George Downing and Frederick Douglass Argue the Case for Enfranchisement,
1866
.
. . Our coming is a marked circumstance, noting determined hope that we are not
satisfied with an amendment prohibiting slavery, but that we wish it enforced
with appropriate legislation. This is our desire. We ask for it intelligently,
with the knowledge and conviction that the fathers of the Revolution intended
freedom for every American; that they should be protected in their rights as
citizens, and be equal before the law. We are Americans, native born Americans.
We are citizens; we are glad to have it known to the world that you bear no
doubtful record on this point. On this fact, and with confidence in the triumph
of justice, we base our hope. We see no recognition of color or race in the
organic law of the land. It knows no privileged class, and therefore we cherish
the hope that we may be fully enfranchised, not only here in this District, but
throughout the land. We respectfully submit that rendering anything less than
this will be rendering to us less than our just due; that granting anything
less than our full rights will be a disregard of our just rights and of due
respect for our feelings. If the powers that be do so it will be used as a
license, as it were, or an apology, for any community, or for individuals thus
disposed, to outrage our rights and feelings. It has been shown in the present
war that the Government may justly reach its strong arm into States, and demand
for them, from those who owe it allegiance, their assistance and support. May
it not reach out a like arm to secure and protect its subjects upon whom it has
a claim?
Following upon Mr. Downing, Mr. Fred.
Douglass advanced and addressed the President, saying:
Mr.
President, we are not here to enlighten you, sit, as to your duties as the
Chief Magistrate of this Republic, but to show our respect, and to present in
brief the claims of our race to your favorable consideration. In the order of
Divine Providence you are placed in a position where you have the power to save
or destroy us, to bless or blast us-I mean our whole race. Your noble and
humane predecessor placed in our hands the sword to assist in saving the
nation, and we do hope that you, his able successor, will favorably regard the
placing in our hands the ballot with which to save ourselves.
We
shall submit no argument on that point. The fact that we are the subjects of
Government, and subject to taxation, subject to volunteer in the service of the
country, subject to being drafted, subject to bear the burdens of the State,
makes it not improper that we should ask to share in the privileges of this
condition . . .