James Barnett Battles for African American Right to Vote in 1860
The Daily Palladium (Oswego, NY), Feb 16, 1860 wrote, "In the Assembly of this state, on Friday last (Feb 10th), while the concurrent resolutions concerning the amendment to this Constitution, allowing Negroes to vote, were under consideration, Mr. Barnett, Republican member from Madison County, went to the point of declaring that 'in point of moral worth and character, Negroes are now very far superior to the great mass of white voters in the State.' -That is, as the rule now stands, Negroes are better than white men! We quote from the legislative proceeding):"
"Mr. Barnett protested against the remarks of the gentleman from Saratoga (Mr. Ellsworth.) He held that the colored men in the city of New York, and in all other cities of the State, were better qualified to vote than are the mass of ignorant foreigners who have no knowledge of, or regard for the institutions of the country. In point of moral worth and character, Negroes are now very superior to the great mass of white Voters in the state"
"Mr. Barnett represents one of the strongest Republican constituencies of the State. He is a genuine negro-worshiper. Let no one question his honesty In placing the negro above the whites."
"One day, these Republican Assemblymen will have to come back and face these 'white voters!' What will the miserable men say for themselves?"
A similar article appeared in the Utica Daily Observer, Nov. 2, 1860. The article added "Mr. Barnett has breathed an abolition atmosphere so long in Madison County, that he idolizes the African." A Buffalo, NY newspaper also printed a similar article Nov. 5, 1860. I find it interesting that more than 8 months after the fact, newspapers were still talking about what James said in the state assembly.
Barnett Again Fights for African American Suffrage (The Right to Vote) 1867
At the end of 1866 a Bill was passed in the District of Colombia that gave African Americans the right to vote. On Jan 1, 1867 the US president vetoed the bill. The purpose of the bill was to first introduce the freedom to vote in the District of Columbia. Any attempt to give that privilege to African Americans in the South would never have passed. This bill would help get one foot in the door and at least help people start to accept the idea that all people should have the right to vote.
The Albany Evening Journal Feb 8 1867 gives a report of the N.Y. Legislative session of the previous day. James Barnett thanked the Senate and House of Representatives for passing the District of Columbia Bill after the president's veto. He also said, "The old theory of civil governments, which legislated for the few, at the expense of the many, is rapidly passing away."
"The terrible ordeal of blood through which this Nation has just passed, has been a mighty indicator of the public sentiment and the public conscience in these matters. Not only on this continent is the rallying cry heard in behalf of the rights of the people, and the whole people, of whatever race or clime, but the monarchies of the Old World are already beginning to breathe the inspiration of freedom, and despotism begins to tremble before the onward march of that public sentiment which demands equal rights for all."
"In the light of this rapidly advancing sentiment of liberty and equality, we may, it seems to me, discover where lies the path of duty, as well as the path of safety for us as a people and a Government. If we would escape a repetition of those judgments through which we have passed with such fearful scourging, let us no longer ignore the claims of the poor and defy the God of the oppressed. Let us no longer break faith with those who, in the time of our direst calamity, were our friends and our saviours, and to whom in that dark day we pledged everlasting protection. Let us now take by the hand our black brother, who stood so heroically by our side on every field of carnage through the bloody years of rebellion, and aid him in his elevation to a noble manhood. To this end let us put him in possession of all his civil rights. Let us place before him the opportunities and incentive to mental and moral culture, -above all, and as a sure and effective means to all these other attainments, let us put in his hand the ballot."
