Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1865-10-19
Negro Suffrage.


time was likely TO be disturbing element in
the Reunion Of the States, is attracting the at
tention of some of the ablest men in the coun-
try Gov Morton Republican, of Indiana,
has made an able speech on the subject i'll
which he clearly shows the folly of attempting
to control the Southern States in this matter
He shows that the Constitution Of the United
States has referred the question Of suffrage to
the several States, and argues against the views
Of those who would exclude members Of Con-
gress from the Southern States until srch time
as they shall so amend their several Constitu-
tions as to provide for negro suffrage.
OF the four millions Of emancipated negroes,
he SAYS not one in FIVE hundred can read-many
Of them never off the plantations, most of them
never ont Of the county in which they live and
Sere born. "Can you conceive (he asks that
a body of men. white or black, who have been
in this condition, aud their ancestors before
them. are qualified to be Immediately lifted
from their present state into full exercise Of
political power, not only to govern themselves
and their neighbors, but to take part in the
government Of the United States" He shows
that this would in effect be giving up the States
Of south Carolina, Alabama, and Florida to ne
gro rule, and this would eventually not only
stop immigration to these States, but would
actually drive all the white people out
Gen. Slocum, the Democratic candidate for
Secretary of State in New York, made speech
lately at Syracuse, in which he took somewhat
similar ground against the attempt to force ne
gro suffrage on the South He declares his op-
position to all measures for interference in the
domestic affairs of the Southern States, not
only because there is no constitutional right to
interfere. but because it win be unwiSe, impol-
itic, and unjust to do so-eading to far great
er evils than we would correct. He truly re-
marks.
If we now say to the seeding States, you
have been ont of the Union and thereby lost
your constitutional rights as States, we certain
ly recognize the very principle for which the
South has been contending."
Gen. Slocum, who has been among the blacks
Of the Southern States, and helped to emanei-
pate them. shows the utter folly of attempting
to give them suffragein their present condition.
He exposes the many misrepresentation in re-
gard to. the progress Of the negroes, and speaks
of what he knows from personal observations
lie says:
''Look at the working of the institution now
in operation Cor regulating the affairs of the
freedmen. You often read accounts in the
newspapers as to the condition of affairs in GER
tain localities. You are informed about the
prosperous condition of few schools establish
ed for the benefit of negro children-of the
readiness with which they learn their letters,
and of the ardor with which they sing patri-
otic airs According to some Of these accounts
the negro children are far superior to your own.
To many presume this is pleasant reading
matter, and it may serve to convince some peo-
pie the great problem is already solved-that
through the efforts Of Saxton and his co-labo-
rers four millions of ignorant and degraded
beings are to be suddenly elevated, and to be-
come educated, refined, and patriotic members
Of society. You seldom hear of the numerous
cases where the freedmen have laid claims to
the lands Of their former masters, and have
quietly informed them that they hold title un-
der the United States Government, and have
persistcntly refused to do anything but eat,
loiter, and sleep. They fail to tell you of the
cases where, just as the harvest was about to
commence, every hand has assuddenly disappear
ed from the place, leaving the labors of year
to decay in the field. They fail to tell You of
great bands Of coIored people who leave their
former homes and congregate in the cities and
villages, or settleon plantations without permis-
sion from the owner, seeking only food, and
utterly careless Of the future. On the very day
that left yicksburg a poor woman came to
me with a complaint that at least fifty negroes,
not one Of whom she had ever before seen, had
settled on her farm, and were eating the few
stores she had lald aside for winter use. Our
sympathies are due 70 thewhite as wellas to the
black race, though we have no constitutional
right to control either. The difficulties sur
rounding the question can only be met and
overcome by practical men. ltisan easy mat
ter to theorize on the subject, to point out. the
evils likely to result from the policy adopted
by the President; but it viii be found far more
difficult to suggest any other method not likely
to result in still greater evils"
Talleyrand once took the conceit out of a
Il - Ill. =. n. -.