feel proud of the results of this departure
from the principles of true democracy? Is there a worse governed city
in all the republic? Where in all the country was there to be found
such evidences of thriftless dependence as in this city before the
cold breath of the North swept down here during the rebellion and
imparted a little of 'Yankee' vigor to its business and population?
Where within the bounds of professed fidelity to the Government was
true loyalty at a lower ebb, and sympathy with the rebellion at higher
flood; freedom more hated, and emancipation more roundly denounced;
white troops harder to raise, and black ones more heartily despised;
Union victories more coldly received, and reverses productive of less
despondency, than right among that portion of the voting population
and its adjuncts which control the local elections in this District?
With what complaisance the social elements of this capital fostered
the brood of traitors who rushed hence to the service of the rebellion
in 1861! Are these fruits of our errors pleasing?

"I would not be vindictive, I would be just. I do not want to
legislate against the white citizen for the purpose of advancing the
interests of the colored citizen. It is best to guard against all such
legislation. Let the laws which we pass here be of such pure
republican character, that no person can tell from the reading of them
what color is stamped upon the faces of the citizens of the United
States. Let us have no class legislation, no class privileges. Let our
laws be just and uniform in their operation. This is the smooth sea
upon which our ship of state may sail; all others are tempestuous and
uncertain.

"And now, Mr. Speaker, who are the persons upon whom this bill will
operate, if we shall place it upon the statute-book of the nation?
They are citizens of the United States and residents of the District
of Columbia. It is true that many of them have black faces, but that
is God's work, and he is wiser than we. Some of them have faces marked
by colors uncertain; that is not God's fault. Those who hate black men
most intensely can tell more than all others about this mixture of
colors. But, mixed or black, they are citizens of this republic, and
they have been, and are to-day, true and loyal to their Government;
and this is vastly more than many of their contemners can claim for
themselves. In this District a white skin was not the badge of loyalty
while a black skin was. N