The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-08-22
of the Democrat
WASHINGTON CRY. Aug. l4th, 1863.

WASHINGTON 5000
To vote or not to vote, is the question that is
apitatinq the negroes North and South at ln,s
fine TO an extravaganza extent. They have met
and are still meeting, in Convention and en- nsdsSe
and, with the most wonderful unanmity' .hey
have resolved that "de Niger mus hdo ae tue ~
cate" Political parties are taking positlon WIN m
reference to it. and there is no doubt that IL win
constitute plank in their several platforms at the
elections to be held for the next year or two.
The Abolitionisfs who have always claimed
that the negro was, in all respects the equal or
the white man, but who, nevertheless RAISE
terrible howl when one of their fair daughters,
adopting their opinions, runs off with and marrles
= gentleman with "a skin differing in color from
their own" They, of course. favor the extension
of the unlimited right TO the man of color The
more moderate Republican, however, who readily
comedies that "a white man is as good as q mig
ger as long as he behaves HIMSELF is still seem
ingly, undecided as TO the expedency of adopting
it as party measure. though many of them are
in favor of it, while the Democratic party, with
few and unmportant exceptions. have taken
strong and decided stand shoulder to shoulder
with President johnson against it. They hold
the old ground in relation 10 this important sub
iect: That this government was made for the
white man and should be administered By the
4ghite man. They willing to give the negro
every right that he is capable of exercising COM
patble with the public safety, but they do not
want a negro President, q negro representa-
anu II is well uDucrSLCOQ tDaC Win Tue pre-
sent disabilities of large portion of the white
people of the South and the great numerical pre-
ponderance of the race in many districts, that
there is great danger that Iaen of strong smell
aud sooty compexions may receive majority of
the votes cast, and thus become members of Con-
gress, &c.
To alt this the great body-of Democrats
opposed, and am happy i'll the belief that the
masses in this country are with them. To-day,
were they to go before the people on this naked
issue there is no doubt of their carrying the
North by tremendous majority. True, there
arc men here and elsewhere who assert that "the
negro is as good as they are,' and, unfortunately
for them, no one can be found who would under
take, with any hope of success. to dispute the
fact. But the masses of white men, all the
North feel their superiority to the negro, and are
unwilling that he should be placed by. their side
at the polls.
Senator Wilson, of Massachusetts. who did
such valiant service at the first battle of Manas
sas, has already notified ''al whom it may con
Germ that he intends to Join issue with the admin
istration on this question. Well the Senator is
mighty man-great foot race, as witness
his performance at the battle a b0ve referred to
and he threatens all who oppose him with the most
direful consequences The Abolition party of
Massachusetts," says the Hon. Senator, ''have
made and unmade men. and can do it again !"
The ball will be opened at the meeting of Con-
gress by effort to confer the privilege upon the
negroes of this District, and by opposing the ad-
mission of Senators anl Representatives, from
such of the Southern States as may no: defer to
the opinions of Wilson & Co.---who may prefer
that only the 10hite shall possess this right,
{and it is fair to presume that such will be the
attitude of all Of them.) but it is believed that
they will fail in both For the sake of the
achite man, North and South. for the sake of our
country, let US hope SO. But Wilson says it
must be done and Wilson is a mighty man.
A few quOna Southern men have lately taken
ground in favor of this measure Among them
you will pardon me for noticing, as "a specimen
brick the Hon. II. S. Foote. the fugacous Con-
fedefate Congressman. His will sarpri5e
no one, and his letter this subject "a long one,
of course) will have no more inhuelee than any
thing else emanating from him within the last
twelve fifteen months has had. Foote as all
know, has been considered crazy man for several
years, and charity requires that we should at
tribute his many delnquencies to this cause
Poor fellow, he was once man of some force,
though never~of consisteucy--ulways running off
after anything that promised a temporary success,
and his political charlatanry disgusted his
former friends that f is long since there were any
$50 low as to do him reverence
We are reliably informed, and we mention it
merely to show what brought him oyer to this
side, that before he levanted from&Riehmond
where he was always in muss-quarreling with
all who could not that his plans for securing
Southern independence were the best-he was
reduced to desperate straits his wife having to
sell her jewery to keep them from suffering for
the bare nccessaries of life. About that tiule he
began to cast longing chances towards Nashville
aChere Mrs E0ote had q considerable propcrky
This is not to be wondered at. The privations of
the latter days of the CunfederacY. it is said
caused many to look lOngingiy back to the flesh
pots of Egypt
About this time, too he was wont to remark to
employee of the house of which he was mem
Der. and whom he had taken into his confidence ::