Journal of freedom. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1865-186?, 1865-09-30

ton of voters shall be equal. Fix the
standard where you please. 1.-THE black
man ONE up to it let him vote. If the
white man comes up to it let him vote.
If neither, neither. cloud applause.)
81 would be content that the MasSa-
chusetts qualifications of reading and
writing should apply to all men, white
and black, although l am so much of an
old-fashiOned Democrat that I believe
that the right Of selfgovernment resides
in the mar rather than IN his accidents.
But practically, throughout the country,
| fear such qualifications would be i'm
possible. But there is one claim I do
make, and although not provided for by
the Constitution and only to be reached
by amendment, military order, or other
device that may be expedient. Soldiers
who have fought our battles for us and
saved the country shall have a vote in
the government Of the country where
ever they may be. (Applause.) He who
is worthy of handling a bullet in defence
of the country should carry a ballot in
the government of the country. The fact
of serving his country in the field should
be his certificate of naturalization, his en-
Reimbursement, his citizenship, his quail
ication to vote everywhere. cloud APP
plause.) 1t is due to those in whose
hands we have trusted the musket that
they should have the ballot. Grant this,
and the equality of right to the ballot in
white or black is settled at c and for
ever.
eve are called Radicals, because we
advocate this measure and thus point out
the way for the more speedy reconstruc-
ton. of the Southern States, but we are
the true Conservatives. Put the. ballot
in the hand Of the negro, under whatever
reasonable restriction, and you send a
guard with him for his protection, at all
times and everywhere. Having the
power to redress his own wrongs and to
assert this manhood, you may withdraw
your armies from the slaveholding States,
as far as he is concerned. He can pro-
tect himself, and will not rebel against
the laws he helps to make with thu bal
lot. Your national expenses may be
lessened and your debt diminished. The
negro will vote joyfully to pay for the
war expenses which gave him liberty,
property and life, while his master will
repudiate that debt which was contract
ed in s~ubjugating him. It is for the in
terest of bondholders in the United States
the negro should vote. Your
Seven-Thirties are worth a premium of
ten per cent, if the negro has the ballot.
There will be neither fear or assumption
Of the Rebel debt, or the Republication of
our own from his vote. (Applause.)
"To this it is objected that neither
Congress nor the President can give this
franchise it is placed by the Constitu-
ton of our fathers in the hands of the
several States. True, but it was not
placed by our fathers in the hands of the |
:ebellious, disloyal inhabitants of con-
luered territory, who by their treason
forfeited not only all their political
but their lives, and now have
lnder the Constitution and the laws no
light to breathe save by the clemency of
he Government. Does the Constitution
'lace exclusive power in the hands of
nen %hp can have no rights save nv par
lon or their crimes, to be used, It may
'e, to subvert the very Constitution it.
elf? Independently of the question
whether the States did or did not main
ain their existence during the rebellion,
t would seem hat their rebellious in
labitants must have forfeited, by their
reason, any supposed right to exclude
oval inhabitants from a share in the
Government of the country, which the
after had defended and the former tried
o overthrow. 1
Upon any theory the President and
congress have full power in their hands.
let them refuse a State any political
to give any Representatives their
who shall have been elected by an
xclusion of any portion of the loyal citi-
ems OF his district from the polls.in con- /;
of a constitutional provision of
State during the existence of Slavery,
when no such considerable class Of 4
existed, and the matter will be-.
'formed by the States themselves, and a
lst and equal qualification of voters, I
pplicable alike to black and white, will t
provided. (
F'True, loyal men of Massachusetts.
pom the views of the living issues of the e
our this cursorily presented. I propose
act with o in the coming election. t
'rolonged and enthusiastic applause, o
lifelong Democrat, by the disband- {
ent of the Democratic party I have no. ?
here else to go. daughter and ap- Il
ause.) In your devotion to country ,inl
'ur adherence to principle in carrying a
it the ideas and policy which has made p
rich and prosperous, and
people intelligent and happy, but O
at all times to sacrifice ali for the
untry, you have commanded the re- tl
ect of all loyal men. (Applause.) Col,
i. as ever. in~the vanonord of Lr-an Tic