Gibson, Tobias (fl. 1861-1865) to Captain J. W. Francis
High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04501.099 Author/Creator: Gibson, Tobias (fl. 1861-1865) Place Written: Oak Forest, [LA] Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 20 August 1867 Pagination: 3 p. : docket ; 25 x 19.5 cm. Order a Copy
A passionate letter in which Tobias refuses to comply with General Sheridan's orders to act as a commissioner of elections. He claims that supporters of negro voting rights are violating the U.S. Constitution, which he believes supports a "white mans government." He argues that social peace either excludes suffrage for blacks or severely restricts it. He fears that if blacks excised the right to vote they would put black men in office and become the superior of whites. "I must respectfully decline to change all my school boy lessons & to adopt a faith which Consigns the land of Washington & Jefferson [3] of Jackson Clay and Calhoun to the [illegible]tion darkness of the primitive ages with African Chiefs and African Statesmen [strikeout] to be installed in their places ..."
[Draft]
Oak Forest 20 Aug. 1864
Capt. J. W. Francis
Dear Sir
I have your favr. of the inst informing me of the order of Genl. Sheridan as to the quality & composition of the Commissioners of election with a copy of the oath to be taken by such commissioners - If any thing could induce me to Vary from the Resolution I have come to on full information, it would be from a sincere regard to oblige you personally & to carry out your very proper wishes on the Subject; but I trust you will properly appreciate my feelings when I say to you that I could not consistantly with my views on the subject consent to perform the duty you require - To show you that it does not arise from [any] want of respect for you I will add a word of explanation.
I am sincerely & I think patriotically opposed to Negro Supremacy over my own race in every Shape & form and believe that those who have originated this policy are enemies of the South, enemies to the Union, enemies to good government, & above all violators of the Constitution of the United States, which I hold as sacred only to the Bible itself. There can be no true freedom without its terms are observed & its persons maintained - It is, and has always been a white mans government & whilst I am forever pledged to maintain the freedom [2] of the Negro & to guarantee him every right of the White Man, I am persuaded that the best interest of both races, the good of Society at large the Public peace & tranquility absolutely require that the right of Suffrage should be withheld or its restrictions rigid if extended to that race - how then should I feel to Sit as a commissioner of [station] & witness the entire freedom with which the poor semi-barbarian would cast his vote, perhaps for some miserable designing white man ten times worse than this Newly pledged instrument of party calculation & party Revenge, and then to witness [inserted: the] exclusion perhaps [illegible] of numbers of the most intelligent, the most patriotic & the very best men in society - No, no. let this Service be performed by others - It may be just, it may be all right - It may be that the moon is the primary Source of light & heat, the Sun only the Secondary - The Earth may be the Center of the Copernican System, The Sun Moon and Stars revolve around the great earth, So the White may be the African, and the [strikeout] [inserted: Leopard] [in] the view of the modern Naturallists may have lost his spots - The s[illegible]n may have changed color with the Raven - God's mercy may be turned to wrath & the Devil may have become an Angle of light but to be candid with you my friend, all those things are alike [illegible]ble in my view. - And hence I must respectfully decline to change all my school boy lessons & to adopt a faith which Consigns the land of Washington & Jefferson [3] of Jackson Clay and Calhoun to the [illegible]tion darkness of the primitive ages with African Chiefs and African Statesmen [strikeout] to be installed in their places -
So your duty my young friend, but I trust you will [inserted: not] expect such as I am with the opinions I entertain & the sensibilities with which I am possessed to assist in that which I honorably believe is to ruin My whole Country & to adulterate a race of people long the superior & destined by God himself to be kept distinct and above all other races -
I have sent the papers to Mr. [Moody] to whom I have suggested the named of [inserted: a] colored man and some white man or men as [this] can may be according to the decision he may make as to himself acting as a Commissioner - You will hear from me as soon as Mr. [illegible] sends me his c[illegible].
With much true Regard
I am your's
T. Gibson
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.