john mercer langston--emancipation and enfranchisement. the work of the republican party (c1875])

8/3/2019 John Mercer Langston--Emancipation and Enfranchisement. the Work of the Republican Party (c1875])

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EMANCIPATION AM) ENFRANCHISEMENT.TIIK WOliK OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY

Address of Prof. John H. Laogstoii, at Micotlie, 01..1/,. Pmideai and ftUw-dtizcm oj Ohio:

Withoul prelinffnary remark I niter a1 onceupon the performance of that duty which yourkind invitation to address you on this occasionenjoins. If my theme seemstrite, 1 am broughtto its discussion by the fact that in your 'Matevou are entering upon an important politicalcampaign, connected with which the most in-teresting issues are to be considered, and as towhich every citizen should be so well informedthat he can east his vote intelligently as well asconscientiously.Coming into power in 1801, the Republicanparty found the South practically in rebellionagainst the National authority, claiming thatslavery was not only to be perpetuated in theStates in whndi it existed by municipal regula-tion, but to be extended contrary to law, andeven at the endangerment and hazard of Amer-ican liberty itself, into free territory.The slave oligarchy demanded, insisted, thatthis all be done^ and that, too. after concessionhad been made even to the repeal of the Mis-souri Compromise, the passage of the FugitiveSlave law of 1830, and the decision of the Dredd-Scott case, in which Chief Justice Taney wentso far as to hold as a matter of law that theAfrican race, ''whether emancipated or not,had no rights or privileges but such as thosewho he'd the power and government mightchoose to grant;" and, in a social and politicalpoint of view, -'no rights white men werei>ound to respect."Concessions of such character, so fundamen-tal and radical, ought to have sathiied the ex-actions even of the slave power, since its exac rtions in fact could be supported by no sanctionin the history, law or usage of the country,but were in conflict with the genius and organiclaw of the Republic, the teachings of the fathersand founders of it, slave-holding and non-slave-holdihg.

Jefferson taught: '-The hour of emancipationis advancing in the march of time. This enter-prise is for the youngfor those who can followit up and bear it through to its consummation.It shall have my prayers, and these are theonly weapons of an old man. What execra-tions should the statesman be loaded with,who, permitting one-half of the citizens thusto trample on the rights of the other, trans-forms the one into despots and the other intoenemies, destroying the morals of one part andthe armor p itriai of the other! And can theliberties of a nation he thought secured whenwe have removed their only firm basis, a con-viction in the minds of people that their liber -

re the gift of God? Indeed, I tremble formy countrymen when 1 reflect that God is just,.aid tha justice cannot sleep forever. The Al-mighty has no attribute that can take sideswith us in such a contest ."

Franklin, in his celebrated Memorial, aspresident of the Pennsylvania Society for Pro-moting the Abolition of Slavery, addressed toCongress, uses this language:'Your memorialists particularly engaged i:i

attending to the distresses arising from xlavcrybelieve it. to be their indispensable duty to pre-

sent this subject to your notice. They haveobserved with real satisfaction that many Important and salutary powers are vested in youfor promoting the welfare and securing theblessings of liberty to the people of the UnitedStates; and as they conceive thai these bless-ings ought cheerfully to be administered, witJi-oui distinction of color, to all descriptions olpeople, so they indulge themselves in the pleas-ing expectation that nothing which can he donelor the relief of the unhappy objects of theircare will be omitted or delayed."Madison, the father of the Constitution,"thought it wrong to admit in the Constitu-tion the idea that there could Be property inman." And he said:

"I object to the word slave appearing in theConstitution, which, I trust, is to be the char-ter of freedom to unborn millions: nor wouldI willingly perpetuate, the memory of the factthat, slavery ever .existed in our country. It isa great evil, and, under the providence of God, ]look forward to some scheme of emancipationwhich shall free us from it. Do not, therefore,let us appear as if wg regarded it perpetual byusing in our free Constitution an odious wordopposed to every sentiment of liberty."

