An Appeal to Congress for Impartial Suffrage NOT COMPLAINING OF THE PAST, SIMPLY ASKING FOR A BETTER FUTURE An Appeal to Congress for Impartial Suffrage Go here for more about Frederick Douglass. Disguise it as we may, we are still a divided nation. The fundamental and unanswerable argument in favor of the enfranchisement of the negro is found in the undisputed fact of his manhood. The lamb may not be trusted with the wolf. Visit American Literature's American History section for other important historical documents and figures which helped shape America. 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. 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. The Rebel States have still an anti-national policy. Read the next essay; Credit Line: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, The Frederick Douglass Papers at the Library of Congress, More about Copyright and other Restrictions. The lamb may not be trusted with the wolf. . https://www.loc.gov/item/mss1187900602/. An Appeal to Congress for Impartial Suffrage "Statesmen, beware what you do. (1957) Roy Wilkins, The Clock Will Not Be Turned Back, African American History: Research Guides & Websites, Global African History: Research Guides & Websites, African American Scientists and Technicians of the Manhattan Project, Envoys, Diplomatic Ministers, & Ambassadors, Foundation, Organization, and Corporate Supporters. Write an essay in which you argue which claims represent the strongest support for ensuring African Americans' right to vote. National interest and national duty, if elsewhere separated, are firmly united here. It only asks for a large degraded caste, which shall have no political rights. We want no longer any heavy- footed, melancholy service from the negro. Man is the only government-making animal in the world. As you members of the Thirty-ninth Congress decide, will the country be peaceful, united, and happy, or troubled, divided, and miserable. Citizenship Paper. King Cotton is deposed, but only deposed, and is ready to-day to reassert all his ancient pretensions upon the first favorable opportunity. Can that be sound statesmanship which leaves millions of men in gloomy discontent, and possibly in a state of alienation in the day of national trouble? the repetition of words in successive clauses in reverse grammatical order. Plainly enough, the peace not less than the prosperity of this country is involved in the great measure of impartial suffrage. We want the cheerful activity of the quickened manhood of these sable millions. Is not Austria wise in removing all ground of complaint against her on the part of Hungary? It early mastered the Constitution, became superior to the Union, and enthroned itself above the law. It will tell how they forded and swam rivers, with what consummate address they evaded the sharp-eyed Rebel pickets, how they toiled in the darkness of night through the tangled marshes of briers and thorns, barefooted and weary, running the risk of losing their lives, to warn our generals of Rebel schemes to surprise and destroy our loyal army. Douglass, Frederick. This evil principle again seeks admission into our body politic. These sable millions are too powerful to be allowed to remain either indifferent or discontented. Review Us. They are able, vigilant, devoted. 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 A character is demanded of him, and here as elsewhere demand favors supply. 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. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. It is enough that the possession and exercise of the elective franchise is in itself an appeal to the nobler elements of manhood, and imposes education as essential to the safety of society. It is supported by reasons as broad as the nature of man, and as numerous as the wants of society. 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. ----, "An Appeal to Congress for Impartial Suffrage," (January 1867). Something, too, might be said of national gratitude. Draz, Rosine Ame--Correspondence, - beware what you do. 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 Black Scholar What is common to all works no special sense of degradation to any. repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses, sentences, or lines of poetry. Statesmen, beware what you do. Language Development: Convention and Style-from "Appeal to Congress for an appeal to congress for impartial suffrage .docx - Course Hero It must cause national ideas and objects to take the lead and control the politics of those States. Does any sane man doubt for a moment that the men who followed Jefferson Davis through the late terrible Rebellion, often marching barefooted and hungry, naked and penniless, and who now only profess an enforced loyalty, would plunge this country into a foreign war to-day, if they could thereby gain their coveted independence, and their still more coveted mastery over the negroes? But no such an appeal shall be relied on here. The fundamental and unanswerable argument in favor of the enfranchisement of the negro is found in the undisputed fact of his manhood. As you members of the Thirty-ninth Congress decide, will the country be peaceful, united, and happy, or troubled, divided, and miserable.