"Sir, public Justice, our plighted faith to the colored man, cries aloud for this. The time has come when the people demand that loyal men, and loyal men alone, of whatever color, shall control this Government. They know full well that, among all the disloyal traitor hordes that have cursed this land, no black man has ever been found -that in every emergency and at all times be has been our friend and 'faithful among the faithless stood' -prominently loyal and true in his devotion to the Old Flag. And shall we now that we have come to a breathing place -a cessation of hostilities (and only a cessation, sir, for the spirit of rebellion is not yet subdued in this one struggle with traitors) -shall we say to this loyal element of our former strength, we can now go on without you -return to your old relations in the Government -to your former disabilities? Or what is worse, to the persecution and death visited by rebels and traitors upon all true loyal Union men left unprotected? Surely such mockery, such treachery to plighted vows, such daring injustice, can never escape a vindictive retribution. That divine aid by which we have thus far triumphed over the rebellion, will be withdrawn, if we purposely or by indifference allow the consummation of such stupendous wrong."
"To my mind it is clear that we need to day the black man's vote as much as in the days of our terrible conflict with treason we needed his musket and his brave right arm. Without the ballot In the hands of the loyal black man, this Government can never be safely and permanently reconstructed, and made secure against the machinations of treason and unrepentant Rebels. Sir, I desire to see the day when, as a punishment for treason and an act of justice to a long oppressed race, the ballot shall be put into the hand of every black man, while his traitor master shall be compelled to stand back from the polls."
Please take a minute to look at my other blogs.
Captain James Barnett (Jr.) 35th New York Volunteer Infantry
http://jamesbarnett.blogspot.com/
35th New York Volunteer Infantry Civil War
http://35thnewyorkinfantry.blogspot.com/
Biography of James Barnett (Sr.) -Father of Captain Barnett
http://senatorjamesbarnett.blogspot.com/
James Barnett (Sr.) Anti-Slavery, John Brown Meeting Peterboro, NY
http://johnbrownmeeting.blogspot.com/
James Barnett (Sr.) Speech -Personal Liberty for all Men
http://personallibertyforallmen.blogspot.com/
James Barnett (Sr.) Speech -Prohibition of Alcohol
http://prohibitionofalcohol.blogspot.com/
Please e-mail me if you would like original copies of any of my references. Contact me if you have questions, suggestions, or more interest in something that I have posted at jamesbarnett1@hotmail.com
The Daily Palladium (Oswego, NY), Feb 16, 1860 wrote, "In the Assembly of this state, on Friday last (Feb 10th), while the concurrent resolutions concerning the amendment to this Constitution, allowing Negroes to vote, were under consideration, Mr. Barnett, Republican member from Madison County, went to the point of declaring that 'in point of moral worth and character, Negroes are now very far superior to the great mass of white voters in the State.' -That is, as the rule now stands, Negroes are better than white men! We quote from the legislative proceeding):"
"Mr. Barnett protested against the remarks of the gentleman from Saratoga (Mr. Ellsworth.) He held that the colored men in the city of New York, and in all other cities of the State, were better qualified to vote than are the mass of ignorant foreigners who have no knowledge of, or regard for the institutions of the country. In point of moral worth and character, Negroes are now very superior to the great mass of white Voters in the state"
"Mr. Barnett represents one of the strongest Republican constituencies of the State. He is a genuine negro-worshiper. Let no one question his honesty In placing the negro above the whites."
"One day, these Republican Assemblymen will have to come back and face these 'white voters!' What will the miserable men say for themselves?"
A similar article appeared in the Utica Daily Observer, Nov. 2, 1860. The article added "Mr. Barnett has breathed an abolition atmosphere so long in Madison County, that he idolizes the African." A Buffalo, NY newspaper also printed a similar article Nov. 5, 1860. I find it interesting that more than 8 months after the fact, newspapers were still talking about what James said in the state assembly.
Barnett Again Fights for African American Suffrage (The Right to Vote) 1867
At the end of 1866 a Bill was passed in the District of Colombia that gave African Americans the right to vote. On Jan 1, 1867 the US president vetoed the bill. The purpose of the bill was to first introduce the freedom to vote in the District of Columbia. Any attempt to give that privilege to African Americans in the South would never have passed. This bill would help get one foot in the door and at least help people start to accept the idea that all people should have the right to vote.
