary community of whites。 They speak the French and English languages； educate their children in music and 〃the arts；〃 and they pay their taxes on more than fifteen millions of dollars。
Gentlemen of the opposition； I beseech you to remember that our State and our country ask from us something more than party tactics。 It is absolutely necessary that the loyal blacks at the South should vote； in order to save the loyal whites。 Let Connecticut； without regard to party； set them an example that shall influence the action at the South； and prevent a new form of slavery from arising there； which shall make all our expenditure of blood and treasure fruitless。
But some persons have this color prejudice simply by the force of education； and they say； 〃Well； a nigger is a nigger； and he can't be anything else。 I hate niggers； anyhow。〃 Twenty years ago I crossed the Atlantic； and among our passengers was an Irish judge； who was coming out to Newfoundland as chief justice。 He was an exceedingly intelligent and polished gentleman； and extremely witty。 The passengers from the New England States and those from the South got into a discussion on the subject of slavery； which lasted three days。 The Southerners were finally worsted； and when their arguments were exhausted； they fell back on the old story； by saying： 〃Oh！ curse a nigger； he ain't half human anyhow； he had no business to be a nigger； etc。〃 One of the gentlemen then turned to the Irish judge； and asked his opinion of the merits of the controversy。 The judge replied：
〃Gentlemen； I have listened with much edification to your arguments pro and con during three days。 I was quite inclined to think the anti…slavery gentlemen had justice and right on their side； but the last argument from the South has changed my mind。 I say a 'nigger has no business to be a nigger；' and we should kick him out of society and trample him under footalways provided； gentlemen； you prove he was born black at his own particular request。 If he had no word to say in the matter； of course he is blameless for his color； and is entitled to the same respect that other men are who properly behave themselves！〃
Mr。 Speaker： I am no politician； I came to this legislature simply because I wish to have the honor of voting for the two constitutional amendmentsone for driving slavery entirely out of our country； the other to allow men of education and good moral character to vote； regardless of the color of their skins。 To give my voice for these two philanthropic； just and Christian measures is all the glory I ask legislativewise。 I care nothing whatever for any sect or party under heaven； as such。 I have no axes to grind； no logs to roll； no favors to ask。 All I desire is to do what is right； and prevent what is wrong。 I believe in no 〃expediency〃 that is not predicated of justice； for in all thingspolitics； as well as everything elseI know that 〃honesty is the best policy。〃 A retributive Providence will unerringly and speedily search out all wrong…doing； hence； right is always the best in the long run。 Certainly；； in the light of the great American spirit of liberty and equal rights which is sweeping over this country； and making the thrones of tyrants totter in the Old World； no party can afford to carry slavery； either of body or of mind。 Knock off your manacles and let the man go free。 Take down the blinds from his intellect； and let in the light of education and Christian culture。 When this is done you have developed a man。 Give him the responsibility of a man and the self…respect of a man； by granting him the right of suffrage； Let universal education； and the universal franchise be the motto of free America； and the toiling millions of Europe； who are watching you with such intense interest； will hail us as their saviours。 Let us loyally sink 〃party〃 on this question； and go for 〃God and our Country。〃 Let no man attach an eternal stigma to his name by shutting his eyes to the great lesson of the hour； and voting against permitting the people to express their opinion on this important subject。 Let us unanimously grant this truly democratic boon。 Then； when our laws of franchise are settled on a just basis； let future parties divide where they honestly differ on State or national questions which do nor trench upon the claims of manhood or American citizenship。
CHAPTER XXXVII。 BURNING OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM。
HOW BARNUM RECEIVED THE TIDINGSHUMOROUS DESCRIPTION OF THE FIREA PUBLIC CALAMITYGREELEY'S ADVICEINTENTION TO RE…ESTABLISH THE MUSEUMSPEECH AT EMPLOYEES' BENEFIT。
On the 13th day of July； 1865； when Barnum was speaking in the Legislature at Hartford； against the railroad schemes； a telegram was handed him from his son…in…law and assistant manager in New York； S。 H。 Hurd； saying that the American Museum was in flames and its total destruction certain。
Barnum glanced at the dispatch； folded and laid it in his desk； and went calmly on with his speech。 At the conclusion of his remarks； the bill which he was advocating was voted upon and carried； and the House adjourned。
Not until then did Barnum hand the telegram to his friend； William G。 Coe； of Winsted； who immediately communicated the intelligence to several members。
Warm sympathizers at once crowded around him； and one of his strongest opponents pushing forward； seized his hand； and said： 〃Mr。 Barnum； I am truly sorry to hear of your great misfortune。〃
〃Sorry；〃 replied Barnum； 〃why； my dear sir； I shall not have time to be sorry in a week！ It will take me at least that length of time before I can get over laughing at having whipped you all so nicely on that bill。〃
But he did find time to be sorry when； next day； he went to New York and saw nothing of what had been the American Museum but a smouldering mass of debris。
Here was destroyed； in a few hours； the result of many years' toil in accumulating from every part of the world myriads of curious productions of nature and arta collection which a half a million of dollars and a quarter of a century could not restore。
In addition to these； there were many Revolutionary relics and other articles of historical interest that could never be duplicated。 Not a thousand dollars worth of property was saved； the loss was irreparable； and the insurance was only forty thousand dollars。
The fire probably originated in the engine…room； where steam was constantly kept up to pump fresh air into the waters of the aquaria and to propel the immense fans for cooling the atmosphere of the rooms。
All the New York newspapers made a great 〃sensation〃 of the fire； and the full particulars were copied in journals throughout the country。 A facetious reporter； Mr。 Nathan D。 Urner； of the Tribune； wrote the following amusing account； which appeared in that journ