The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1865-05-17
The Reason why the Abolition
lists are for GIemency.


The New YOrk TSERs, in an editorial
commenting on the luipiise OF rome people
that nearly all the most con, pieious aud
jealous AbOlitionists OF other days" thould
now be ''outspoken advocates Of a lenient
and merciful treatment Of the discomhied
rebels," gives the reason therefore in the
following:
'Ilhe Abolitionists sre most anxious that
political rights, and especially, the right
Of seli projection by suffrage, shall be ac-
corded TO the freedmen Ot the South; and,
Naiving all questions oi power, they would
greatly pr, Ter that kueh extension Of sui
Irage be aecurdedby rather. than imposed
on the Southern whites. Thy cannot real
izc that han g6ig sO1iie Of The tate inSuTgelits
0s Trbets anu frsigy lcia dispose the sutti-
vors toaoard accordMg the etecttre franchise
ereR to the most itelitgeRt aud eUp0Jie Of
the epanoputed HACKS. In fact, the obsta-
cles to such extension of suffrage are many
ard .fermidabls-they are not TO be sur
mounted Though many act as though they
could by mete erdlr from. the War De
partment, nor even by an act Of Congress.
A reciprocatiUn. OF kindly feelings between
the Abolitionists and their lifelong, deadly
Southern antagonist, may do much toward
removal Of these real, formidable
obstacles barring the path of the nation to-
ward genuine peace and durable prosperity.
Will the throwing of few OF many lucklesS
(if you please guilty. heads to the mob
howling TOR bloedfstepdS to promote this
most desired cOnsunation2 We think not.
Such are some considerations among the
many which must occurr to every observing
mind in ia' or ofthe tou Sc hich eminent and
veteran AsUrtsetS ?, are g. nclally holding
with regard to me freshest aspect OF our
great controversy 1t seems to us that they
evince no weakness, no pulling sentimentally
but signal foresight, ealmness and common
sense.
From the foregoing, it will be seen that,
inasmuoh rs IAyeTy has been 0rerthrOwn,
the subject now most near to the heart .oi
an Abolitionist, is the giving of the freed
slave the privilege of suffrage. Abolition
lists conclude that suffrage should be con-
ierred on theul- the. Southern whites, in-
stead of beng aaun them through an order
from the War department or by an act OF
Congress. The argument seems plausible.
1t is saying, in effect, that the people OF
each State should be left free to regulate
their own internal concerns, as it is presunl-
, ed they are more capable Of Judging OF their
adaptakility than outsiders. This is the
State rights doctrine Of the Democratic par
/ Ity. Ii it is proper to extend to the dis
comfted Rebels ''lenient and merciiul treat
ment," hoping thercby to win the Southern
whites into an extension Of suffrage to the
freedmen Of the South, the question occurs
why were not mild measures thought
sufficient to work out the emancipation Of
the slayes2" Had the Abolitionists thought
of this before they commenced inveighing
against the institution peculiar to the South,
it may be regarded as an absolute certainty,
that the North and the South would not
have been precipitated into War. That
fact ought to serve as as perpetual warn
ing to outsiders rot to fret themselves about
the internal concerns of any State that dc
not contravene the Constitution Of the Uni
ted States. -,
We are glad to notice the recognition by
Abolitionists even now of the proprlety OF
allowing the whites of the South to regulate
the question of suffrage to suit themselves.
This recognition carries with it. the argu'
ment, that to the people of the respective
States should be referred the regulation oi
all local matters: and it comes within the
scope of reason to conclude, that il through
out the future this shall he faithfully lWeo
up to-our country will not again be afflicted
and scourged with civil War-StdteSmaa