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Whilst I feel that we have learned in the
severest school the philosophy of endurance,
until it seems to have become a part of our
very nature, consequently ever hopeful, wait-
ing for the long-promised "good time
coming;" yet, if we are to wait until "the
powers that be" are educated out of their
prejudice, and that we are to be levers
for their devotion, I think we could sooner
level the "Alps on Alps that rise," referred
to by W.W., before we an direct the
"white man's mind" – for he says it is "that
which is to be engaged, and not the black
man s condition"—or, in other words, the
"black man must change his skin, so as not
to offend his idea of manly beauty."

We come now to the last turn of W. W.,
on his ideal "pivot." "In this country
complexion of manhood and the character of
citizenship." As with the others, I ques-
tion the correctness of this statement, for
the simple reason that the test of American
citizenship goes far beyond that of color.
They mean that there must not be any
mixture of African blood in those who are
to be recognized as citizens, and to be en-
titled to the protection of its laws. Have
we not abundant evidence around us to
prove that every outward trace of African
lineage was removed? Still it does not ad-
vance him either politically or socially—for the
prejudice is somewhat more than
skin deep; it manifests itself the instant
that the white man finds that his complexional
brother, whom he treated a few mo-
ments before as a man and an equal, is con-
nected with that class who are held in
bondage, he falls in his estimation, and in
that of the laws. Does not this prove that
they estimated us by some other standard
than the one assigned, "because we differ
in features, race, and complexion?"

I think that the evidence is sufficiently
clear to justify the assertion, that the pre-
judice from which we suffer had its origin
in the enslavement of the African, and thro'
our blood relationship, (the tree) we are
linked together as one race; and all of the
vices and dullness of intellect, produced by
the deadening effects of slavery, are be-
stowed upon us as our natural inheritance.
And this is advanced as reason sufficient
for refusing to extend to us equal politial
privileges in the free States, with one or
two excepetions; consequently, in the body
politic, we ae regarded as nonentities.—
Here is the cause of or proscription; and
it becomes our duty to lay bare the root of
this tree of evil, which is now overshad-
owing us, preventing the full development
of our manhood.

In conclusion, I would say to those who
have the power, to extend to us free political
action, leaving to each his own future con-
dition to care for, and I am fully convinced
of the uprising of our people from the ruins
of their fettered natures, which the incom-
plete laws of our land have so long bound
and like the unquenched fires of na-
ture, bursting up spontaneously thro' the
mountain weights that [illegible] to keep them
under, shall rise unshackled above the as-
sociated low condition assigned them, and
verfy the motto, "EXCELSIOR!"

U. B. V.

POINT BREEZE, March 26th, 1855.