Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-03-20
Negro suiIrngo Again.

Ihe CtrcteUlLte Ont0n appears 10 DC OK
ceedingly sensitive on the subject of negro
suffrage. Week before last it asserted that
The STATESMAN lied, because THE STATES
MAN had said there were leaders the Adj
ministration party who are determined to
confer upon the colored population of the
whole country the same political privileges
that are enjoyed by white men. Thereupon
we established the correctness of our state
ment by unquestionable proof and now
The Union seeks to get out of the difficulty
by alleging that sit is not just to hold par
ty responsible for the indiscreet utterances
of radical members of its party"
1t tisyery singular that The Union did not
deem it proper to characterize the esponsal
of negro suffrage by WENDELL PHILLIPS,
The Neo York Tribune, The Methodist Quar-
terly Reuie,o, Miss ANNA DICKINSON, Gen.
B. F. BUTLER, Chiet Justice CHASE, and
Senator SUMNER, as ''indiscreet" at the time
they were given to the public, and as senti-
ments to which the self-arrogated Union
party could not and would not give
their support. 1t is likewise very
strange that The Union is about the only jour-
nal in the State which labors in behalf OF
the so-called Union party that has seen
proper to protest against identifying that
party with an advocacy of negro political
equality. This circumstance is conclusive
of either acquiescence in the proposed
measure of negro suffrage, or Of indiffer-
ence to it, by the leading Administration
press generally. 1t will not do to say that
they have been unobservant of this move
ment, nor that they would not have pro-
tested against it in the strongest possible
terms, had it met with their special dis
appreciation. The editor of The Union may
: be sincerely opposed to negro suffrage; in
this opposition he may not be actuated by
considerations of party expediency simply !;
but we incline to the opinion that as against
such Journals as The Neao York Tribune, and
such advocates as B. F. BUTLER, he will not
be able to carry the day. The Ne,o York
Times took issue with Senator SUMNER on.
the question of negro suffrage; but how
many of the Administration press in
Ohio took sides with The Times on that
question? If any number-even inconsid-
erable-did so, we have failed to notice it;
and when they shall do so it will afford
us infinite pleasure to give them approba-
tion.
The Cleveland Leader, in announcing the
repeal by the Ohio Legislature, of the law
prohibiting persons having visible admix-
ture of African blood from voting, with great
satisfaction, declared: "HeRcetorth the col
ored citizens Of Ohio, tcho hare progen them
Selres as public spirited and patriotic as any
class of tie community, soiH not be declared the |
py1vileges Of the polls" The editor of The
Leader evidently thinks that by the repeal |
of that law, the negroes will no longer be |
"debarred the privileges of the polls" Sup |
pose The Union turns its attention to the |
editor and informs him, as it has underta- |
ken to make us believe, that "the inuendob |
''that the Union party of the North is in |
favor of making the negro the political |
equal of the white man is false" and that |
'.all efforts" ''to fix the stigma upon the |
Union party" as being in favor of Negro |
Suffrage is "a low, demagogue appeal to a
well known popular prejudice"
1t is folly to disguise the fact, that who
ever is opposed to comforting suffrage upon
the negroes must act politically in opposi-
ton to the Administration party.