Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-03-26
SI(0lD EDITION.
O'CLOCK p. M.
CoNrRABANp sUFYRAGE.

The Repabliean OF yesterday has reply to-
an article in the Star some days ago In refer
ence to the the bill before Congress giving to
the contrabands in our midst the right Of suf.
frage, In which it says:
1--WE perceive that this bill has excited the
indignatoao OF one OF our contemporaries. He
holds his hands up in holy horror, and hopes
il will not become q law Why Simply be-
cause it enfraDchises twenty thousand colored
men who have been made free by the necessi-
ties of war, expressed through an act of Con-
gress. The ground of his complaint is that
these men can neither read nor write, and they
cannot vote inteliigently on any subject. For
the sake of argument we will admit this, but
we ask this veracious writer can all the white
voters read and write2 We think not, The
objection advanced is a mere bubble to cover
up his real opposition, and that is the color of
the voter.
Our doctrine is and ever shall be, that a
man that Is qualified to fight the battles Of his
country against traitors and destroyers of our
domestic peace, is en- titled to vote at any cleo.
ton. How much more intelligently can O
naturaiized citizen who cannot speak our lam
guase vote than a negro who was born and
brought uH in the district in which il is pro.
posed to raise him to citizenship 7"
We sincerely regret that any Washington
newspaper should be found advocating a
measure so antagonistic to the interests OF
Washington city: to the interests Of the national
cause: and to the interests of the colored people
themselves. as this contraband suffrage bill
The citizens OF Washington, without regard
to party lines, are unanimous in opposition to
the project. The warmest Union men, the
warmest republicans, the best friends OF the
colored men, are unanimous in deprecating q
measure which can have no other effect than to
outrage public sentiment, damage business
interests, furnish material for copperhead cap.
ital, and excite luminosity against the colored
race.
The project OF giving the right Of suffrage to
swarm Of contrabands just now sauatted
In our midst, so ignorant that they scarce know
their right hand from their left, and who GER.
tainly have so little knowledge OF the CITY of
Washington and its affairs that they could not
possibly find their way to the polling booths
unguided,-the project, we say, OF swaMping
the entire white citizenship of Washington at
the polls by this swarm OF contrabands, Is so
monstrous that 1t would appear really to have
been fcisted On its advocates by adroit copper.
head wire.workers, to serve RS an effective
electioneering card for them In the coming
Presidential campaign.
The Republicans main argument in behalf OF
cortraband suffrage is that man who Is aual.
flied to fight is qualified to vote. In the heat
OF lis partizanship the Republican quite over.
' looks the fact that very considerable portion
OF the whitesoldiers in our army-those under 81
years OF age, and those not naturalized-are not
entitled to vote. If tie mere fact of the posses.
sion OF fighting qualifications gives the right OF
suffrage, the Republican, to be consistent, mus
admit the right Of the minor soldier and the
unnaturalized soldier to vote sat any election
The young white soldier must bide his time
until he is 81 years OF age; the unnaturalized
soldier must bide his years of probation to be
entitled to rights Of citizenship and suffrage.
Let the contraband bide his time until he is
fitted in some degree to exercise the duties of
citizenship. "
The Republican claims that the contraband
can vote at least as intelligently as the nat
uralized citizen who cannot speak our Ian.
gnage. We are not Of that opinion. The nat.
uralized citizen, though speaking our language
impertectly, has knowledge Of business at.
fairs, and s. comprehension of our institutions
and the rights and duties OF citizen ship such az
the untutored. minimizing contraband, fresh
from the cotton field and the rice field, cannot
hepe to have until developed by years Of train
ing. -4r.
The Republican thinks the measure cousem.
plated wise and opportune, and hopes 1. may
become law. We think it most uuwise most
inopportune, and sincerely trus. our leeisia tors
will decide to reject it.