"An Appeal to Congress for Impartial Suffrage" Contributor Names Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895 Created / Published January-April 1881 Subject Headings - Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895 . Was not the nation stronger when two hundred thousand sable soldiers were hurled against the Rebel fortifications, than it would have been without them? Griffiths, Julia, -1895--Correspondence, - It is true that they came to the relief of the country at the hour of its extremest need. But in a country like ours, where men of all nations, kindred, and tongues are freely enfranchised, and allowed to vote, to say to the negro, You shall not vote, is to deal his manhood a staggering blow, and to burn into his soul a bitter and goading sense of wrong, or else work in him a stupid indifference to all the elements of a manly character. 1 0 obj But suffrage for the negro, while easily sustained upon abstract principles, demands consideration upon what are recognized as the urgent necessities of the case. The ploughshare of rebellion has gone through the land beam-deep. beware of what you do. A very limited statement of the argument for impartial suffrage, and for including the negro in the body politic, would require more space than can be reasonably asked here. Man is the only government-making animal in the world. What, then, is the work before Congress? <> Peace to the country has literally meant war to the loyal men of the South, white and black; and negro suffrage is the measure to arrest and put an end to that dreadful strife. It is true that they came to the relief of the country at the hour of its extremest need. Foreign countries abound with his agents. By the 1890s Douglass, aging and in ill health but still out on the lecture circuit . or will you profit by the blood-bought wisdom all round you, and forever expel every vestige of the old abomination from our national borders? The result is a war of races, and the annihilation of all proper human relations. He is a man, and by every fact and argument by which any man can sustain his right to vote, the negro can sustain his right equally. We want no longer any heavy-footed, melancholy service from the negro. But no such appeal shall be relied on here. The new wine must be put into new bottles. The destiny of unborn and unnumbered generations is in your hands." By Frederick Douglass AP January 1867 Issue Saved. But suffrage for the negro, while easily sustained upon abstract principles, demands consideration upon what are recognized as the urgent necessities of the case. Which of the following sentences from the essay "An Appeal to Congress for Impartial Suffrage" by Frederick Douglas indicates a claim by the writer? Caption title. But why are the Southerners so willing to make these sacrifices? They who waged it had no objection to the government, while they could use it as a means of confirming their power over the laborer. The fundamental and unanswerable argument in favor of the enfranchisement of the negro is found in the undisputed fact of his manhood. The answer plainly is, they see in this policy the only hope of saving something of their old sectional peculiarities and power. A small donation would help us keep this available to all. Frederick Douglass Papers: Speech, Article, and Book File, -1894; Speeches, Articles, and Other Writings Attributed to Frederick or Helen Pitts Douglass, 1881 to 1887; "An Appeal to Congress for Impartial Suffrage," 1881. They now stand before Congress and the country, not complaining of the past, but simply asking for a better future. It will tell how these poor people, whose rights we still despised, behaved to our wounded soldiers, when found cold, hungry, and bleeding on the deserted battle-field; how they assisted our escaping prisoners from Andersonville, Belle Isle, Castle Thunder, and elsewhere, sharing with them their wretched crusts, and otherwise affording them aid and comfort; how they promptly responded to the trumpet call for their services, fighting against a foe that denied them the rights of civilized warfare, and for a government which was without the courage to assert those rights and avenge their violation in their behalf; with what gallantry they flung themselves upon Rebel fortifications, meeting death as fearlessly as any other troops in the service. Look across the sea. We have crushed the Rebellion, but not its hopes or its malign purposes. And does not the Emperor of Russia act wisely, as well as generously, when he not only breaks up the bondage of the serf, but extends him all the advantages of Russian citizenship? Statesmen, beware what you do. Frederick Douglass Papers: Speech, Article, and Book File, 1846-1894; Speeches, Articles, and Other Writings Attributed to Union and liberty : powers of Congress in relation to the slaves, with a form of Celebration of the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia by the colored people, in Frederick Douglass Papers: Speech, Article, and Book File, 1846-1894; Speeches, Articles, and Other Writings Attributed to Frederick or Helen Pitts Douglass, 1881-1887; "An Appeal to Congress for Impartial Suffrage," 1881, - Nor can we afford to endure the moral blight which the existence of a degraded and hated class must necessarily inflict upon any people among whom such a class may exist. For better or for worse, (as in some of the old marriage ceremonies,) the negroes are evidently a permanent part of the American population. The answers to these questions are too obvious to require statement. Citizenship Paper. But this mark of inferiorityall the more palpable because of a difference of colornot only dooms the negro to be a vagabond, but makes him the prey of insult and outrage everywhere. Return to the Frederick Douglass library They now stand before Congress and the country, not complaining of the past, but simply asking for a better future. The hope of gaining by politics what they lost by the sword, is the secret of all this Southern unrest; and that hope must be extinguished before national idea and objects can take full possession of the Southern mind. United