Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1857-05-07
FAYETTEVILLE. TENN:
NEGROES VOTING.


Some ofthe Black Republican jour-
mails in New York advocate the ex-
tension ofnegro suffrage in that State,
as retaliation for the decision of the
Supreme Court in the bred Scott case.
The Supreme Court Of the United
States has declared that negro can
not be citizen, and it is claimed to
be bold response on the part OF the
State of New York Immediately to
make free negroes fully citizens, as
white people are in New York. One
of the Journals on that side exul-
fiBgly pTocIaims, that the opinion Of
the United States and the opinion of
that State are in conflict, and it seems
to be delighted with the prospect of
strife.
But in this they are doomed to
certain disappointment. The opin-
ion Of the Supreme Court of The Uni
ted States will be in no way affected,
eithsr in its principles or its effects,
by the decision Of the people of the
State Of New York, to irllse the black
element into their constituency
They may make fellow. citizens for
themselves of i'll tie mNley mass of
native born lonlers Of the African
complexion, and all the runaways to
whom they give shdter, but they
cannot make them fellow-cilizens Of
ours, aud that is what ne have to
thank the Supreme Court for declar-
ing, against Their power to resist it:
1t may be very easy Cor ihem to
make free negroes citizens of New
York, for the sole delectatiou and
profit Of New York. but it is past
their power to make them citizens OF
the United States. They cannotsend
them TO US, or put them upon US,
clothed with any other privileges than
our own laws may chose to allow to
those Of their class; and with this
decision falls the Massachusetts and
New York pretension, which, in. for
mer years, created go much trouble
in attempting to arrest the execution
of the public laws against the comis-
sion Of free negro sailors into South
ern parts. If they wish TO avenge
themselves, upon the Supreme Court,
by inficting negro equality upon
themselves, We shall have no strife
with them about it. 1t is part of the
doctrine Of The court that they have
right to consult their own tastes
to go down TO The free negro level
ifit suits them, and that it is no bust
ness of ours. On the contrary, we
are epjoined TO let them alone--and
we intended TO do it-so there will
be no conflict at all on the subject.
1t is very true that We look on the
proceedings with that distate with
which we regard any act Of voluntary
reimbursement, and with that regret
which We see n great political right
cheapened and degraded, from mean
motives, in freaks of bad temper
Neither can we at all l'ke that exer-
else Of the sovereign rights OF New
York over horown constituency which
gives any power, however insignificant,
TO such class as this, in a way which
permits it to have Voice in polite
al affairs. By making free citizens
of New York out of these mongrels,
New York will permit them TO vote
directly for Presidential Electors and
Members of Congress, and indirectly
for United States Senators. These
things have, however, been decided
70 be inherent results Of State Sever
eighty, and beyond our political in
terference. The evils are incalcuIa-
b,v greater for them than for Us. They
have the direct blessings ofihe asso-
citation which they coyet; aad if their
State influence is as all affected, or
their State character degraded by
the effects, it is they. that will feel it
most.
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