2

All for the Negro.

The following is a brief outline of remarks of Col. Richardson, in the house, on the 19th:

Mr. Richardson believed that the strength of the army was sufficient to put down the rebellion, but the indications were that another and inferior race were to be armed and uniformed and placed on an equality with the whites. The legislation of congress is almost exclusively with regard to the negro. They have abolished slavery here, and to the contrabands rations are daily distributed. Where is the evidence that rations are issued to the poor white people? Supplies at the rate of a hundred and forty-four thousand dollars per annum are distributed among the blacks, while the people of Illinois are selling corn at eight cents per bushel to pay the taxes thus imposed upon them. They were employing negro teamsters, and issuing supplies to negroes, paying in this district for them alone more than would support state government of Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, Vermont, Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island, New Hampshire or New Jersey. Not only here, but elsewhere, are the negroes supported by orders of the government, or through the quartermasters. Besides these and other things for the benefit of the negro, you propose to send to and receive from Hayti duly accredited ministers. He repeated that congress legislated almost exclusively for the negro. But what were they doing for the children whose fathers have fallen on the battle-field? Comparatively nothing. White men are required to procure passes to enter our lines, while negroes can enter them without such passes. He asked, was it the purpose of the majority here to make the negroes the equals of the whites? He briefly showed that the history of the world had proved this impossible. All these and kindred questions have to be discussed before the people during the coming autumn. He hoped that the extreme men would be driven from the public councils into places where they could do no more mischief. He repeated, that the legislation of congress had been disastrous. Look, as an instance, at Tennessee, over which has been placed a governor popular and energetic, with fair administrative abilities. With two-thirds of the people of that state opposed to secession, he has been unable to restore her to the Union. Why? Because you have been constantly exciting their apprehension that you intend to violate the constitution, and strip the people of all their rights, instead of confirming the impression that wherever our flag floats they shall be protected in all their rights, including those of persons and property.