The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-07-17

Gen. Grant ON the Suffrage
Question. IS
In his neat little speech Of welcome in the
Fair building, last Saturday, 70 Gen. GRANT,
on behalf Of the people, Gen. HOOKER said :
The people have watched his campaign
throughout its course with the proudest safls-
faction. They have sympathized with his
lAbors, his perils, his privations, and they
have gloried in his unrivalled victories and
successes. But for still greater reasons this
people have cause to be proud of Gen. Grant.
No man lives who has been more faithful to
his Government and to the principles of hui
mainly, and the sacred principles involved in
this rebellion, than this brave officer, who is
now presented to YOU for the first time
Gen. Hooker never uttered truer remark,
and the loud shout of endorsement that fol-
lowed, proved its truth. Gen. Grant has
kept fully up with the people on the great
ideas that underlie the late terrific struggle
When the people, at an early stage of the
war, began to call for severer treatment OF
rebels, Gen. Grant was not slow to act in that
direction. When they denounced the McClel-
lan.Buell policy of making our soldiers negro
catchers for malignant insurgents, and en-
ploying them in standing guard to protect
pig-pens, chicken-coop and corn-cribs for
guerrillss, who bushwhaeked them when so
occupied, Gen. Grant was the first to set
aside this rose water and kid-glove mode of
dealing with the tratorous villains. and to
refuse TO return contrabands to rebel claim
ants, and was among the first of our Generals
to quarter his men on the enemy.
When the President issued his emancipa-
ton proclamation, the pro- slavery officers de-
nounced it some of them resigned and left
the service for their country's good But
Grant sustained the President and enforced
the proclamation. No slaves came within
his lines but received protection. and no slave
came within his reach but was invited to con-
sider himself or herself free, and act accord
ingly. And when the cap-stone was put to
the anti-slavery policy of the Administration,
IN elevating the black man to the honorable
rank of an American soldier, General Grant
gave that crowning . abolition measure his
cordial sanction and support. For the last
eight months of the war-and especially since
he became Lieutenant General-he has used
all his power and influence to recruit colored
soldiers, and when fighting was to be done. he
gave them chance to do their full share of
1t. One of the regiments which stood guard
at City Point, last winter, was eolored regi-
ment and when the final assault was made
on the rebel lines, il helped to storm them.
Now comes another and the last of the
allowed to vote? One General of great deeds
and high in public favor, declared in speech
In this city, made to some soldiers, that g the
negroes were not fitted for the exercise of
the elective franchise, and that he was OPP
posed to their having the right to vote.
Gen. Grant, more prudent and far-seeing,
commits himself to no such position. He Is
too true to the principles of humanity and
night involved in the war to take such
grounds Hesays in substance what General
Sherman said when enveloped in the smoke
ofthe battle:
IF you admit the negro to this struggle for
any parpose, he has right to stay in for ALL
aud when the fight is over, the hand that
drops the musket cannot be denied the bal
lotl''
General Grant, in conversation with his
friends, says. that il is too soon to declare
that che loyal blacks in the South shall not be
allowed to vote. Aside from the abstract
right and the legal problem of whatever an
fhority can confer or withhold the franchise
whether 1t be Congress or the States-the
question may assume the shape of a. political
necessity. The Government and people may
have to choose between keeping a standing
army OF lou,opo, at an expense of 500, o00.-
VIVA year to the tax payers, to support the
white minority in the South against the white
rebel majority. or of enfranchising the blacks.
and thereby enabling them to support the
white loyalists Gen. Grant forsees that the
suffrage question may take this FORM If the
loyal whites of the South are unable to sustain
themselves and hold the political control of
those States, they must either be reinforced
by the votes of the loyal blacks. or supported
by bayonets of Northern soldiers. To main
tam troops even IN time of peace costs not far
from 5 600 per man. The people of the Re-
pubic OF America may conclude with General
Grant that it is better and cheaper to let the
loyal blacks OF the South offset the votes of
the white ex-rebels than to maintain large
standing army to keep them in subsection to
the laws, and preventing them from commit
ting mischief, which they will most surely do
II they are permitted to obtain possession of
the State government of the South.
We think that Northern Union Democrats
are premature IN committing themselves 10
the negative OF the suffrage question at this
cary day Ii Is natural that the rebel sym
pathlzlng Copperheads should declare in adj
vance and Internationally fora total exclusion
OF the coiored men of the South from the bal
lot box; but it is too early for those Demo |
Gratis protesting to be Union men to assume |
sueh grounds. And we think the gallant
Sherman has leaped before he looked where
he would land. The cooler. more c;renm.
spect, better poised Lie,rrenant General |
makes no such mistakes. He waits patiently
nA the proper time arrives for deciding |
great question, and then acts promptly and i
oeclslvely, and thereby avoids she disae,r.
able necessity of choosing between takips e.
PACK track or remaining exposed : the