The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-07-24

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KROKuK, s10WA:
tSe sSA ss-s-s-5 sEgss
MONDAY MORNING, JULY ~. =
Gea Raals On Freedmen and
Suffrage.
Gen. BANKS, who delivered the Fourth Of
July Grafton at New Orleans, spoke as fol.
lows regarding the Freedmen and Suffrage:
THE rRErDMEx--surrRAGE.
We have problem again in the accession
OF large mass of people to the Union not
before known to the Government or the Con-
stitution. The war through which we have
passed has not only been Unparalleled in its
characterize its tenacity--in it's struggles,
as well as in its victories-but in the momen-
touss character of its results. We have
1000, 900 people now first known to us ind
the world as freemen. Cheers.l With the
recognition of that right comes correspond
ing duties. When Louisiana was annexed to
the American Republic the people of Lou
isiana were recognized as citizens, invested
with all the rights and powers of citizens
When Florida was acquired the same result
was attained !; and at later day, when Texas
was acquired, the same result was accom-
pished. There was no question of illness
there was no question of expf a4ency-but the
principle being recognized Of acquisition of
territory and the acquisition of people, car
rled with it necessarily the investment of that
territory with political powers, and the peo-
pie with political rights. [Applause.1
When the few thousand citizens of Louisia-
ma, or of Florida, or of Texas, being incorpo-
rated in the Union, were invested with the
rights and powers Of citizens of the Union,
who shall say that the admission, as one of
the consequences Of the war, of four millions
of people to the Union, not known to the
laws or Government as freemen, shall not
Likewise carry with it political privileges and
political rights? loud and long applause. ]
Our Government rests upon the consent Of
the governed. The consent of the governed
requires that those who have the power, and
who have the will, shall participate in the d.
rection OF the destinies of the nation. TEn-
thusiastic applause We cannot restrict the
principle because we don't like the party to
which it is applied we cannot defeat desti-
ny or necessity because we don't choose to
recognize 1t. If we hope to prosper under
our Government, to attain unity and strength
which the thirty millions of its people will
give to us, we must accord to all its citizens,
irrespective of caste or condition, the advan-
tages of the principles upon which that Gov
eminent is based. GCheers.l In another
sense 1t is still more strongly and irresistibly
enforced upon US. The industry of the ma
tion--speaking Of unskilled industry-almost
entirely Is Of this class that has lately been
recognized by the Union in consequence Of
the war. 1t is not within the power of men
t. avail themselves of voluntary industry ex.
cept upon the condition that it satisfies the
party OF industry in all reasonable and jus,
demands.
The Government of the United States, or
ganized upon the principle that the consent Of
the people is the authority of the governing
marty or agent, can never deny successfully,
or justly, or at all, the franchise of an Amer.
lean citizen to four millions of people, or their
representatives, who are devoted to the cult
walton of the soil and constitute one of the
grandest pursuits of our industry. (Enthusi-
astic applause. If you ask, are they compe-
tent? if you ask, are they fit? l inquire OF
you if every man of the Methodist sect, or OF
the Roman Catholic sect, or of the Presbyte-
rlans, or of the Baptists, or of whatever re-
hgious denomination our people may be de-
voted to, if every one of these men is fit to be
invested with the right of suffrage, is a fit ex-
ponent of the will of the people and is capable
of directing safely and wisely the destinies of
the nation? Every man must say: 'sNo, it
Is not to be expected So | saw, as cor
ollary to the position l have assumed, that
fitness and capacity are not the sole ingredi-
ents of suffrage, or of participation in the
affairs of our Government by all classes of
its people. Fitness and capacity are the attri
butes of all, rather than of a part. Zap
plause. 1t is the concentrated wisdom of
the multitude that has led our country and its
Government through all its present prospect
Nv ov,A -, j. e
tellectuai and cultivated tenth or quarter
even. and YOU viii not abuse or lower the
standard capacity represented by the Govern
ment. You may increase by a tenth or
quarter. if you please, the inexperienced and
uniearned that participate in the affairs of our
Government, without deteriorating from the
success of our institutions. 1t is, therefore
strictly, logically, philosophically and relig-
lously true that fitness and capacity are the
result of the concentration of powers, and not
the attribute of each individual that chooses to
exercise, or that is invested with, the power
to exercise the rights of freemen. If YOU
make three millions Of freemen, invested with
the rights of suffrage three millions five hun
dred thousand, who is afraid of the result !?
Applause and cries of Nobody" "No-
body. u Nobody but rebel. fGreat ap-l
plause and cheers. 1t is death to him
Laughter but it is life to us and our nation.
Tremendous enthusiasm On the other
hand It is equally philosophically and re-
Igiously true that if you withdraw from the
three millions of voters in our country mil
lion, whether it be of the ignorant or enlirht-
ened classes, you weaken the capacity and
strength OF the people for government.
1t rs better, rs every man knows, that all
shold be represented at the ballot-box, than
that only part should be represented. ZAP
plause.1 Because all are wise and greater
than part. The multitude of men Of every
nation is nearer to God than one man that
lives within it. There is more of his spirit
and Of his power in the race than there 4 IN
any fragment of the race, whatever may be
its attributes and its position In that, where
God has given the full share of His abili-
ty and power, we have greater reason to
trust than in that, whatever may be its earth
" capacity, or its earthly attainment. which
has less and imperfect share The test of
safety is in the heart Of the people.-the in.
structed heart of the people-instructed not
IN any catechism, nor in a spelling book. but
In faith TO God and love to men. And Who
shall say that the four millions Of peonla HAT
have been acquired lately, as it were, by a
birth to the American nation, who shall saw
to me that their hearts are not as pure. that
their heart is not as loyal, not as faithful 10
the government, not as faithful to the inter.
ests Of the people and God as that of any 9TH |
er class? Ialal- - ~ - :.