Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-07-21
Governor on Reconstruction.

and if this was impossible, then for him to
communicate his views on the topics oil
the day. The Governor addressed to them
long and able letter expressing his views
in full. We give the following interesting
portion of the same, rs cmbodying his
views on an important topic OF public in
quiry just now. The Governor is earnest
and able, and expresses views which will
accord with public sentiment Of the state
and nation:
Assuming. then, that the nation is the
proper arbitcr of this question of suffrage
in the rcvolted States. one test naturally
suggests itself 10 every mind, whether ap-
piled to white or black. That should be
furnished by answer to the questions: is
the person seeking to exercise the right,
loyal aud has he been loyal to the nation
during the war
So far is regards the whites of the south,
it is very clear that loyalty was but rare
virtue among them. Not so with the
black race. The concurrent testimony OF
the armies of the Union in whatever quar-
ter operating. is distinct, clear, and un-
contradctcd that the blacks were In all
places and at all times our friends. Our
soldiers escaping from the rebel charnel
houses at Andcrson,llc and Salisbury,
trusted their lives with undoubting conf
dcnce to the hands of the poor negroes,
and were never betrayed. They fed :;
they guided; they rescued those fugitives
from death How often did the southern
uiifes give them even IA cup OF cold
water p The fidelity and kindness of the
blacks to our suffering soldiers flying from
inhuman harbaritics of their masters, will
ever stand in bold relief bright page in
their history, making more Infamous by
contrast the story of rebel crucltics to our
people. 1t was nv one of these offices
alone. rendered by stealth and at the peril
of their lives, that the colorcd men earned
the right to he regarded It's loyal Step
ping boldly forth in the spiri, of genuine
manhood, they entered the ranks of the
national army, brayely daring all the
legitimate dangers of war, and the still
greater peril arising from the ferocious
spirit of their masters a. illustrated at Fort
Pillow, The suifcrngs and services of
the blacks in the army have not been sur
passed by any of their associates; and if
they have not been such as to earn the
right of citizenship for themselves and
their race, it is difficult to discovcrb, what
title il can he claimed. The President of
the United States, with great wisdom and
by his recent proclamation
has released large numbers OF rebels from
the penalties legally attaching to their
conduct: but can this act of pardon make
them better citizens then those who have
never offended, but always sustained the
. 1t would seem not; and
that ii should not be,tow upon these CON
doned rebels the RICH; to demand exclusion
from citizenship OF men who never revolt
cd against its authority. That LOYALTY
which rests for its proof upon letters
patent under the great seal of the United
States, contrasts but poorly with that
which has sealed its fidelity with blood.
To allow their masters, whose hands are
red With the blood ui our murdered coun-
trYmen. and their hearts filed with i'll
rage and bate towards the Gov
cfnneHt they failed to destroy. to resume
at once their political rights and relations.
and to remit to the guardianship of these
men the liberties and franchises of the
eelafed loyalists, dcpriNing them of all
potential Voice in framing the laws ly
Which they are to be governed, and by
which they should be protected, would be
All act, the tatuiy of which would be
equalIed only by It's itamy, and an infaniy
" hicil has itself no parallel in the annals
oi mankind. II to the slave We have
given liberty without the power Of pro-
reineIiless than that Of this race cannot
be conceived. While the rcyolted states
are held, as they now are hy the President,
III allegiance, their powers suspended, it
will be within the scope of the national
authority to provide for the wants Of the
freedman. which have been alluded to-
In Il comparatively brief period the OBJ
lection of ignorance as disqualif,ing him
(which would be equally good against all
would be removed, and he
become trained to an intelligent exercise
OF the functions of citizenship.
Thus much and solely as relates to the
personal condition and interest of the
freedman.
There are numberlcss other consilera-
tons affecting the welfare Of the nation,
which demand the policy of allowing the
negro 10 vote. His emancipation increases
the political power of the South. The
exercise OF this power, if limited to those
who have held it exclusively heretofore.
will but strengthen the hands of those who
sought to destroy the Government. The
rebellion has thrust upon the nation an
enormous load Of debt, requiring heavy
taxation to preserve the national faith
Reconstructed rebels would feel but little
repugnaRee TO rcpudiatc debt they
would allege to have been created in the
prosecution Of an unconstitutional war for
their suhjugation. Failing to rcpudiate
the debt Of the nation they would endeav-
or TO fOist upon it a portion of tho Con-
fedcrate debt which has SO largely swallow
ed the property of the south. Prepostcr-
GUS as such proposition would be. it con-
tans too large an element Of, and too
fertile resource for, corruption to be con-
templated without alarm. The safety OF
this country demands large infusion OF
loyal voters in that section where the dis
loyal go largely preponderate. The peo-
Pile of the United States, with a mag
nanimity unequalled in any age or coun-
try will not invoke, even upon leading
criminals, the punishment justly due Ia
transeendant crime; but it is to be hoped
while they may fall short Of justice in the
direction of mercy to offenders, that they
will not likewise fail to meet its demand.
in such manner as to bring upon the ma
ton the stigma of inhuman cruelty to
those entitled to the amplest protection.
That Divine Being. who has so signal
~ interposed in behalf Of our country
during the fearful ordeal to which it has
been subjected, in His inscrutablc wisdom,