dden and disenfranchised, look to this country
as a sure refuge. The white soldier fought as a volunteer, as a
responsible, free, and resolute citizen, knowing for what he fought,
and generously letting the slave share with him the honor, and
bestowing on him more than his share of the profits of the white man's
victory over his equal and the negro's master.
"We are willing that the negro should have every protection which the
law can throw around him, but there is a majesty which 'hedges in a
king.' That he ought not to have until he shows himself 'every inch a
king.'
"'Who would be free, themselves must strike the blow.'
"'Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have
greatness thrust upon them.'
"We are opposed to thrusting honor on the negro. He is to-day, as a
race, as dependent on the power and skill of the white race for
protection as when he was first brought from Africa. Not one act of
theirs has proved the capacity of the black race for self-government.
They have neither literature, arts, nor arms, as a race. They have
never, during all the changes of dynasties or revolution of States,
risen higher than to be the helpers of the contending parties. They
have had the same opportunity as the Indian to secure their
independence of the white race, but have never systematically even
attempted it on this continent, although they have been educated with
equal care, and in the same schools as the white man. Their race has
been subject to the white man, and has submitted to the yoke."
Mr. Bingham.--"I understood the gentleman to say, that the colored
race had failed to strike for their rights during the late rebellion.
I wish to remind the gentleman of the fact, which ought to bring a
blush to the cheek of every American citizen, that at the beginning of
this great struggle, a distinguished general, who, I have no doubt,
received the political support of the gentleman himself for the
Presidency, and who, then at the head of an American army within the
Commonwealth of Virginia, issued his proclamation, as general in
command of the army, notifying the insurgents in arms against the
Constitution that, if their slaves rose in revolt for their liberty,
he, Major-General McClellan, by the whole force of the army at his
command, would crush them with an iron hand. Yet the gentleman gets up
here to-day, after a record of that sort, to cast censure upon this
people because they did not strik
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