The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-08-08
A FEW PLAIN WORDS.

the reorganization of civil government
in the seeded States through the agenc,
of Provisional Governors, he seems pun
posely to have left to the people the mos
unlimited freedom of action. There
not even a suggestion as to what shout
or should not be incorporated in the ney
constitutions to be framed, except, pei
haps, that they must recognize the abo
htion of slavery. He has given thes
people the means whereby they may re
habilitate the State, but the manner, tn
style, the peculiar formation, so to speak
of such rehabilitation he has left where i
properly belongs: solely and exclusively
with the people themselves. In this W.
discover much wise craftsmanship ant
political sagacity. He is responsible fol
the plan-the people of these States fol
its successful execution. He has "open
ed a way of salvation," but the people
are free agents and may accept or reject
it. IF they form constitutions accepta-
BILE to the President and Congress, these
States will beproclaimed "out of state
of instruction, and in the Union. But,
suppose they fail in this "consummation
so devoutly to be wished" what then ?
Why, undoubtedly, they will be
kept in state of tutilage under Provi-
sional or Military Governors, until they
do frame constitutions which are accept
able. The President will say to us, l
gave you full and fair opportunity to
work outyour own salvation, and if you
have failed the fault lies at your own
door, not mine. 1t becomes, then, a
matter of vital Importance to us to ascer-
tain, if possible, what kind Of a Consti-
tuition will be acceptable to the President
and Congress. And this is not difficult
task at all. We have only to change our
old constitution by recognizing and in
cooperating therein the recognized re-
suits of the late war, viz: the abolition
Of slavery and the utter negation of the
pretended right of secession, together
with the perfect political equality Of the
negro with the white man. We know,
that there are thousands of our people,
intelligent people too, who are bitterly
opposed to negro suffrage; but we beg to
remind all such, that the present Con-
gress is overwhelmingly Republican
radically Republican-pledged to the
doctrine not only of negro freedom, but
of negro suffrage. We consider it virtu-
ally a settled fact, that no member
will be allowed to take u seat in
Congress from any seeded State whose
fundamental law does not guarantee to
the negro, for all time to come, political
equality with the white man. Dislike
it as we may, question its expediency
a. we choose, the facts nevertheless
stand boldly out to view, that large
majority of both houses of Congress,
backed by the popular voice Of the
North, will insist upon this. 1t is idle
to speculate upon the probable course of
the President upon this question. He is
AZ yet committed to neither side, and he
stands in position to consistently adopt
either. He can and probably will say
to Congress: 81 gave these people a
fair opportunity to exhibit their judy
ment and magnanimity and apprecia-
ton of their present status, and they
have failed to improve it. They must
be made to do what they have failed to
do voluntarily" And we venture the
prediction, that if these States do not vol
unfairly accord to the negro equal politi-
cal rights with the white man, 1t will be
made a condition precedent to their fstN
restoration ander the Union. And 1t
will not be a qualified right which will
be insisted upon, but universal negro
suffrage" We are not now discussing
the right or the wrong, the policy or
impolicy of negro suffrage: we are
merely stating what we believe will
prove to be stubborn facts, and we are
doing it in the hope that the people of
Virginia may realize the situation ~
and profit thereby. We suppose it to be
the earnest desire of every citizen of
Virginia, to have civil government re-
stored in our State freely and unequivo.
cally, at the earliest moment possible
That wei have it not now, is potent te
everybody +; that we never shall have il
until the constitution of our State is sc
amended as to guarantee to her coloret
citizens the right of suffrage, we firmly
believe. Is it not, then, the part of wist
craftsmanship to act promptly in thi
matter? Why wait to be ignominiously
kicked out of, or rather away from Con
gress, and forced into universal Negro
suffrage?" Why not take time by thu
forelock--call convention, and amend
our constitution by abolishing allinvidi'
GUS distinctions on account of color, and
permit every citizen who can read and
write, and who is worth $3.50 in real es-
tate, to exercise the privilege of the
elective franchise. Do it voluntarily,
magnanimously, sacrifcingly if you
will, but do it.
You will thus recognize the political
equality ofthe negro, while at the same
time you throw around the ballot } -,
such protection and restraint as " IN -
fectually exclude the ignorant .na ~,
worthless, both white and b .o,, ~
your members to Congres a under such ,