The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1864-03-03
Negro


Journal, by far the ablest abolition paper
in this Congressional District, speaks as
follows;
In the first place, then the question of
negro equality is one belonging solely to
the States. The General Government
having no authority or control in the mat
ter, can not prescribe the qualifications of
electors. nor decide who shall or who shall
not be eligible to the right Of suffrage"
* x Should the rcqui-
site majority Of the people of any State
choose to so amend its Constitution as to
place the black man upon an equal politi-
ell footing with the white, no man has a
right to call that action into question. 1t
is in accordance with the spirit of a Re
publican form of Government that the ma
jority must rule and it is clearly within
the province ofcach State to designate the
qualifications OF voters in such State, AS
we'll as to regulate its other domestic If.
fairs, so far as is sanctioned by the Con-
%stltution Of the United States and the laws
made in pursuance thereof"
Is not the journal a little out of place
in taking The position that the General
Government ''can not prescribe the quail
f%ications OF electors, nor dictate who shall,
or who shall not be eligible to the right of
suffrage What doe. the journal say to
the zone TENTH proposition of the "Gov-
eminent" in his amnesty proclamationy-
How will the journal disposes of the in
structions issued by the Government
relative to the elections in Arkansas and
louisiana. OF course the General Gov
eanmcnt has no right to prescribe the
qualifications CT electors" but who ever
expected to hear an administration paper
ayow 80 lust a sentiment. Evidently the
Journal was of its guard when it gave
place to the article from which VIC have
quoted, or else it Is making Common cause
with the German radicals of its party to
prevent if possible the denomination Of
Mr.. Lincoln. The journal as also other
papers Of its party, thinks that the majorl-
ty of the people Of any state have the right
to place the black man upon an equal po-
~litical footing with the white" and no man
has a riihtto caU that oction mt, question:"
Let Us sec how that doctrine will work
The Journal and indeed all the leaders of
The Republican party recognize the ne
erocs as people now suppose that the
people of Louisiana, on Georgia for in
stance, a majority Of whom are black
"choose to so amend the Constitution O
their State as to place the black man up
on an equal political footing with the
white why may they not do so if the
doctrine Of the Journal be true?
suppose that the negroes IN any
State where they are i'll the majority
should 50 amend their constitution rs to
prohibit white men from voting. will the
journal i'll say that mo man has Il right
to call that action into question: Bnt the
Journal may say hat by the constitution
of those States, negroes arc not now allow
cd TO vote. and hence no such action car
ever take place. True enough it cannor
50 long as ever the forms Of law are oh
served, but still the negroes are people,
, and have the right to do that very thing
, according to the logic of the Journal; anc
again with the present administration con
situations amount TO nothing. as witnes:
the action Of the Government %rclativ,
to the States Of Arkansas and Louisian;
Whatever it chooses to DO, 1t does, ant
its adherents declare that "no man has
right to call that action into question =
At the next turn OF the wheel moved b,
the radicals to make pressure upon the
"GoAcrnment" why may he not issue
Proclamation investing all the negroes il
ti,e United States with the elective fran
ehise:? There is nothing to prevent hi.
doing 80 except only the Constitution o
his country which he solemnly sworc tc
'naintai,, pre- -ect and defend" and tina
has already been so often violated and dis
regarded that its most sacred provisio IN:
have long since, in the eyes of administers
~tionists, become a dead letter; or as Bccchei
would say a mere dead sheep skin parch.
ment."
The Court to investigate the conduct OF
Major-Generals Mc-Cook, Crittenden. and
Neglcy, has adjourned sine die, and from