In dwelling upon the question of abolishingthe slave trade, he said: "The dictates ofhumanity, the principles oi the people, the na-tional safety and happiness, and prudent, policyrequire it of us. It is to be hoped that by ex-pressing a national disapprobation of the tradewe may destroy it and save our country fromreproaches and our posterity from the imbe-cility ever attendant on a country tilled with

I

slaves."The concessions named, however, seemed

! only to make the slave power more audacious! in its exactions till the Cnion itself was to be! dissolved, and the perpetuity of free inst.itu-jtions endangered, if full and en' ire concessionslot its demands was not made. Opposition! thereto, as indicated in the election of Abra-' ham Lincoln, furnished the occasion for demon-stration of hostile feelings, attitude and actson its part, and in !e- than sixty days aftehis inauguration as President of the GniteiStates the guns of the rebellion were dis-charged upon Sumter. Brougl into | iunder such circumstances, the first imperativeduty of the Republican party was the ;tion of the Union, threatened and assaulthe maintenance of the Federal Government,whose authority and power wen ' ; led; thesalvation of American liberty itse , siwell nigh lust through the insidious and milignaut"attacks of those who tarried, noat its overthrow, to accomplish their nefariousdesigns.At a large expenditure 01 treasure, theheaviest, sacrifice of life, through eon -age, wisdom and skill unmatched in the annals of national endeavor, the Republican party per-formed this duty iu the most triumphant man-ner. Indeed, not excepting that which recordsour Revolutionary triumphs, tl c most in1 iresling and brilliant chapter of our national historjis that which chronicles the devotion, the


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oisin, the sacrlfln forct - in ! he fearful andtO saVC the I'llil'll. t In- \.lmt and our free in- tit iitiocs.

In this stru .: : he Amerl . . I tiroughency of the party, h a - emam ipated, and

his emancipation wastti Hgeucy guar-anteed by constitutional regulation. Sulquently by the same agency and method theex slavfl was made a citizen, given the suffrageand became eligible to o ial position.Whether a military necessity broughl biin

in, or political necessitj brought him eu-, i-c MH'iit . it la nol necessary to our prc-

., ut pui ler. It answers to knowthat it was through the ai ti m of the Elepublian party that ho was m ide free, w hatever themotive moving to this action; and through its

he was invested with those rights, privi-im.1 Immunities which distinguish Ami ri

can citizenship. Whether prompted by mili-tary or political necessity, the action oi thepart] is none the less wise, nor its results the

[>t;ible.This action brings the colored American into

peculiar relations with and obligations to theKepubli" an party, and these relations and oblinations are made the mure continuous andbinding by the fact that the Republican party

bs him in the possession of the libertiesand rights which it has conferred.

the first view il would seem that gratitude alone might hold the emancipated andenfranchised class to perpetual support of thewhich ha6 douc such great things for it.Such considerations, however, may not deter-mine one's dutv in this regard. They will,

try justly may, influence the class bene-fits L, and, all other thiigs being equal, asietween parties, might very properly control

ion. Gratitude is always esteemed anindividual virtue. Whynot approve, commendand admirein classes, even nations? So we do.Do be governed by mere gratitude, however,ii determining one's political course of actios

prove pei nicious. In times of high politi-cal excitement, when reforms of financial, in-dustrial or other character are demanded,should a large class of the people, influencedby such reelings, by uniting themselves to aparty opposing such reforms, give it control>f the Government, and power to hinder or pre-vent national progress, the result would cer-tainly be accounted disadvantageous it might

. astrous.Under such circumst auces gral it u le becomesa blind impulse, without reason or forei let,

otion to party wit hunt apprecia: ion hi the requirements of patriotism and I heLuties and obligation;- it imposes. Such im-mlse, such heedless devotii a, Buds its sourcein that confusion of ideas which leads i ae togive that place in his affections to his party.belongs to the Government; which iu-Luces one t>> hold the latter as servant to the

, rmer, to be sustained at all hazards, since it

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,;. i by him to be of chief and primalI a nee.

i necei sitj and import-unity, and p irty is only ol

ralue as an h which the great usesaplished.We a mining our poli-tical duty, i poses may be

gained through the Government, but how theGovernment may be sustained through theparty, '''-.' ' ' ' -' 3 : - 1:i ' the ob-m thereby attained. Grati-

'

ould I e sxercised rather to the Govern-

ment; to the Govern acnt as a Iministered and!,:< l, t.i be sure, by I partp-ptheparry showing Itself Lrule ana wise. Specialcare must be taken here thai wc accept not

I he shadow for the a unsubstan-tial for the real.The sentimen I be imprl .- I and incul-cated is one rising above party; i is thiof p it rlotic devot Ion, an I ii ;> pre-sented in the words of Brutus tot lassius,When,iii the play, he is made to say:

' What is It that you would import ill it be uuaht lei the general _< id,Sol Iiuiior in one eve and no nil i tin; oilier,Ami 1 iii look on both in LitTerentJy,For bo let the gods Bpeed dae, a< i hii-eThe name ui honor more tln>i I fear death.' 1

