Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 2, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 January 1859 — A Negro Discussion.. [ARTICLE]

A Negro Discussion..

Geneva, the lovely village on Seneca Lake, furnishes the follawing specimen of parliamentary ruling: The “culled pussons,” in emulation of , their white brethren, formed a debating soj ciety, for the purpose of improving their minds by the discussion of' instructive and entertaining topics. The deliberations ot j the society were presided over by a venerable darkey, who performed his duties with ; the utmost dignity peculiar to his color. The subject for discussion on the occasion of which we write,, was: ” “Which am de mudder of de chicken —de hen wot lay de egg, or de hen wot hatches de chicken?” The question was warmly debated, and many reasons pro and con were urged and j j combatted by tlie excited disputants. Those j in favor of the latter proposition were evi- , 1 dently in the majority, and the' Prosident; made no attempt to conceal that his sympa- | hies were with the dominant party.

At length an intelligent darkey arose from the minority side, and begged leave to state a proposition to this effect: “Spose,” said he “dat you set dozen duck’s eggs under a hen, and dey hatch, which am de mudder—de duck or de hen!” This was a .poser, was well put, and nonplused the other side, even staggering the President, who plainly saw tho-fiorce of the argument; but he had cornmited himself too far to yield without a struggle; scr, after cogitating and scratching his wool a few moments, a bright idea struck him. Rising from his chair in all the pride of conscious superiority, he announced: j “Ducks am not ’fore de house; ehick- ; ens am de question; derefore 1 rule de ducks j out,” And do it he did, to the complete over-’ throw of his opponents.