The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-08-04
BEDFORD. Pa, FRIDAY MORNING, AUGUST 4, 1865

experienced, and incapable as he is admitted to
be, is endowed with the elective franchise, Are
these gentlemen less fallible to-day than at the
time referred to? Even within the last four
years some of the more conspicuous members of
the Central Executive Committee of the
Friends of Universal Suffrage" lent their pow
ertul assistance to transfer the political power
of the State from the parishes containing a large
white population to the few white owners of
large property in others. This was called the
total population basis of representation.
do not call in question, gentlemen, the sin
cerity of any of you. l take it for granted
YOU are perfectly sincere in your love of our
emancipated people, and conscientiously believe
the latter entitled to the elective franchise
but you cannot be surprised if | cannot come
to your conclusions so speedily as you have done,
reeollecting, as do, the eloquent letter of your
president, Mr.. j. T. Durant, who SO late as
1852, in a memorable letter to President Lin
coin, protested against the taking of slaves from
their owners and the iniquites of the blockade
Of the ports of the States in rebellion.
Where gentlemen, who claim to represent an
organization SO sonorous in name as the Central
Executive Committee of the Friends Of Uni
yersal Suffrage have exhibited so much versa
tihty of opinion in so short a time,- and have
pFophesied 80 often In defiance of the logic Of
history and experience, they cannot be aston
ished If I should cling to the laws and the con-
stituton as my guides rather than to their pre-
dictions, however confidently and egotiatcally
pronounced the latter may be.
cannot either accept, however anxious to
do so l might be, your conclusion that the en- =
Of tba
strengthen the Union cause of the national gov
ernment.
dissent in toto from that conclusion On
the contrary, 1 am folly persuaded, from my
knowledge of the negro character, that nine
out of ten of the late entire slave population
would support their former masters, personally
Or politically, OF any way, in preference to all
strangers and | regard all as strangers in this
connection who did not stand in this domestic
relation toward them. Nay moro believe in
my heart that within twelve months from the
time the negro would obtain the suffrage, nclth
er the unfaltering southern Union man nor the
Union man whose Loyalty dates from his obtain
ment of Federal office, could live otherwise
than on sufferance in the States where the priv
ilege was given, if the individuals lately IN re-
bellion were disposed to countenance such pro-
ceedngs.
In kindly and good feeling for the African 1
yield to none, even among the oldest or newest
of his friends; and while no man, North OF
South, Is more willing to accept the situation
as produced by the war, both as respects him
and all other issues determined by the conflict,
[ neither deem it wise or eXpedient to cothe
him with the suffrage, nor can | see aught bat
dangers and difficulties in the agitation and dis
cusson Of such topics. The emancipated slave
has much to learn. He has obtained rights,
and they are universally, frankly recognized
he has duties to discharge which it is incum-
bent upon US all to instruct him to appreciate
and perform. Should it please Providence to fit
him Intellectually for an equal place in the body
polite with the white citizens of the republic,
at a period much sooner than is now anticipa-
ted, have no doubt all will rejoice. Mean
while, it is obligatory upon all to obey the laws
and submit without repining to the popular ar
bitrament on this and all other subjects.
/ have full faith in the national administra-
ton. The distinguished patriot now discharg-
ing the onerous duties of the President of the
republic has enunciated his policy of reconstruc-
ton; that policy has my cordial approval, and
no means at my disposal, by which can right
fully strengthen and sustain bis administration,
will be left unemployed to that end. On the
| other hand, my duty, as Governor of the State,
is faithfully to execute the laws, and this, with
the help of God and the generous cooperation
of my feow-citizens hope to do SATISFACTORY
ly, impartially, and justly. l do not intend un-
der any circumstances, to substitute my own
will for the written law, nor to arrogate to my
self powers unusual or improper to be exer-
cised by an elective officer in a republican gov
| ernment
remain, gentlemen, your obedient servant,
J. MADISON WELLS.
Governor of Louisiana.