Lei such be the patriotic u of allAmericans to our I lovi rnmenl ! A n i m 5 nodevotion to party, however induthis higher and do tier elevation.But while the colored American cultivatesnatural and proper gratiti le ivards the Re-publican party, lie is held to loyalty ;.u Iallegiance thereto by other and more mightyi onsidcrations of the gen< ral eood. Wen- heconvinced that his own weal.were promolil - ag tncy. mainly or solely, while the genera}advancement of his fellow citizens wisustaine l and subserved, or that this gadvancement through iti agi ncy w - hinderedand retarded, he wbul I not, it'is to be hoped,through selfish motives and in peril of the

i omm hi good, give it hi- - uffrage and support.rn the interest of our i >mmon country, tomaintain the authority and Rower of our com-mon Government, the colored Am trican su| -ports, by influence and vote, the Nationpublican party: and these general considera-tions have, as they ought, greater weight withhimtend more largely to determine hispolitical relations and conduct than any other.Of course, in reachiug such determinationand pursuing the line ol conduct indicated, beis not unmindful of his own int. res;, the bestand surest method of securing and supportingthem. His interests, however, are not con-sidered and treated by him as differing in anyimportant sense from those of his fellow-citi-zens ffenerally. They do not, in his e timation,therefore, require any special political organization for their peculiar support.

His liberty is maintained by those usualmethods adopted to sustain the libcrtj of thepeople generally. His rights are so identicalwith those of others, and so cut irely insepara-ble, in legal definition and safeguard, that ingenera] no unusual enactment or protection isrequired. Whatever may have been true withregard to his status anterior to bis emancipa-tion, when made free, and admitted to thebody politic, he l st any peculiar identity hepossessed, by reason ol race or the institutionby which he was enslaved, and. becaiAmerican citizen invested with all thoserights, privileges, immunities and powers, andheld to the performance of all those dutiespertaining to and distinf such citizen-ship.

His former condition of servitude, descentrace peculiarities he may not, forget, nor seekto obliterate; but his citizenship and its quali-ties, the measure aud limit of his rights andpowers, his responsibilities and immunities, themode and necessity of their protection andsupport are the same and not separable fromthose of his fellow countrymen. The tic ofallegiance, therefore, which binds all others tothe Government hinds him; and in obedience


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to that law which makes all citizens debtors tothe government which bears tl.cm protection,he dedicate Ms life at:d property, and pledgeshis sacred hi tor to the maintenance of thegovernment. His loyalty, the consecration ofhis life, his property and sacred Ik. nor to thewelfare of the Republic is abundantly attestedby diif national iiistprry,. as the same recordsthe triumphs of bttr'arms in the wars of theRevolution, of 181*2 and of the late rebellion,when brother met brother, the brave, fiery andChilvaric South met the courageous, undauntedand unconquerable North, and forever weresen led in bloodthe corrimfngled blood ofwhite and black", freeman and slavethe ques-tions whether man can hold property in manWithin the.jurisdiction and upon the soil of ourcountry, and whether citizenship under ourlaw can, in any s'( use, be qualified by considera-tions of complexion and race.Henceforth we are all freemen and citizens,with the same law, as the same heavenly light,covering- the whole face of our country, reach-ing the humblest son and daughter of ourpopulai ion, of whatever complexion or lineage.if any single political party is to be given thehonor, awarded the praise for this work, thismoral triumph, whether wc consider it in itsbloody and fearful aspect of war, or its morepleasing, though difficult and perplexing oneol legal reconstruction, none can be insensibleto the claim of the Republican party.Abraham Lincoln, the first Chief Magistratecalled to administer the Government upon itsvote, will always be remembered, his namecherished with loudness and veneration, as theemancipator of our country, the martyr, whosesacred blood saved American liberty itself.While those who composed his cabinet, Seward,Chase, Stanton, Bates and their associates,distinguished for the largest professional andgeneral accomplishments, will be chiefly re-membered iu the ages to come as the coun-selors of this prince and savior of the nation,The second Chief Magistrate placed in power iby this party, at present the incumbent of the

Jchair of State, passing from military to civil Ilifefrom the command of the matchless army

jwhose solemn but gallant match against thejcohorts of the rebellion was felt wherever

civilization is knownhas displayed no lesscourage, skill and prudence in the manage-

;

ment of the Government than in the conductof the army. In the field his behavior dial-lenged and won the admiration of his country-

jm?n end mankind. His success in the admin-istration of the Government, the glory which

