The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-07-01
NEGRO SUFFRAGE.

~ EGIO SIEERAN3Es
The New York Ne,cs, Ben Woods
rebel paper, of which John Mitchell
was lately an editor, comes out in favor
of negro suffrage, on the ground that
the political power of the South will be
greatly increased thereby. We quote
as follows from the articles
The NelrS can fairly claim to be the
exponent here of Southern opinion and
interest. That claim will be allowed in
the Souih-it will scarcely be denied
here. Indeed, it would be wrong for us
TO withhold our voice nj this crisis in
the settlement of Southern affairs and
polity. We feel IL responsibility on this
question: which u long aud POrilous
advocacy, through more than four
wears of christine strife and civil
butchery," has placed upon our Shout
dcrS. Yet, we have no hesitation to
declare our opinion on this matter, for
see plainly where the true way lies
for the interests of the country and the
South, and the consequent restoration
to the South of her natural political
forces. II is to tpke up and establish
that policy regarding the black man
which tho statesmen of the South deSir-
ed to incorporate into the, supreme or
ganic law of the Union, when the Con
stituti0n was formed, and from the
accomplishment of which they were
withheld by the Northern crafty sug-
gcstiOn of what Hamilton calls "the
compromising eNpedicnt of the Consti-
tuition" and by the ultimate abortion,
of which ''eXpedient" the slave States
threw away twO-fifthS of n great source
of political power, and introduced into
our national scheme of government
that idea of ever recurring compromise
through which the South has had, at
each new eXigency of her life, to barter
1, 81
her rights and just balance of power
The era of compromise has passed. The
Southern States now, mt least, must be
allowed to stand fairly and firmly on
their constitutional basis.
The Tribune welcomes the Nc,cS to
The ranks of those advocating Negro
suffrage, and says:
The -NciCS may be right or il NAV be
wrong as to the power that vote NAV
give to the Southern interest. The eX-
tension of the suffrage, is right at any
rate and we cheerfully abide the issue.
1--WE could mentiOn,' saws that paper
''more than fifty leading men III the
Southern States who seriously consider
this the day and hour when the preser-
walton and stability of Southern inter-
ests imPcl them to return on this sub
ject to the ancient policy of the early
Southern statesmen" We are most
can speak with authority on this point
it is the NcIrS, which has been for four
years past i'll hcarticr sympathy and
closer communion with these leading
southern men than any other journal
or individual north of Mason and Dix
on's Line. That the article should have
been written mt all, is pretty good evil
dence that it was written by authority;
and if this shall prove true, the fact
itself will be accepted by the Northern
people as fruit meet for repentance, and
AS "a better cNpiation for the crime of
treason than the hanging of thousand
rebels.
We could mention many more than
fifty leading men in the Southern States
who seriously consider this the day and
hour when the preservation and sta
bility of Southern interests inpcl them
TO return on this subject to the ancient
policy of the early Southern statesmen.
They know and acknowledge that
slavery in their States is of the past.
They reluctantly accepted this effect OF
the war. But they do accept Il, and are by
no means retuctsnttoCo conform their me
thodS OF State polity TO the changed con-
ditiOn of public affairs. Henceforth
they enter upon new era of Southern
prosperity. We believe that this pros
pcrity, yet 10 be developed, will, in the
future, he, as the. result of Southern in
dustry and intelligence was in the
former time, fruitful source of riches
TO the whole country. The old condi-
ton of things, upon which rested the
splendid superstructuro of Southern
power, Is gone, but in negro suffrage
the acute and well instructed Southern
statesman behOlds n new world of pO-
itical power, and he will, under wise
and fostering regulations, "call that
New World into existence TO redress
the balance of the Old!' This, gentle
men of Boston, MeSsrs. Editors of The
World and The Times, is the new policy
which even now is dawning, though in
c!ouded majesty, along the Southern
skies, and before the full day of which
may he, the Northern Lights are dcs-
tined to pale.