The Black Man: His Antecedents, His Genius, and His Achievements — John Shaqi
The Black Man: His Antecedents, His Genius, and His AchievementsBrown, William Wells
History
The Black Man: His Antecedents, His Genius, and His Achievements
Brown, William Wells
African Americans -- Biography
Dr. Nehemiah Adams, whom I have already quoted, also testifies
to the good character of the free colored people; but he does it
unintentionally; it was not a part of the programme; how it slipped in
I cannot tell. Here it is, however, from page 41 of his "South-Side
View:"--
"A prosecuting officer, who had six or eight counties in his district,
told me that, during eight years service, he had made out about two
thousand bills of indictment, of which not more than twelve were
against colored persons."
Hatred of the free colored people, and abuse of them, have always been
popular with the pro-slavery people of this country; yet, an American
senator from one of the Western States--a man who never lost an
opportunity to vilify and traduce the colored man, and who, in his last
canvass for a seat in the United States Senate, argued that the slaves
were better off in slavery than they would be if set free, and declared
that the blacks were unable to take care of themselves while enjoying
liberty--died, a short time since, twelve thousand dollars in debt to a
black man, who was the descendant of a slave.
There is a Latin phrase--_De mortuis nil nisi bonum_. It is not saying
any thing against the reputation of Hon. Stephen A. Douglas to tell the
fact that he had borrowed money from a negro. I only find fault with
him that he should traduce the class that befriended him in the time
of need. James Gordon Bennett, of the New York Herald, in a time of
great pecuniary distress, soon after establishing his paper, borrowed
three hundred dollars of a black man; and now he is one of our most
relentless enemies. Thus it is that those who fattened upon us often
turn round and traduce us. Reputation is, indeed, dear to every nation
and race; but to us, the colored people of this country, who have so
many obstacles to surmount, it is doubly dear:--
"Who steals my purse steals trash;
'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands;
But he who filches from me my good name,
Robs me of that which not enriches him,
And makes me poor indeed."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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