States--Politics and government--19th century, - ' Also available in digital form on the Library of Congress Web site. 112-117. It is true that, in many of the rebellious States, they were almost the only reliable friends the nation had throughout the whole tremendous war. The destiny of unborn and unnumbered generations is in your hands. As a nation, we cannot afford to have amongst us either this indifference and stupidity, or that burning sense of wrong. There is that, all over the South, which frightens Yankee industry, capital, and skill from its borders. If the doctrine that taxation should go hand in hand with representation can be appealed to in behalf of recent traitors and rebels, may it not properly be asserted in behalf of a people who have ever been loyal and faithful to the government? As a nation, we cannot afford to have amongst us either this indifference and stupidity, or that burning sense of wrong. The lamb may not be trusted with the wolf. The dreadful calamities of the past few years came not by accident, nor unbidden, from the ground. Is the present movement in England in favor of manhood suffragefor the purpose of bringing four millions of British subjects into full sympathy and co-operation with the British governmenta wise and humane movement, or otherwise? Their history is parallel to that of the country; but while the history of the latter has been cheerful and bright with blessing, theirs has been heavy and dark with agonies and curses. It will swallow all the unconstitutional test oaths, repeal all the ordinances of Secession, repudiate the Rebel debt, promise to pay the debt incurred in conquering its people, pass all the constitutional amendments, if only it can have the negro left under its political control. win the trust of an increasingly mistrustful electorate. answer choices. Civil rights, - The South fought for perfect and permanent control over the Southern laborer. Something, too, might be said of national gratitude. We want the cheerful activity of the quickened manhood of these sable millions. We have crushed the Rebellion, but not its hopes or its malign purposes. Douglass, Anna Murray, -1882, - The new wine must be put into new bottles. Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874--Correspondence, - Peace to the country has literally meant war to the loyal men of the South, white and black; and negro suffrage is the measure to arrest and put an end to that dreadful strife. What OConnell said of the history of Ireland may with greater truth be said of the negros. What, then, is the work before Congress? Many daring exploits will be told to their credit. They fought the government, not because they hated the government as such, but because they found it, as they thought, in the way between them and their one grand purpose of rendering permanent and indestructible their authority and power over the Southern laborer. answer choices the president of the United States. Is Ireland, in her present condition, fretful, discontented, compelled to support an establishment in which she does not believe, and which the vast majority of her people abhor, a source of power or of weakness to Great Britain? Something then, not by way of argument, (for that has been done by Charles Sumner, Thaddeus Stevens, Wendell Phillips, Gerrit Smith, and other able men,) but rather of statement and appeal. (Susan Brownell), 1820-1906--Correspondence, - Freedom of speech and of the press it slowly but successfully banished from the South, dictated its own code of honor and manners to the nation, brandished the bludgeon and the bowie-knife over Congressional debate, sapped the foundations of loyalty, dried up the springs of patriotism, blotted out the testimonies of the fathers against oppression, padlocked the pulpit, expelled liberty from its literature, invented nonsensical theories about master-races and slave-races of men, and in due season produced a Rebellion fierce, foul, and bloody. Will you repeat the mistake of your fathers, who sinned ignorantly? Weve gathered dozens of the most important pieces from our archives on race and racism in America. But of this let nothing be said in this place. You shudder to-day at the harvest of blood sown in the spring-time of the Republic by your patriot fathers. It is supported by reasons as broad as the nature of man, and as numerous as the wants of society. For better or for worse, (as in some of the old marriage ceremonies,) the negroes are evidently a permanent part of the American population. Arming the negro was an urgent military necessity three years ago, are we sure that another quite as pressing may not await us? Give the negro the elective franchise, and you at once destroy the purely sectional policy, and wheel the Southern States into line with national interests and national objects. The destiny of unborn and unnumbered generations is in your hands.. H H JFIF H H Adobe_CM Adobe d An Appeal to Congress for Impartial Suffrage by Frederick Douglass A very limited statement of the argu-ment for impartial suffrage, and for including the negro in the body politic, would require more space than can be reasonably asked here. The soil is in readiness, and the seed-time has come. her fellow suffragettes. From "Appeal to Congress for Impartial Suffrage" How does Douglass support his claim that African Americans have rendered a "score of past services" to the United States? If these bless them, they are blest indeed; but if these blast them, they are blasted indeed. His address, given in January 1867 in Washington, D.C., during the Congressional debate on black Read More(1867) Frederick Douglass, "Appeal to Congress for Impartial Suffrage" 104 104. Hardships, services, sufferings, and sacrifices are all waived. . Give the negro the elective franchise, and you give him at once a powerful motive for all noble exertion, and make him a man among men. History is said to repeat itself, and, if so, having wanted the negro once, we may want him again. 