Daily national Republican., 1865-06-16
Suffrage ~ tbo south-spesch OF ssna-
tor sherman, OF Ohio.

sNlnragc ~ fho sO"th-speSch OF benh-
tor sherman, OF ohio.
A. public meeting held at Circleyills,
Ohio on the 10th instant, Senator John sher.
man, of Ohio, made speech on public Af-
fairs, IN which he discussed the question Of
elective franchise at the South, ~ follows:
These slaves have won their freedom by
their devotion to our cause. They have,
from the beginning, been true friends. They
have borne our flag In battle. They have
carried our arms. They have boen slaugh-
tered for our cause. They have aided our
sick and wounded. They have fed our sol.
diors when in prison, and have guided their
escape They have performed the humble
ofices Of the camp and the hospital, They
never fought against US. They have relied
upon our promise, and hayo performed their
part. Without them, and without their
presence As weakness TO the enemy, we
might not have succeeded. by their simple
faith in us, following our aoets and our ar
mics, thcy have earned thor freedom. The
enemy know and confess that m inevitable
incident Of their overthrow is the freedom Of
the slave. / therefore conclude that we
must secure them their freedom beyond all
doubt or porndyenturc, and maintain II
struction that may be adopted.
VINO sHALL vOrE IN rue soUTH2
"Win you, in addition, authorize them Ia
vote2 Will you invest them with Rll the
rights and incidents Of citizenship Have you
tho power 10 do II under the Constitution Of
the United States2 II Is perfectly clear thai
unless the powers OF the rebel States ara
changed or affected by their rebellion, Con
gress cannot fix tho qualification Of voter
within q State. The Constitution provides
but for three eloctiOns--Of President, Of Son
ators, and of Representatives The President
Is chosen by electors appointed In such man.
ner rs the legislature Of the State may elect.
Senators arc chosen by the Legislatures Of tho
respective States, and members arc chosen
by the people Of the several States, and the
electors of each State shall have the qualifi
cations requisite for electors Of tho most nu.
merous branch Of tho state Legislature. II
| anything IL clear II II that the trainers II The
| Constitution meant that each State should
prescribe who should vote. The only limi
tution upon this power IL tho duty Of tht
| national Government to maintain in cacl
| State n republican form Of government.
But, again, the question rocurs, is no
all this change in n State where the voter
have voluntarily renOunCcd their allegiance Il
the General HOYernmcnt Can such a Stat,
rcnouncc all orits duties, and yet insist upOI
it, rights II Il generally admitted, and v
certainly very clear, that the United State
may punish n traitor by dopriving him .
his life, his property and his franchise. |
une, why not all who are equally guilty. !
the entire voting population have openly r
,ultod against their allegiance, il IL nbsur,
to say that we have power to kill thom, an,
yet haNo no power to prevent their voting
Again. we can punish tho cOntcriciter Of GU
coin with Acknowledgement, and yet not 81
punish n trailor' II one, why not all
but 1t l. snid that the loyal people mr.
left, who eau vote. II Il sad fact, but
very true one. that the number Of uch pea
po In the southern States would form n yer
narrow foundation for republican govern
mcnt. North Carolina and Tennessee mn,
contain enough such
"Prcsidcnt johnson intends to try the or
pcrimont in those States, but fear he vii
lind the spirit 0f rebellion too deop.r"olcd II
those who have taken the oath to make thcu
good citizens. How ia VI when you come Il
south Carolina and Mississippi, II is said
establish in these n military government
We'll, for time that nny do, hut 1t IL cS
pcnsivc, aud contrary to the spirit Of our in
Ititutions. II wo can put negro regiment
there and give them hayOnets, why cRa't W
give them voics Both arc weapons Of Of
fence and defence. Votes arc cheaper an
better Both are part Of the military noce'
hty put upon us by tho rcholNon. Both NJ
unpleasant to the robols-but medicines NJ
not usually saNory.
Il conclude, therefore, on this subject {
nepro voting, that in all States who ca
clnim their full rights under the CnnstitutiO
il r. ,lur.ti"u for the State, and that in 7,
voItcd Stale 1t is RQucstion Of policy an
military GOV crnmcnt, to be decided by III
national authorities until the State |. full
restored t. lts former condition. In some
tho Southern States ! would leave the
under military nlC until they provide II
only sure security for the future that Il
negroes should have their share in rCcnl
struction, MS they have borne their sLHro
fighting.
Negro voting may not suit our natur,
proiudiccs Of caste. They may he ignornu
docilc, easily led, and not safely trusted wit
political power; but II you admit all thi
they have been true and faithful among ii
fnithless They have Joined in putting dow
the rebellion, and now TO place them at
mercy of those they have helped us to ~
due, to deny them all political rights-to
them freedom, but leRvc them entirely sri
jCct to laws framed by rebel mnstcrs--is a
act vi injustice hBhiHft Nnlcn nunanlly "
volts
Suppose you dcny them suffrage, whr
then Tho Southern Statos gain by III
freedom of their slaves fourteen now men
bcrs Of Congress, and as many electoral vote,
Not three iifths but Ave Grths arc counted
II you give the snmc men who rcvoltCd tht
increased political power, what snicty hnv
you Suppose ton ycara.ago they had thi
additional power, Kansas would have been
slave State this day, and they would hav
had ample polite i power to subyert you
Government without u resort tn arms. W
must have socrrity for the future. An th
OWLS that perceive may arise from n mike,
voting population arc insignificant compare,
with the only two nltemntiVes-tho TcstOrin
to rebels vast political power and the dange
and vast expense of military governments.
"As for thg people Of the Southern Stnte'
We can now regard them as conquered rebel
but II Is the highest wisdom Of conquornrs /
he magnanimous and generous. These poo
pie and their descendants must live with d
and form part Of the body polite. OU
true policy Il To hoal and not widon IN
breach made by war. Sufficient sccurt
should be taken for future peace, and sui
cicnt puniEhmcnt to stamp the rebellion ns
crime, and then pardon and amnesty for Ii
people
"All this, under our Constitution Il invcste
in the President and wa can safely trust
To Andy johnson. lilo knows who to punis
| NJ Ia, To MI nllnN a. IN IA,