Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-07-03

\ The t,uestlon Is asked: If the poor white
tnpn nf the South have not been able to ell
evate themselves with the assistance OF the
ballot. how are the blacks (whose Ignorance
Is more dense, and who are more connding
In their natures) likely to use 1t to better
advantage ?-Stdtesman
III two men were flat on their backs, held
down by heavy stone, we could reaully
see why neither of them should rise; Dut
with the weight removed, we might expect
both to do so. In the present case slavery
has been the stone, which has kept down
poor whites and negroes; but that removed,
we NAV look for both classes to elevate
themselves and become men among men,
Toledo Blade.
That don't meet the case. The poor White
men of the South have been just as able to
WELD the privilege of suffrage in behalf OF
their own interests with potency rs they
will be able to WELD it If the Blacks shall
be made voters. Their elevation does not
depend upon the emancipation and enfran-
chisement of the Black men in the South.
They do not call tor the enfranchisement OF
the Black men. With abhorrenee they
contemplate the idea of having the lately
enslaved race put upon political equality
with them. They conceive 1t would be q
degradation and they would feel it to be
such, instead of promotiye of their eleya-
tion. Between the Blacks and the poor
Whites It would engender bad blood and dill
,ficulty. To the rich planters 1t would not be
p very repulsive, because they undoubtedly
cherish the belief that they could control
the Black vote so as to subserye their own
interests, and thereby more than counter
balance the votes of the poor White men
and the middle classes. Not even the mosi
ardent advocate of Black Suffrage contends
q that the emancipated slaves are by nature
association or education capable Of exer-
cising suffrage intelligently; but they con-
tend that they will do so under proper di'
p rection. They would, however, insist thai
If they should vote to carry out the sug'
gestions of their late masters that thai
would not be exercising suffrage in an ac'
ceptable manner; and what guarantee have
we that they would be subject to any othel
control? Are we not insisting that the re-
latiOn of employer and employee shal
be established between the late master
and his late slaves? We are insisting
that the late master should pay to his
late slaves liberal compensation. We
are doing what we can to perpetuate
the Ieeling OF dependence that has charae-
terized the slaves toward their MASTER
And who does not know if this feeling il
perpetuated that the employers influence
over the Black mans vote will be LITTLE
short Of absolute. If the purpose is II
effect to silence the voice of the planter
class in the affairs of Government, who hav'
given effective support to the Rebellion
that object cannot be accomplished b!
making voters OF the Southern Black men
tits to the interest, therefore, OF the South
ern middle classes and the poor White mel
that the Southern Blacks be not mad
voters. Would it elevate and dignity tn
poor White men of Ohio to make the Blacl
men of Ohio their equals in every politica
and business department in the State?