Journal of freedom. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1865-186?, 1865-09-30

serve the liberties Of our country, intrust
power only to those who, when they
vote, can vote understandirgly.
81 do not purpose to enter into dis
cussion of the many questions opened by
this letter, but merely touch on some
prominent points. The negro now has
freedone.. Let him take that, and i'm
prove his situation, and at least wait for
time and experience and the develop
ments and advancements he may make,
before he asks the Right Of Suffrage
The White man, even though he be un-
friendly to. him, Ills better prepared to
legislate for the negro than he is to legis-
late for himself. He is new but tsmew-
ling and puking' in the arms of his de-
liverers from the bondage of Slavery /;
let him at least advance by degrees-try
crGa0ling first-then see if he can walk
Wten it is proved that he can stand
erect, enjoy and appreciate his freedom,
and understand It's great principles
its responsibilities-then will be time
enough to talk of his voting to make
laws for the country and carry on the
Government
To all which thus responds The TR1-
BUNE:
L. The country not being prepared Gas
our correspondent avers) TOR Impartial
Suffrage, we are trying to prepareit
IL. Wehave over and again explained
that we ask no exemption for Blacks from
any merely intellectual or literary test
OF itness and capacity that bearSaequally
upon all classes. We will gladly agree
that none shall vote but those who can
read-or read and write-Or who pay
taxes--or who follow some useful voca-
tion-or to any other touchstone calcu-
lated to confne the Ri hit of Suffrage to
the capable and worthy. Why, then do
our antagonists coolly dodge our position
and fight instead man of straw of their
own construction Can't they answer
us without evasion ? or aOon't they?
Ill. We lack evidence that the Blacks
of the South are exceptionally ignorant
or stolid. On the contrary, we hold them
fairly intelligent, while eagerly acquiring
knowledge. We believe them in the
average no whit less enlightened than the
"Poor Whites," all of whom can vote.
". And it is clearly untrue that the
extension of Suffrage we seek would in
crease the power of ignorance in our politi-
cal affairs. On the contrary, it will vast
ly diminish it. That power coheres not in
the number ofthe ignorant voters, but in
their CIdut1fs1Iness-iu~ ~tl.~c--+ 4hnt thew
nearly all vote one way. A million un-
lettered voters, fairly divided between the
two great parties, would do less mischief
than One Hundred Thousand voting unanir
mously and steadily on one side. And, if
all the Blacks voted to-day, that circum-
stance would lessen, not increase, the power
of ignorance in our party conflicts be
striction of Suffrage is scarcely possible !:
of the most benighted and degraded por-
ton of our White voters would be lessen
V. Our correspondent asserts that "the
negro now has his freedom. " Relatively,
this is true absolutely, it is not. Negro
freedom in Tennessee (for instance) is not
the genuine article.
VI. If the Declaration Of independence
was not based on lie, one man or class
can't legislate for another; to attempt to
do so is a mistake, certain to result In
calamity. Governments "derive their just
power from the consent Of the gove'S'ed,
says the Declaration. We have great re
spect for our correspondent but we have
more faith in the Declaration and its au
thors.
VII. The negroes have been ''crawling'
tiresome while. They propose now tc
stand erect, for change and we woulc
help them to do so.
VIII. Our Tennessee friend wants the
Rebel Amnesty hurried up, but thinks
Black Suffrage can wait while. The
Blacks say, No; it is 'now or never" witt
them. And we believe they have cor
rect notion of the matter. Give US Peac'
with Universal Amnesty and Restoration
without Black Suffrage, and the great op
portunity will have passed unimproved
The Southern Whites will say, "Why agii
tate for Black Suffrage noaos Isn't al
quieta Let well alone, and give the lant
rest !'' And if any petition and agitat'
for the right, they will be stigzlatized 3
disturbers of the Peace. ....s..
TX. We agree with our correspondent
in wishing the negro to be educated, ant
qualified to teach, and fitted to enjoy ant
appreciate freedom. But, in order to d.
. so, he must have the real article to appre
ciate. We feal ~ is not likely to get
just yet.
WHERE WILL THEY GO To.-The lates
news from the empire Of Brazil, is tina
| there is an "Abolition party" making II
appearance in that great country. VIVA
I drao fnl naycs for the Southern gentlemen