Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1865-10-13
COSSECTICUT--SKGRO SUFFRAGE.


upea the negroes of Connecticut has just been de-
featei by large majority. Two or thIes times
this experiment has been tried with libe success;
yet the radicals of that State are untirng in their
efforts to fasten negro suffrage upon the South in
defiance Of the Constitution aud the rights Of the
States. Whence comes this wide difference between
the negro Of Connecticut and the negro of Tennes-
see, as regards his fitness for the exercise of the
elective franchise? has the Southern negro emanci
pated but yesterday intelligence and integrity
than the Northern negro, born free, living in
theoretic equality and in social contact with the
white mani II this be true freedom has degraded
the negro of the North whilst slavery has elevated
those Of the South in the essential qualities Of in
telligence and virtue; and q consequences, the
emancipation Of the latter will entail upon them a
curse not yet enumerated in the list of evils pre-
pared for them by their pretended friends. II,
however, the foregoing deduction from facts does
not explain the action of the peopleof Connecticut
we can find an explanation only in the superstition
that they striving at one and the same time, to
degrade us and to strengthen the radical party by
means of negro votes in the South. If this be so,
the motive is intensely base, and the means sub
versive Of the best interests of the whole country
by multiplying the corrupt influences which are
already too abundant for wholesome admnstra-
ton of the government.
In treating this subject, we are influenced by no
prejudice against the negro who is as well qualified
to vote, ntelligcntly as thousands of whites upon
whom the privilege is already conferred. Years
ago, we became convinced that man, in the aggre-
gate is not and never will be, capable of selfgov-
mcnt, and every years experience has strengthened
this conviction. Believing this to be true of the
white man, we are Influenced, In our opposition to
the measure, by higher motives than prejudice
against the negro on account Of his color, or his
late position as q slave. The entire framework of
our government shows that the leading idea, with
those who fashioned it was that free institutions
would always foster enough Of virtue and inte-
gence to preserve the purity Of the system, and
thus to the people all the blessings Of civil
liberty. This theory, however beautiful and plaus-
IDLE in appearance, has, in practice, proven to be
both deusiye and perncious; and, to-day, every
passing event bears testimony against the truth of
the theory Of mans capacity for selfgovernment.
In the infancy of the Republic, the States wise
~ decided that the elective franchise was privilege
not heedlessly to be conferred upon all whoAhad
reached certain age, or who had resided given
period in given place. They knew that these
conditions of age and residence were no security
for the moral and intellectual qualifications which
every voter ought to possess and therefore threw
around the ballot-box such safeguards as they
thought would best protect it against the inroads Of
ii. L
remained intact, comparatively wise conservatism
made up the history of Federal and State Govern
ments. But, in the course of time, men appeared
upon the political stage, whose love of power ex-
ceeded their love of country, and whose ambition
towerd far above their merits. These men, taking
their cue from the suggestions of innate evil ap-
Penled to the passions and prejudces of the masses
preached the false doctrine of universal equality
derided the wholesome lessons of experience; as
sailed every safeguard of national freedom broke
down the clearlydrawn distinctions between liberty
and licenciousness, and finally succeeded in making
the ballot-box the receptacle of every error and
vice and I" ism" tiat degrades the masses, and tn,
government, the corrupt exponent Of more cor
rupt party.
Universal suffrage will not fail to overthrow tn,
best system Of government that can be devised b,
the wisdom OF man. and for the simple reason tina
the majority will never be sufficiently enlightened
to distinguish between the statesman and the dema
gogue, nor sufficiently virtuous to resist the cor
rupting influences which will be brought to bea
upon them by willy and corrupt asprants. Thos,
who believe in that patent humbug the perfectabil
ity of man, will reason differently; but the expert
ence of buried centuries sustans our views and tn,
future, to the end of time, will confirm them. ]
the people Of the 0nited States are capable of self
government, how shall we account for the lat
WARP 1t will not suffice to say that it came lik
the tornado, which is the effect of physical caus
beyond our powers of preseence or control. Their
is but one rational answer to the question and tina
is, that it originated in our want of capacity 70
sef-government II we call It necessary 10,
unavoidable evil-as some have done-we shall
lind that necessity arising from the same cause
and If we attribute it to fortutous combination O
adverse circumstances, the answer is still the sam
the incapacity of the people for selfgoVernment
And now that the war is over, and the wise anC
and the good ought to be striving 10 correct pas
errors, to heal the wounds inflicted upon the bod,
polite, and to secure future peace upon a firm
basis, what are the evidences furnished by the dom
inaut party at the North Of their capacity t
govern themselves or others' vindictiye hatred O
the South Is the motive for all they do or say, AM
in order to heap degradation upon us, and an add
tional curse upon the country, they are clamrou
for still further debasement of our political sys
tenn by infusing into it the noxious element o
negro suffrage If they honestly believe that misce
genation will improve the race, and infer from
this that miscegenation of suffrage will, in lik
proportion, improve the government, we would Civ
them credit Inconsistency but for tn. fact that the
conduct towards the negroes of the North fixes tn
seal OF dishonesty upon their professions whilst