Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-11-01

| 'iiiSo iSoiiAC IL ;tit appears Ike Il cream
We must not be in too much of hurry
it Is better to let them reconst ruct them
selves than to force them to it; for if they
go wrong, the power is in our hands and W
| can check them at any stage, to the end
and obllge them TO correct their errors ; we
| must be patient with them. [ did not ex
pect to keep out all who were excluded
from the Amnesty, or even a large numbe,
OF them, but l intended they should sue for
pardon, and so realize the enormity of the
crime they had committed.
You could not have broached the subject
OF equal suffrage at the North seven years
ago, and We must remember that the changes
| at the South have been more rapid aud
| they have been obliged to accept more un-
palatable truth than the North has; we
must give them time to digest a part, for
we cannot expect such large affairs will be
comprehended and digestcd at once We
must give them time to understand their
new position.
have nothing to conceal in these mat
ters, and have no desire or willingness to
take indirect courses to obtain what we want
Our Government is a grand and lofty
structure in searching for its foundation
we find it rests on the broad basis of popu-
lar rights. The elective franchise is not a
natural right, but political right l am
opposed to giving the States too much pow
er, and also to great consolidation of pow
er in the Central Government
1t J Interfere with the vote of the Rebel
States, to dictate that the negro shall vote
L might do the same thing for my own pur-
poses in Pennsylvania. Our only safety lies
in allowing each State to control the right
of voting by its own laws, and we have the
power to control the Rebel States if they
go wrong. If they rebel We have the army,
and control them by it. and, if necessary, by
legislation also IF the General Govern
ment controls the right to vote in the States,
it may establish such rules as will restrict
the vote TO a small number of persons, and
thus create central despotism
My position here is different from what
1t would be if was in Tennes see.
There | should try to introduce negro suf.
frage gradually. first those who have served
In the army: those who could read and
write, and perhapsa property qualification for
others say $500 or $3.50
1t would not do to let the negroes have
universal suffrage now; it would breed
war OF races.
There wss time in the Southern States
when the slaves of large owners looked
down upon non-slaveowners because they did
not own slaves; the larger number of slaves
their masters owned, the prouder they were,
and this has produced hostility between the
mass of the whites and the negroes. The
outrageS are mostly from -slaveholding
whites against the negro, and from the ne
gro upon the non -slaveholding whites
The negro will vote with the late master
whom he does not hate, rather than with
the non-s'aveholding white, whom he does
hate. Universal suffrage would create a
I,.X r
races.
Another thing This Government is the
freeest and the best on the earth, and I feel
sure Is destined to last; but to secure this,
We must elevate and purify the ballet.
for many years cOntended at the South that
Slavery was political weakness, but others
said 1T was political strength; they thought
we gained three-ffths representation by it,
L contended that we lost two -fifths.
If we had no slaves, we should have had
twelve representatives more, according to
to the then ratio of representation. Con
gress apportionS representation by s States not
districts, and the State apportions by dis
tricts
Many years ago, moved in the Legisla-
ure that the apportionment of Representa-
ives TO Congress. in Tennessee, should be |
3y qualified voters.
lie Is HOW UXeu until
1872 before that time we might change the
basis of representation from population to
qualified voters, North as we'll as South,
md in due course of time, the States, ruth
MT regard to color, might extend the cleo
i've franchise to all who possessed certain
mental, moral, or such other qualifications,
IS might be determined by an enlightened
public judgment.
BosTON, Oct Is. 1865.
The above report was returned to me by
resident Johnston with the following en-
orsement. GEORGE L. STEARNs.
j HAVE READ THE WITHIN CoMMUNICA-
ION AND FIND 1T SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT.
L HAVE MADE SOME VERBAL ALTERATIONS
[Signed A. j.
Col. James l.. Orr has bas been chosen
Governor of South Carolira-the first ever
Iaptnd tnl l.ro