\he has achieved as a judicious and wise Ex-ecutive, may not transcend, but they are cer-tainly not less beautiful and enduring than the

jsuccess and glory which distinguish him as agrfeflt military chieftain.Washington, Lincoln and Grant are asso-ciated in the American mind by no accidentor unnatural and arbitrary principle. Theirnames are those which reflect and mirror moregrandly than any others our national life andcharacter. A trio of Americans, not unlike asto many of the, qualities which compose theirCharacter self-relient, unostentatious, with-out selfishness, great and good, tried servantsof the people, their names are written in thetopmost parts of the scroll of fame, and shinein an effulgence of glory which shall know noeclipse.But the party which gave the nation Lincolnand Grant as its Chief Executive also gave itable and efficient men in the Cabinet, the legislative and judicial departments of the Govern-

ment. So that duringthepast fourteen years,while our national trial ha,- l a severealmost beyond parallel in any nation's historyour national lejrfelal ion, the decisions of ournational judiciary, the conduct of our internaland international affairs, have been character-ize.! by wisdom and moderation.

It is such exhibition of forecast and efficiencyon the part of the Republican party, displayedin the interests of all classes and all sectionsoi'llic country, which leads the colored Ameri-can to adhere so unyieldingly to it; because itspolicy, as he com eives, is the one, and the onlyone, which, legitimately put in practice, willconserve the general good; because the othergreat national party, the Democratic, weddedto the false ideas of the past, or slow to an-nounce its acceptance of the i ew and trueideas of the present, or, if attempting such an-nouncement, making it in doubtful and uncer-tain terms, with a practice which resolves thedoubt in accordance with the old ideas, giveshim no place, indeed practically forbids himposition within its ranks. If this be true,as far as party relations and connections areconcerned, there is but a single course left tothe intelligent colored voter, whether he beselfish or patriotie, moved and controlled byconsiderations which have to do with his owncondition, or which concern the whole peopleand the entire country. He must vote withthe Republican party.

It is to be hoped that the day is not distantwhen the great Democratic party, so distin-guished by

,great names which illustrate its

past, history and present leadership, so many-just and considerate principles, will define andannounce its views with such particularity andclearness, in such comprehensiveness and har-mony with our new age of freedom and equalrights, that the colored voter, embracing theviewEofthat party and desiringaffiliation there-with, may not feel himself denied such privi-lege, but may find himself, according to hischoice, at ease in such new party relations asnow in the Republican party, then his partyrelations will be defined by no color lines, andthis is a consummation to be desired. We arein the way of party changes and readjustments,and the relations indicated may be establishedat an early day in individual cases.Let the Democratic party show itself worthyof our support, inviting it by his action, andwe will show ourselves, as heretofore, capableof making that choice in the determination ofour party relations, without reference to ourcolor and oui peculiar interests, which, in ourjudgment, will conduce most largely to thecommon good, each one of us acting for him-self. To-day no intelligent and considerateperson, interested in his welfare, his wise useof the ballot, can do otherwise than commendthe colored American for voting tine Republi-can ticket.

His duty as to the election soon to occur inyour State must be apparent; and here, on thisoccasion, I can do little more than express bisapproval Of the platform and nominations madeby your State Republican party.'The candidates Of the party are men ofintegrity and capability. Governor Haves,especially, in past administrations of the Gov-ernment has shown himself efficient and relia-ble, and in his elections demonstrated hisgreat popularity. The party presenting a decla-ration of sentiments comprehensive and clear,commanding his assent and approval, theduty of the colored voter, as a Republican,is plain, and will be pursued by him with


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;ence and cheerfulness. The ili-i-l.ir.it imiutiinents enunciates certain principles

wliicii particularly commend themselves to hisjudgment. Among them may be speciallymentioned aud emphasized the following :"The State* are oae a* a nation, and ;ill eiti-

ire equal under the laws and entitled tollirir fullest protection."The doctrine herein embodied Is that upon

which the rebellion was opposed, arid in thelight of it the action of the Republican partywith regard thereto must ever stand in bistorjsupported and defended. Separate and Independent for special purposes o( local and muni-cipal significance, the states of our Union,Immense In resources, abundant In natural andartificial wealth, diversified and strong inpopulation, Intellectual and moral power, edu-cational and Christian institutions, constitutea matchless nation; one, in Its organic law, thepalladium and shield ol our freedom, one In it.--popular and republican government, the price-less gift ofour fathers, sustained and perpetnated by the best Mood of sire and son; one, Init- lofty destinj of glory, transcending that ofall the nation.-, of the past, however grandtlnir achievements in arts or arms.

