Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1865-08-03
LincOIR and Andrew
johnson.

EDS. CoM.-rhc Uunion party OF Ohio, in
State Convention assembled, on June 20, after
due, deliberation, adopted with great enthus-
asm the following resolutions:
'Resolred, lst That the name and fame OF
Abraham Lincoln stand out from the history
of the epoch unrivaled and alone; and while
we deplore his untimely and cruel death, and
venerate his memory, it becomes us to initiate
his wisdom, frmncss and moderation, in the
treatment of vexcd questions, and especially
to initiate his example, in waiting for the so
luton of difficulties to be furnished by the
progress of time and the logic of events.
I'd. That the President, Andrew johnson,
bv his unwaverlng devotion to the Union,
through years of the scverest trial, has won
our highest confidence, and that we cheerful
" indorse the policy of his Administration,
looking to the restoration OF peace ana cvll
order in the so-called seeded States and that,
as Union men of Ohio, we will give him our
hearty and undivided support
This decided expression of the will OF the
party, after all the objections had been fully
considered in reference to President John
sons Restoration Proclamation, renting the
negro suffrage question to the Jurisdictions
which alone have constitutional power over
the subject, should have some weight with
those protesting any regard for the Union Or
panizution, though it may come in conflict
with their own private notions; but, as dis
cusson seems to be desired by some, as If 1t
was al open question, fairness demands that
both sides should be heard. The public
should, therefore, fully understand the plat
form upon which Abraham Lincoln was elect
\ ed President of the United States, with his
own expressed views on negro suffrage which
were never taken back before his first or sec
ond election by the people. la his speech de-
livered at the isytation of the Republican
State Central Committee, at Columbus, OHIO,
in 1885, he said:
That there is a physical difference between
the white and black races waich, believe,
will forever forbid the two races living togeth-
er in terms of social and political equality
And, insomuch as they cannot so live while
1 they do so remain together, there must be the
position of superior and inferior, and as
) much as any other man, am in favor OF hav
Il ing the superior position assigned to the white
race" A very practical mode of treating the
whole controversy, discriminating throughout
the speech, between conventional and natura
rights, the latter being fully conceded by Mr.
Lincoln to the negroes, as enumerated IN the
Declaration of Independence. 1t isnotoriou'
that at the Chicago Convention, Messrs BE
i, ward and Chase, on account of their record OIL
this subject, were beaten by the West an'
Pennsylvania, and these published speeche
of Mr.. Lincoln were the textbook Of the en-
suing Presidential campaign :,
Nor does the private letter OF March Ia
1864, of President Lincoln to Governor Hahn
3of Louisiana, modify the argument OF tn
above quoted speech, but simply suggests 10
% his consideration, and not the public, the pos
Q sibe enfranchisement of 'very intelligent
negroes as matter under exclusive Stat
control. A complete Endorsement by Pres
dent Lincoln of the proclamations OF Pres
dent johnson, that to the legal voters OF eac
State rightfully belongs the exclusive contrt
of the elective franchise, or as he more full
explains to the South Carolina delegation
that the basis of his action was the clause
y the Constitution of the United States, whic
y prescribes that the qualifications OF the eleG
ors for Representatives in Congress, shall b
s, 'those of the most numerous branch OF tn
g. State Legislature" and no ohe'whl preten
that Congress or the President has any con
: troll over the latter
The moment FIVE States attempt to Undue
at Congress to reject the representatives OF ot
Iv er States, because these representatives al
: not elected by the same franchise as the
own, they proclaim war against the constit
tional rights of Ohio, and the thirty 9TH
States whose Constitutions exclude negro su
fraee. PresdentJohnson maintains that Il
be legal, loyal voters of every State, are to
RI treated alike. Ifrebels should be returned