'Adobe Photoshop CS3 Windows 2010:08:10 15:03:38 & | &( . It is impossible at this point in time to rid African Americans from the country.2. Waiving humanity, national honor, the claims of gratitude, the precious satisfaction arising from deeds of charity and justice to the weak and defenceless,--the appeal for impartial suffrage addresses itself with great pertinency to the darkest, coldest, and flintiest side of the human heart, and would wring righteousness from the unfeeling calculations of human selfishness. But this mark of inferiority--all the more palpable because of a difference of color--not only dooms the negro to be a vagabond, but makes him the prey of insult and outrage everywhere. Page includes two illustrations showing African Americans celebrating the abolition of slavery in Washington, D.C. and portrait of Henry A. Smythe, newly appointed Collector of Customs of New York; also includes articles http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/ms000009.mss11879.00602, View Frederick Douglass Papers Finding Aid, Frederick Douglass Papers: Speech, Article, and Book File, 1846 to 1894; Speeches, Articles, and Other Writings Attributed to Frederick or Helen Pitts Douglass, 1881 to 1887, Frederick Douglass Papers at the Library of Congress. It is true that, notwithstanding their alleged ignorance, they were wiser than their masters, and knew enough to be loyal, while those masters only knew enough to be rebels and traitors. the repetition of words in successive clauses in reverse grammatical order. It is a measure of relief,a shield to break the force of a blow already descending with violence, and render it harmless. Frederick Douglass with his second wife Helen Pitts and her sister Eva Look across the sea. Waiving humanity, national honor, the claims of gratitude, the precious satisfaction arising from deeds of charity and justice to the weak and defenceless,-the appeal for impartial suffrage addresses itself with great pertinency to the darkest, coldest, and flintiest side of the human heart, and would wring righteousness from the unfeeling These facts speak to the better dispositions of the human heart; but they seem of little weight with the opponents of impartial suffrage. The South fought for perfect and permanent control over the Southern laborer. So Just, Speeches on Social Justice, available at: http://www.sojust.net/speeches/frederickdouglas_appeal.html. 1973 Taylor & Francis, Ltd. It only asks for a large degraded caste, which shall have no political rights. Plainly enough, the peace not less than the prosperity of this country is involved in the great measure of impartial suffrage. It was a war of the rich against the poor. It is supported by reasons as broad as the nature of man, and as numerous as the wants of society. In its pages African American studies intellectuals, community activists, and national and international political leaders come to grips with basic issues confronting black America and Africa. It was a war of the rich against the poor. The new wine must be put into new bottles. The principle of slavery, which they tolerated under the erroneous impression that it would soon die out, became at last the dominant principle and power at the South. Nor can we afford to endure the moral blight which the existence of a degraded and hated class must necessarily inflict upon any people among whom such a class may exist. And does not the Emperor of Russia act wisely, as well as generously, when he not only breaks up the bondage of the serf, but extends him all the advantages of Russian citizenship? 20072023 Blackpast.org. Question 4 60 seconds Q. Carrie Chapman uses the words of which historical men to persuade to congress to allow women to vote? Review Us. The fundamental and unanswerable argument in favor of the enfranchisement of the negro is found in the undisputed fact of his manhood. "An Appeal to Congress for Impartial Suffrage" in The Atlantic Monthly, 19 (January, 1867) Oration in Memory of Abraham Lincoln (1876) My Escape from Slavery (1881) . Exclude the negroes as a class from political rights,--teach them that the high and manly privilege of suffrage is to be enjoyed by white citizens only,-- that they may bear the burdens of the state, but that they are to have no part in its direction or its honors,--and you at once deprive them of one of the main incentives to manly character and patriotic devotion to the interests of the government; in a word, you stamp them as a degraded caste,--you teach them to despise themselves, and all others to despise them. It must cease to recognize the old slave-masters as the only competent persons to rule the South. You shudder to-day at the harvest of blood sown in the spring-time of the Republic by your patriot fathers. An Appeal to Congress for Impartial Suffrage "Statesmen, beware what you do. The Amistad Case (1841) The Weeping Time, March 3, 1859 Appeal to Congress for Impartial Suffrage by Frederick Douglass (January 1867) These three primary source documents each deal with the decline of slavery in the United States. The first primary source on Frederick Douglass. For in respect to this grand measure it is the good fortune of the negro that enlightened selfishness, not less than justice, fights on his side. Frederick Douglass: An Appeal To Congress For Impartial Suffrage 753 Words | 4 Pages. But why are the Southerners so willing to make these sacrifices? It comes now in shape of a denial of political rights to four million loyal colored people. How do the following sentences from paragraph 7 fit into the logic of Douglass's appeal? Strong as we are, we need the energy that slumbers in the black mans arm to make us stronger. beware what you do. Besides, the disabilities imposed upon all are necessarily without that bitter and stinging element of invidiousness which attaches to disfranchisement in a republic. They are too numerous and useful to be colonized, and too enduring and self-perpetuating to disappear by natural causes. It is true that a strong plea for equal suffrage might be addressed to the national sense of honor. Douglass, Frederick. The result is a war of races, and the annihilation of all proper human relations. Draz, Rosine Ame--Correspondence, -
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