In the next place he accepts as sound thedoctrine that "that policy of finance should besteadily pursued which, without unnecessaryshock to business or trade, will ultimatelyequalize the purchasing capacity of the coinand paper dollar." This sentiment commandsour assent, for we believe that business andtrade in their delicate relations with currencycannot be wisely adjusted or improved by anysystem of inflation or forced and unnaturaleconomic arrangement. What we need is ageneral revival of business, the infusion ofnew life and vigor into trade, tin- wise recog-nition and application of the old principles ofeconomy implied in demand and supply, and,in due time and through natural businessmethods, with confidence restoredtrade themeanwhile impro- ing throughout its ten thou-sand departments money, already abundant.will be freely circulated and reach standardvalue and purchasing capacity. But theseends can be accomplished only by a gradualaud cas\ contraction of our paper currency re-placed by coin. ThN requires .judicial and eco-nomical manag intof our domestic and national allairs.

Again: "We stand by free education, ourpublic school system, the taxation ol all forit.- support , and no division of the school fund."In our opinion the free common schools, sup-ported by public tax, where the poorest andrichest child of the State can find tin- iostruction indispensable to success in ordinary lifeand i he discharge ol the political duty imposedby American citizenship, without money andwithout price even, is an institution of suchnecessity and value that we record with glad-

our approbation of this doctrine, Thecommon school, with its doors wide open toall, to which all are invited and welcomed, is

I the nursery of freedom, virtue and in-telligence, Others, more advanced in learn-ing, the possessors of larger advantages ofwealth and culture, may discover small appre-ciation of our system oi free schools. Thevoter of African descent, however, holds thecommon school of inestimable value to himand his children, and as he grows in knowl-edge aud a clearer and fuller conception of itsworth, he will be but the more thoroughlyconfirmed in his present conviction.

lb indorses with hi6 whole soul, promptedby his native democratic instincts, sustainedby a well-consideredjudgment, formed in viewof his conception of the fitness of things andbis knowledge of the experience of other na-tions, the sentiment that "under our republlcan system of government there should be noconnection, direct or indiri d . bet ween ' Ihurehand State; and we oppose all legislation in theInterest of any particular 6ect." All union olChurch and State, however constituted or inwhatever manner supported, is anti-American,adverse in principle and practice to our Gov-ernment, and not to he t,,lrrated in any senseor degree. An independent Church in an in-dependent country, fostered in no ui.-e by theGovernment, but sustained b> it- membershipthrough individual and voluntary contribut Ions,cherishing Christian faith and Inculcatiagsound morality, may prove, nay. must prove.a power of incalculable good to tin- communi-ty. In tin- establishment and support of suchChurch any class of our countrymen, what-ever their ecclesiastical nam.- or relations, ha.-our sincere and cordial sympat by. Hut aganistany union of Church and State-, toward whichwe have discovered latterly a tendency whichgiv^s us no little anxiety, we protest and shallvote.True it is that "a grateful people can nevercease to remember the services of out soldier.-and sailors, and it is due to them that liberali-ty and generosity should obtain in the adjust-ment of pay and bounty."Were any other opinion held, or any otherpolicy advocated with regard to this suour ingratitude, our want of due appreciationof manly and heroic self-sacrifice, patriotismand devotion, even unto death, exhibited b\the American soldier and sailor a; every tryinghour in our nation's history, would astoundthe civilize.', world, and the condemnation Olour conduct would be universal and positive,indeed, let large liberality, whole-hearted gen-erosity be cultivated in the adjustment of payand bounty to our soldiers and sailors! Noth-ing les- will satisfy the loyal heart of our fel-low-citizens.The demand that "the public domain shallbe scrupulously reserved Spr occupancy by ac-tual settlers" linds a deep and intelligent ap-[o 1 1 iation in the judgment of the landlesscolored voter, who lomr since, through a sadexperience and a profitable observation, hasconcluded that laud is the chief desideratum olthose who, beginning life in poverty after ecuturies ol slavery, are determined to cultivatesuch things as distinguished, well ordered,civilized existence, lie regards land as thelasting foundation on which he may build, asthat without which no people can lise rapidlyor firmly in fortune and name. Land is thebasis of individual and national wealth, andlargely individual and national happiness. Lethim, then, who will become an actual settlerhave upon the easy conditions prescribed ahoin-i on the unoccupied lands of the Govern-ment; and let there be do disposal of suchland- to the inconvenience and injury of Michactual settler. One cannot but hope that thelandless of all classes will soon come to valueslightly the oiler of land by the (iovenuneiit.and our overcrowded cities be relieved by largenumber.- who may seek a competent living, itma\ be a fortune, upon the lands thus offered.

