New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-10-20
mR. REAGAN AND SUFFRAGE


WIN. REAGaN AND SUFFRAGE.
Mr. John II. Reagan, late Postmaster-Gen'
cral of the Southern Confederacy while
prisoner in Fort Warren sent an address
to the people OF Texas, the substance oil
which comes to us in the New Orleans papers
The topic of most importance which no dis
eusses. and which IL of most interest to Northern
readers, is that of suffrage. He says:
ITO the comforting OF tho elective franchise on your
former slaves anticipate stubborn and sincere OPP
position basel the ignorance OF the great mass VI
them. md their total want OF Information hhu eApe
rence Ia matters Of legislation Naturalization anu
everything which pertains 90 the science OF government
and upon the pride Of race Aud this objection may pe
sustained by ponhng 20 the examples OF hcAco shu VI
lie Central American and South Americas Ststes
where by the enfnch.sement u the indians and the
negroes and all otbers without reference To race or
n entail or moral fitness for the exercise 81 tnese
.ble rights they have been deprived OF The bessgs VI
peace order and good government and involved IN an
almost uninterrupted series " wars and feNouilohA
often " the most cruel and barbarous character Tor
pay n1'eIorSiios or Of their condition
Bot these Mic aties Co, nsuperabe. II ron meet
than with patience and reason. have no uoupt you
can Top, plan which viii fully meet the demands oi
Justice and fairuess and satisfy the Northern iinu'
and the requirements Of the Government without CO
dangcrng good government and the ropose ol society
This can DO done By:
"Eira! Extending the privileges and proteoton oi
the isVs tie negroes ~ they are over ups N'',
and allowing them to testify IN cue court Oh he
condons leaving their testimony subject &c The RUE
relating 20 its crcdbty bot not Directing Ia It's ad
instability And In this you viii conform Win the Nise
eurreut VI modern legislation aud the tendon otJHdl'
cisl decisions In ali enlightened countries.
"And, sseond by fixing an intellectual asu torl-
md n thought necessary, property tost ;ot tuc aa
mission Of all persons 90 the exercise on thc ece.Ne
franchise rersSes COLOR rAeh FoHid o.
etTt It's fat,uigsHi u,rciss.
my own view would be.
'Fi,T. That no person now entitled TO The privilege
OF voting should be deprived II because OF amy new
"s.eo,d That TO authorize tho admission Of persons
10 the exercise VI the elective manonisc they
should be- rst males; second q years ~ agei thru,
otrens Of the United States fourth, should have re-
sided in the State yeof aud In the district county
or precinct six months next preceding any election a.
which they propose TO vote, h should DO able 20 road
In the English language understandinglyi skth anu
must have paid taxes for the last year preceding LOT
which such taxes were due and payable subject TO any
disqualification for crime of which tho person may haye
been duly convicted, which moy be prescribed by a"
This Is not only good common sense but
sound, practical craftsmanship. The advocate;
Of Universal Suffrage at the North ask nothing
more than the adoption Of such q policy by the
Southern States, and, were it accepted, Tho
country would DO at peate, and the Union
permanently restored in six months
No rational man doubts thai
there are among the emancipated blacks many
who would not exercise the elective franchise
intellgently. But ii is just as true that there
are many white persons in the Southern States
equally unfit to be intrusted with that right
Make test then, if you please, but let it DO
test not of color but Of intelligence
or of property, which presupposes intel
ligence and stake in the well-beins
Of society. Slavery is not abolished so Ions
as those recently 10 bondage are denied thel
civil rights and kept by law in condition
of degradation because they are black. IL
make all men equal under the law Is TO accep
Emancipation in its full meaning The wa
must have this result and il il not ended until i
does. Mr. Reagan sees this clearly, and it vii
be we'll for the South when she understands ant
accepts it, for there is no peace for her until sh
does. He says;
1.-THE adoption Of these measures in addition 4
those before mentioned would. In my Judgment. NEE
the ends justice and fairness IRE the reesiablsh
mont OF state government the admission OF her Sea
military rule, and the restoration OF OWL oonstltu
tlonal and local self government. And IL would d.
more. II would secure your protection against otle
great and pending evils and is AIN persuaded, OF Oh
greatest consequence 10 your future peace prosper
and happiness.
Fira, 1t would remove all just grounds Of antago
nism an hostility between the white and black Races
Unless this Ii Done endless srife aud bitterness OF feel
ing must characterize their relations. And all histor
and human experience teach Us must sooner late
result In a war Of races We now know from sad Oh
perieioe what ir, between equals and onllghene
people. Bat Of all wars social war OF races Ia tn
most relentless aud ornoi The determination, or @,
pulsIon from tho country or ensayement u the one
the other being It's inevitable end where they LEI
10 Themselves the loss Of liberty 10 boil races wher
they are all subject 10 the control Of superior powoi
which wond he situation speak Of course OF N
legal n ghts and status OF fhe two Their sooit
relations are matters OF taste and choice. and not sui
| Ieot ~ legislative regulation.
Second. This course would disarm and put an end
the inter state; sectional. political agitation on ib
subject nj least which has been the special curse
our COUNTRY tor so many ,oers aud which the GAYS