The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-09-06


Disgrace to the people, for 1t implies thst
their tastss lead them to such association.
| The Senator inquired whether political
equality was not implied in the suggestions
Of the proposition before the Senate and the
argument that have attempted to present.
To this 1 reply that there b no such thing
as political equslity in nature. Political
equality never did, and never win, exist be-
tween oil the members of any civil society,
whether of the same or of different races. Il
does not exist here. Itdoes not exist in
any one Of the States Of this Union. In the
first place, about one half of.he entire white
population Of the whole country is disfraD-
chised can exercise no political privileges
whatever can neither vote nor hold Office
nor bear arms. refer to that better pr-
ton Of society which always commands our
highest regards. And perhaps their cxclus-
ion from the political arena ought to be con-
siderrd as the result OF our reverence for
them, and not in the nature ofa disability.
Another very large proportion Of the white
population are disfranchised; all those under
twenty-five years Of age, even of the males,
are entirely excluded from the enjoyment of
political privileges. And all those of foreign
birth who have lived in the country less
than five years are entirely excluded under
your naturalization laws. Hence you per-
ceive there is but small fraction Of the en-
tire population Of this country who are pol
litically enfraDchised, and these enjoy politi-
cal privileges in various degrees.
Twill not pursue this branch Of the sub
ject further than to remark that suppose
the principle on which political rights are
conferred on members of any civil CON-
munity is a supposed capacity on their part
to hold, enjoy, and exercise these privileges
with safety and advantage to society ITSELF
It is supposed to be inconsistent with the
safety and perpetuity Of civil society that
those under twenty-one years Of age, as a
general rule, should be permitted to hold
the reins of Government, or to control the
policy Of the State; and hence they arc ex.
cluded. 1t is on the ground of fincapacity
not that all under that age are incompetent,
but that a majority probably are; aud the
rule is made general on account Of the
difficulty Of legislating for each individual
The same may be said of our adopted fellow
citizens. All do not require residence Of
five years to qualify them for the perfor-
nance of the duties of American citizens
Some are intelligent when they first land on
our shores as the average, at least, of the
nativee inhabitants; but as general rule, a
residence Of Eve years would be necessary
to falniliarize them with our institutions and
laws, SO as to enable them to exercise dis
c,eetly and safely the rights of citizen
ship.
Tie Indians, as class, are excluded on
the'same ground; small bands and remnants
of tribes alone are included as voters; and
these only by special acts of Congress, when
their attainments and their improved posi-.
ton in the scale of civilization would seem
to justify 1t. When supposed to be incom-
petent to exercise these rights safely, they
are universally excluded. So It should be
in relation to the negro population. The
same principles should be applied. My
own State, for example, excludes the whole
negro population from the enjoyment Of the
right Of suffrage and the right to hold
Office, not on account Of color, but on accou-
mt Of supposed iucapacity to exercise those
rights safely for themselves 'or others. All
Of them are not, but very large majority
are believed to be incompetent to exercise
discreetly these high prcrogatives; and as W
cannot very well legislate in relation to each
individual, all are excluded.
I understand that seversl OF the free Sta
tes of the Northwest. illinois and Indiana
and perhaps others, have enacted simila1
laws. They exclude them because, in thei
judgement, they are incompetent; the prin
ciple on which all other classes are excludes
which arc not permitted tc exercise these
privileges. Their liberation from slavery
would produce no Immediate change in thei
character in this respect. and would not in
volve the necessity Of clothing them stl
high civil trusts. Nor could this continue,
disability on their part be considereda hard
ship; as well might the land-lubber coin
plain that he is not permitted to stand q
I the helm and guide the ship. whenlthe safe
ty ofsall ON board requires that 1t should b
navigated by the most experienced seamen
The welfare Of the negroes themselves re
quires that the ship of State should b
guided by experienced hands; they have NJ
right to complain Of this exclusion than an,
other class which::we have mentioned. The,
! may enjoy all the BILE ssings Of civil liberty
without the right to vote and hold Office
, Unnaturalized foreigners are free before d
, they are after their naturalization. Ladie
and minor children are free; they ar
, citizens Of the Republic, citizens Of tn
! various States, and yet they do not partici
pate in the enjoyment Of any Of these poll
tics! privileges. In the exclusion Of any
and all Of these classes from the enjoymen
Of political rights, the States act on the SAM
principle; they are supposed to be If rhey
, aae not in fact, incompetent, and the safety
. Of the community requires that they shoult
be thus excluded until the requisite in
, telligence shall be secured.
Then, SIR IL have answered the Senator
:. 4.