The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-10-20
A FEW WORDS ON NEGRO SUI
FRAGE.
Destiny Of the Black Race.
Too Early to Decide the QuestiOn...'
shall we Make Them Citizens
of the United States, or
COlOniZe Them?


shall we Make Them Citizens
of the United States, or
COl0nize Theme
10 tie Bdster II ths Pioneer:
The subject of negro suffrageis one on which |
not q half dozen of the leading men in the Uni.
ted States have as yet permanently decided.
True, there are those who advocate it, and
those who oppose it but this is merely from
the impulse of the moment, and because there
are those who for party purposes. will un-
wisely force this issue upon the people this
fall This is wrong. The people of the United
States are not prepared to give averdict on
this question now; the case has not been fair
ly argued and heard on both sides yet. The
decision demanded from the people at the polls
now, however given, matters but little, for 1t
Is premature. Whether Connecticut and New
York decide for or against negro suffrage is of
little moment The question Is one of deep
and vital Importance, and may require years
for its solution. It is right to agitate it, to
discuss it, to draw out the arguments and wit
nesses on both sides and thus exhaust its mer.
its; in this way, after removing much rubbish,
we shall reach the bottom of the well-aud
there we will find truth.
The question of negro suffrage is of deep in
terest to us, as political question; far deeper
than the mere question of slavery. 1t is inter-
twined with our future destinies, and dove
tail into our very existence as nation into
a thousand places. Those of your party who
condemn the action of President johnson on
this question, act too hastily. The President
has taken the stand of wise statesman. He
has not committed himself for or against the
measure. The stand Mr.. johnson takes on
this subject is the most philosophic and states
known. He feels, intuitively, that although
the subject may be discussed, it is yet too early
to decide it unable to pierce the mystic veil,
which shrouds the future of the negro race, he
wisely and prudently leaves the issue to God
and the American people can do no more at
present Their wisest plan is to let it rest
there, for the present, and in the mean time,
let the negroes rest where they are It will
not do to take new born child an invest
him with all the prerogatives of man
hood. God has decreed it as his fate to
climb upward through child and vouthhood to
the estate of maturity, to live and learn. The
newly-hatched birdlings are not invested with
wings until by careful nursing they have
strength to use them. The plant does not
shoot from the germinal seed into the flower
in day. God and nature thus teaches us
lesson. Do not confer too much upon the poor.
ignorant African race all at once. Give them time
to grow in wisdom and experience. The pre-
sent generation of freedmen will not, very
probably, be capable of exercising the elective
franchise intelligently.
To give it them would be to put powerful
weapon for good or for evil, into irresponsible
tools to children. They are as liable to ipjure
themselves with them as Others. So with the
negro. He is liable to be made the tool of de.
signing politicians, and the vast power of
100000 votes might thus be used for evil.
Allow the cOlored man a state of probation.
If we decide to make him citizen of the Unit.
ed States, let US allow him time to prove him
self worthy of that distinction. The hot tenn
per of the American people is facing this issue
TOO soon
The real question is not, what its advocates
so plausibly argue, whether we shall admit
them to freedom, and yet deny them the
privileges of freemen. The question is a
graft this race, distinct from our own in origin,
color, taste and intellectual capacity. into our
own, and make them citizens And connected
with this question are many side questions
which years acne are capable of deciding.
Among these, is the question whether in time
this black element will not become gradually
fused into our population by mscegeuation,
lowering our standard of national intelligence
and making of US mongrel and distinct race?
tbs always desirable to elevate the standard
moral, physical and Intellectual standard of a
nation by iHtermarriage with superior,-but
that superior thereby suffers, never with
an inferior race Beneficial indeed, highly de-
fused into the Angio-Saxon but the average of
thirty millions OF whites, hundreds of millions
prospectively,) would thus be lowered for the
benefit of four million negroes.
In the meantime, the negro is well enough
off as he is. His new found freedom is suffi-
Gent for him now.
NV own opinion is that it is a hazardous ex-
pertinent for US to allow the vast influx of for
eign population of our o,cn color and race, and
kindred races, bringing with them, as they do,
their monarchial and religious prejudices.
The United States may prove Inadequate to
absorb and digest this foreign mess and make
healthy food of it, congenial to its simple re.
publican growth, fast enough. A surplus may
accumulate, and must. unless the foreign fran
chise clause Of our Constitution is amended.
prove 3 bane instead OF wholesome food. If
we cannot make an american of German,
Eishman or Frenchman, in less than five years,
how can we expect to make one of an African
in less timer think five years the very short
est period which we ought to allow TO elapse
before arming the ignorant masses of Europe
with the political franchise here-virtually sur
rendering to them, as it does, the balance of
power in this country. Can we expect the ne
gro, ignorant, born and bred in slavery, to be-
come capable of raising his voice in ouFaffairs,
and exercising to-be felt influence in them
inteligently within less than five years?
But, you will answer, if we restrict suffrage
to those who can read and write-in other
words, if we make intelligence the test of suf-
frage, we obyiate the difficulty OF placing the
power of the country in the hands of an igno-
rant mob l answer that you thereby obviate
one difficulty. but you create another. You
obviate the difficulty of surrendering the gov
eminent of the country to the ignorant masses.
but you create the difficulty of trying to make
a single homogeneous race of two opposite
races, of making a great and powerful ma
ton by uniting q weak and a strong element.
You commit the potter's error OF uniting clay
and brass in one vessel, by trying to unite two