The Albany Evening Journal Feb 8 1867 gives a report of the N.Y. Legislative session of the previous day. James Barnett thanked the Senate and House of Representatives for passing the District of Columbia Bill after the president's veto. He also said, "The old theory of civil governments, which legislated for the few, at the expense of the many, is rapidly passing away."
"The terrible ordeal of blood through which this Nation has just passed, has been a mighty indicator of the public sentiment and the public conscience in these matters. Not only on this continent is the rallying cry heard in behalf of the rights of the people, and the whole people, of whatever race or clime, but the monarchies of the Old World are already beginning to breathe the inspiration of freedom, and despotism begins to tremble before the onward march of that public sentiment which demands equal rights for all."
"In the light of this rapidly advancing sentiment of liberty and equality, we may, it seems to me, discover where lies the path of duty, as well as the path of safety for us as a people and a Government. If we would escape a repetition of those judgments through which we have passed with such fearful scourging, let us no longer ignore the claims of the poor and defy the God of the oppressed. Let us no longer break faith with those who, in the time of our direst calamity, were our friends and our saviours, and to whom in that dark day we pledged everlasting protection. Let us now take by the hand our black brother, who stood so heroically by our side on every field of carnage through the bloody years of rebellion, and aid him in his elevation to a noble manhood. To this end let us put him in possession of all his civil rights. Let us place before him the opportunities and incentive to mental and moral culture, -above all, and as a sure and effective means to all these other attainments, let us put in his hand the ballot."
"Sir, public Justice, our plighted faith to the colored man, cries aloud for this. The time has come when the people demand that loyal men, and loyal men alone, of whatever color, shall control this Government. They know full well that, among all the disloyal traitor hordes that have cursed this land, no black man has ever been found -that in every emergency and at all times be has been our friend and 'faithful among the faithless stood' -prominently loyal and true in his devotion to the Old Flag. And shall we now that we have come to a breathing place -a cessation of hostilities (and only a cessation, sir, for the spirit of rebellion is not yet subdued in this one struggle with traitors) -shall we say to this loyal element of our former strength, we can now go on without you -return to your old relations in the Government -to your former disabilities? Or what is worse, to the persecution and death visited by rebels and traitors upon all true loyal Union men left unprotected? Surely such mockery, such treachery to plighted vows, such daring injustice, can never escape a vindictive retribution. That divine aid by which we have thus far triumphed over the rebellion, will be withdrawn, if we purposely or by indifference allow the consummation of such stupendous wrong."
"To my mind it is clear that we need to day the black man's vote as much as in the days of our terrible conflict with treason we needed his musket and his brave right arm. Without the ballot In the hands of the loyal black man, this Government can never be safely and permanently reconstructed, and made secure against the machinations of treason and unrepentant Rebels. Sir, I desire to see the day when, as a punishment for treason and an act of justice to a long oppressed race, the ballot shall be put into the hand of every black man, while his traitor master shall be compelled to stand back from the polls."
Please take a minute to look at my other blogs.
Captain James Barnett (Jr.) 35th New York Volunteer Infantry
http://jamesbarnett.blogspot.com/
35th New York Volunteer Infantry Civil War
http://35thnewyorkinfantry.blogspot.com/
Biography of James Barnett (Sr.) -Father of Captain Barnett
http://senatorjamesbarnett.blogspot.com/
James Barnett (Sr.) Anti-Slavery, John Brown Meeting Peterboro, NY
http://johnbrownmeeting.blogspot.com/
James Barnett (Sr.) Speech -Personal Liberty for all Men
http://personallibertyforallmen.blogspot.com/
James Barnett (Sr.) Speech -Prohibition of Alcohol
http://prohibitionofalcohol.blogspot.com/
Please e-mail me if you would like original copies of any of my references. Contact me if you have questions, suggestions, or more interest in something that I have posted at jamesbarnett1@hotmail.com