In thus reletting particularly to six specilicpoints in the declaration of sentiments, as an-nounced by the late State Republican conven-tion, it is not to be understood that the de-


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i iaraticn is nc- indorsed tn its ea ' - aii-3 iwould dwell at length, and with particularity,upon eacli distinct poinl contained therein, andwith greater fullness of discussion, were it notthat I weary your patience. In too muchhaste and imperfection or comment, I havereferred to the sentiments named; and yet 1Mould not close this part of my address with-out special allusion to. the closing paragraphid' the declaration, in which these terse andI ruthful words are found:'The distinguished success "I' his adminis-tration, which, to the fame of the patriot andsoldier, has added that of the capable andjudicious statesman, entitles President (5ranlto the gratitude of his country men."No citizen of our country expresses this grati-tude with greater cheerfulness or more satis-faction than the colored American, who recog-nizes the President as his benefactor in a specialand large sense, while none will hold his namein more tender remembrance.

It will be perceived, from what I have al-ready said, that I hold that considerations olthe common good, maintained through itsagency, which bind the white voter to the Re-publican party, or lead him to change hisparty relations and co-operate with another,do, aud should, in the main, determine theconduct of the colore.', voter. Should the He-publican party ever prove false, in policy orprinciple, to the highest good of the Republic,influenced by corrupt leaders or erroneous doc-trines, the duly of the colored voter to abandonand leave it would be as imperative and obl-fi atory as that of his other fellow-citizens.Our relations to this party are those wliichspring from political conviction, the result ofan intelligent apprehension of our duty asAmerican voters. If through this party we

have been emancipated and enfranchised, pro-tection of life and limo accorded us, it is be-cause in seeking to secure the largest good ofthe nation, and in its efforts in that behalf, ourfreedom and elevation have been accomplished.Grateful for all this, we rind therein no consid-eration of obligation binding us in any specialmariner or degree.

This party seeks the conservation ot the 'general good. Fourteen years of administra-tion of the State and National Government,

jduring the moi-t eventful period of our history.demonstrates the sincerity of its purpose andits power. It is the duty of all, the co n .citizen no more than the white, through influ-ence,and vote to.sustain it in this work. TheRepublican party is not, then, a Mack mau'sparty. Itwas not organized solely, nor even Imainly, in his interest, it makes no pledgesto care for his welfare beyond that of any orall others. Bjayjng introduced him, in accord-ance with law, into the American body politic,it gives him a common and equal, but no pe-culiar or special care. Equal rights and equalprotection in their enjoyment is its guaranty toall. To this end it pledges its power.But what of "the new depart tin-:" For sincetheoth of last month, when Frederick Douglassaud myself addressed a meeting of our coloredfellow-citizens at Hillsdale, near WashingtonCity, descanting dipon the conduct of certainindividuals and associations, advising the peoplewith regard thereto, and when a new declara-tion ofindependence was submitted and ado p ed,we have read much in certain political journalsand heard divers expressions which indicatethat some of our friends feel that there is to bea general exodus of the colored people, Northand South, from the Republican party: and

besides, \yithiu a very few days wc have hodsent, to many of u> an elaborate aud lengthydocument, "On the Future of the Colored Manin the South,'! written by ex-Governor Scott,of South Carolina, formerly a resident of Ohio,in which wc are advised in a sort, of fraternal,yet more of a patronizing, spirit of our politicalduty and danger. The words of this c\ ',>'.ernor, formerly an ardent Republican, have tous a strange sound. It is not the clear, in-spiring voice of disinterestedness, the assuringutterance of judicious statesmanship, the bugleblast of that leadership which command'- andcontrols the hearts and judgment soft he people.His word, are rather i hose of disappointedand despairing ambition, bewailing a fruitlesspolitical past, in anxious longing for a futuremore propitious. The ex-Governor advises asfollows: "With the past and the present, as Ihave presented them before you, what is theduty of the colored people of the South in thefuture? I would say, in answer, that whateveris to your interest is unquestionably your duty.The question, therefore, is what is your interest!I hold" that your true interest is to hold alooffrom all political parties. You have little toiiope or expect from a union with any politicalparty, any further than its own interest can besubserved by affiliating with you. "With thisuncertainty as to their support of your interestand the absolute certainty of the opposition ofevery politician who believes that lie can suc-ceed in his political ambition without your aid,and that tic can make more by opposing thanby supporting you, my advice to you is. tomaintain an independent position. If youquietly stand by and see those combinationsmade by which you arc to be sqld out, you willmake a fatal mistake. If you are to becomethe subject of barter among political partiesmy advice to you is to become a party tothe sale yourselves. You can make betterterms with your former masters thau can theold-time abolitionists, lor if they make the saleyou gain nothing by it in the way of politicalpower, but if you yourselves < nter into a com-bination you can reasonably nope to secureaqme share of political power and influencefor yourselves and your posterity. Do not tieyourselves to any ]>''" y which will be certainto .-acrilice yon v. ie-new- j: ;, ; o. -.-,. cpmplishedi: > oy ii purpose: but say to all parties in thefuture that you vyill supporl men instead ofparties that you vyilj support the men in whosehonor you can trust, and who will guaranteethe largest representation for your people, andin whose guarantee you can put the greatesttrust for the protection of your rights as Amer-ican citizens. This course will cause men olall parties to seek your support and influence,"they will meet your people with a feeling ofliberality, and wi.l concede to you such a rep-resentation as will be compatible with goodg'lvernuu nt.

