On the record
Some negroes were heard of, at Montgomery, who had come into the city with their ears cut off by their former masters, in punishment for their assertion of their freedom.
Said by
Whitelaw Reid
Source
gutenberg.orgWhitelaw Reid: “Some negroes were heard of, at Montgomery, who had come into the city with their ears cut off by their former masters…”
Editor's note · Context
Reid recounts a disturbing incident of violence against freedmen, highlighting the brutality of former masters.
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He who has that right will usually respect himself more, be more respected, perform more, and more productive work, and do more to increase the wealth and welfare of the community, than he who has it not.
They should persist in this claim respectfully, but firmly, taking care to bring no discredit upon it by their own action.
It is my firm conviction, that suffrage is not only the best security for freedom, but the most potent agent of amelioration and civilization.
In this way they will surely overcome unjust hostility, and convince even the most prejudiced that the denial to them of any right which citizens may properly exercise is equally unwise and wrong.