''I advise this policy because I believe that itis for your best interests, and also for I he besjinterests of the country. If you pursue a differ-ent course, if you unite your pplitical fortuneswith any party, and that party i- defeated, youcan have no reason to hope that the partywhich you oppose will concede anyl liiug on thehigh moral ground of justice to your race. Re-cent events make it. highly probable that greatchanges are likely soon to qccui'j not only inthe administration of many of the.State gov-ernments, but in the administration of the\ o i nial ( jovernmei - sell "' ''Governor Scott may be assuredfirst, thatthe colored American will attempt DO inde-


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Dl politico !ng hisD ly upon tin- it rniB

j him; u< t. in tl> iu .-neb man-

iv him iiit" i he I U rrio< rial Ic partynlng: succor' '

' publican part y. \\o\ hers ma\ American finds uo jtrifor ;>uiheretofore, md

mini nl In pos timi i nd in thenee of tl calling

gard foipart.3 : tation ol

lealty, asking and r 1t lovernmewl ' -t ey , iithan the ''Ii ill hy i nd n'

i>i the par . . , 1 neaftef another deceive, even traduce and abuseus. We still discriminate bctweetT such ivdi-

. assoi fati the party I elf, i ;i all tsl

a*nd true to us. ahd which Hits sliowri itselfin the conduct of Mai ional

ffairs.Oft the 20th of lasl April the Americ

elonnry A federation, a bang( r."Through the influence of this meetinir and

: hi cunning manipulations of this society, I hecolumns of I and 1 he NewYork 7 ha re I een ftHed with theremarkable statements as to the mora),religious and educational condition of pfftremancipated classes, especially those in theGulf States. Thelse statements are indorsed,

- well as inspired bV the assoeration, forthey are reproduced by ii with favorable cOm-menl in II monthly for Jurie, 1875. [n the"International Review" for September lasl isto 1"- found ;:n article, written by E. T. Winkler,D. P., of Georgia, entitled "The Negroes inthe Gulf States." Mr. Winkler. amongbthcTthings, makes these statements with regard Conegroes:

In dealing h iththe ballol ro has-none.Should the case submitted to him touch his

politic*! ,. any w'ay, bisver-dict may 1


9/12

without aselfiE] o |rcl to .' ' ' Whatsay youythen, of the following assertions ofthe Jndep d i ol May 6, l s :d. 1 idorsed, asstated, by the American Missionary Assqcia-t ion, presented under tbe title, "-The GreatNeed of the South." The following are thestatements,numbered for my own convenience.:

1. MThe frightful fact stares us in the faceon every side that the great bulk of the neTgroes in the States have no education, noreligiontand no conseien ' Do , have churehesin abundance, excited singing ami shouting,but no religion in the sense in which we usethe word. We mean no abatement of ourword:-. > I ' tesare filled with coloredBaptist and Methodist churches in whichdrunkenness, theft and wl ore lora are no liarsto acceptable membership and communion.We have in our own landnot ou heathenshores, bui in these 1 nited Statei millions ofcitizens, Protestants we call thecs, whosecharacter is as little effected by their lack ofreligion as that of the Sicilian bandits, whomurder a traveler with a prayer to the Virgin!

2. "Those who are trying to Christianize thenegroes of the South see this most clearly, andwe most earnestly wish that every Christianin our laud could see the evil and the necessityof correcting it. There has just been held inAtlanta, Georgia, a convention of the mission-aries and teachers working for the AmericanMissionary Association. It was desired to getthe opinion of the best-informed men as to thetrue condition and needs of the negroes oyerthe South. There were representative tmnearly every portion of the South, except Vir-ginia, where we are irlaci to say the whillaboring reasonably well for the elevation oftheir colored citizens. The laborers came fromTennessee, from South Carolina, from ait theGulf States, to tell what they had seen andwhat they felt to be the need of the hour.""A correspondent writes: 'For three nighteand twu days, of ten hours' session ea.eh day,did these missionaries pour fourth their knowl-edge of this great, strange mission-field, f

j

could liken it to nothing but a river, deep andbroad and foul, with occasional sweet and clear Itributaries emptied into it. They were all ex-horted to tell the bottom truth of their expe-rience and.opinions as to the Southern situa-tion, and hence the turbid stream. Every

Jheart was uiil and overflowing with the burden 'of the great work to be done.

3. fen years of freedom has oniy begun to[break through at a few points into the terriblemoral and intellectual darkness. Gross 'lark-

ness and the lowest forms of vice and sin arewell nigh universal, while few, blessed withexotic missionary schools and churches, are

jrising in morals and general culture, the many,without these helps, taking advantage of thelarge liberty freedom brought, are going I awk-ward. The hardships of slavery drive thepeople to God, white the sweets oi iil ertylured them to indulgence. Having little assist-ance from any source, they become an easyprey to temptation. Their religion does notprotect them. The doctrines oi I Uristianitycome to the heathen as something new andfresh, and for this reason have an immense Iadded power to reform the life ;.u 1 reclaim thepeople. The, novelty alone is startifmr. Butamong the freedmen we have no suns help.The story of I he cro - is an old story to iThe cross and bheitvici have riwdrtoe Iin their thoughts and htSarts rbr generations,and it is next to impossioTe to dislodge either.They practice their religion and vie

I he ".. ab iul a - much as I lie ol I ur. If theyhad never heard of the wonderful doctrine olthe Chr; tian religion., these would be more power than now to overthrow their inherited\ i< es,

4. "Docs this picture, drawn by the mo Icompeteut and mos,tj sympathetic of all ob-servers, sg im blat k? It js very black, and werehop if wecould nol I elieye thai the heartsOf < !hi istian people at the North will be openedto do ya; My mere than they now do to plant attl oath a Christianity that will includemorality. We must. i peai tin mass of Southerncolored churches as hideous trayesth > of Christianity, and overthrow and replace them. Theymust be reformed from without by plantingtrue ohurc! es, whos chief test shall be obedi-ence to the ten commandments. The confer-ence at Atlanta agreed that the negro does notneed. college education, but that the work ofthe valued institutions at the South must for along time to come be mainly that of fittingcommon school teachers an \ giving theologicalinstruction."These and Mich statement.- are false andwithout foundation in fact, They are cruelSlanders of ap iuotlensive audi confiding, strujgliug and comparatively helpless people. .'people w])o. as a class, have hown them elv ! !

:

: - i..in dhurcb

ofAfrican descent?and v. of tin- church prop ;rt v.

which is uow owned, bought and paid for, by"dark-hued" n ml era, and for quite a century,In some cases, controlled by 1 heirdirection? Asthe members are absorbe I, the churches turnedfrom Baptist and Methodist to Congregational,

opertl ,-too, to ! " absorbed, its tit leand control e praiand vital questions, and the colored Americandemand.- that they be answered in candor, andtruth. Against such sectarian, denomina-tional anil : - he raiseian earnest an I nrotest. The coloredAmerican needs no self-o msl Ituted agents t.ra\ersing bhe countr befon the pub-lie, in word or print, his moral and religious

ationaJ and pecuniaryCondition, and asking alms in his nam.-, epeelally when

ble and ext ra iexorbitant even bi amou&ordinary broke! .

injustice oit hese repn scntai : m , because c mscious of hisability to mi icati mal amireligious, as well as business affairs, without; he assists < - : and, re-membering that i days of " freenegroes" Inour country, without a "Freedwithout .. ' Preedmen'"iUank," without college and universities, olli-cered i en , conducted ostensibly in hisi peetdng,

'[ managing his own afTaiss when emancipated,and making ble progress in all I h -thiugs which pertain to enlightened life. I say

. the colored America:seeks rel i ise, from such associations and theirself-assumed control of his affairs, and on thefifth oi last month declared his independentof them. Hi6 departure, his exodus is notfrom the Republican ; trty, but from such as-Bociations.He goes from ignorance to knowledge, from

idence to sel I a guardian' ship to that self-control which dgenuine manhood: from penury and Icair y to that competence which, in our Jamalways, crewnsthe efforts of the into I'he industrious and the thrifty.

In thusid responsibility, the iAmerican would not cease to cultivate that

'good neighborhood, nor fail to claim its re-hearingand taught in the Christianmaxim: "Whatsoever ye would

should do to you, do yo to them.'ognizes and admits hieLndepcn

which i ith the fact : - but ipart of ; nation, and onljsense,

i\ '.vigil, he. his relations il

aii I fo ter his allegia r to R

john mercer langston--emancipation and enfranchisement. the work of the republican party (c1875])

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