The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1865-10-21
Negro Suffrage.

This swan-ihe song of The Democrat, has
become as trite as tramp, tramp, tramp
hereabout. That organ has been for quite a
long while charging The Wig with advo.
eating negro suffrage in Maryland. We have
not thought worth while to notice these lies.
as we supposed they were manufactured for
o certain market which The Democrat has
undertaken to supply, on account of scar
city of items. But for fear that sheet should
believe its own lies after awhile, from its
habit of constant repetition, we perhaps,
had better contradict this stercotyped fable.
The Wing never advocated "negro suf-
rage" in Cecil or anywhere else, or express
ed any opinion edtorially on the subject
1t has sometimes taken occasion, however,
to compare the negro's record as q citizen
and patriot, with that of the rebel and thus
compared and determined by justice as the
standard, without taking color and prejudice
INTO the account, the negro right to vote as
between the two, we are sorry to say, always
stood first The negro has always been pa.
triotie and iaaes,ft to maintain and preserve
the government, while the traitors did their
utmost to destroy and overthrow it. This
conclusion, which none have attempted to
deny, did therefore not result from any arti-
fetal, or unnatural eleration of the colored
man, but grew out Of the establishment of
the secession rebel hordes that strove to de-
stroy their nationality based upon freedom,
in order to attempt the substitution of one
founded on slavery.
The matter OF rotiag is but mechanical
operation. 1t is much more important to
think and then vote. The present genera
ton of colored men will not vote, but the
next will-mark this prediction.
We do not arrive at this conclusion from
any prcjudices in favor of the ebon race
for prejudice affects US Of the white skinned
race pretty nearly all alike-but from the
logic of events, and the march of civilza
ton, and domination Unpopular government
If it is not the duty of the whites to bestow
the privilege OF the elective franchise upon
the coiored population, because of their ig.
norance and unitness to exercise it properly,
their first duty then is to assist in educating
them. Political economy demands this
An intelligent laboring population will per.
form more work than an ignorant one
They commit less crime, and consequently
make more desirable population for
State. The more general education is in a
community, the more of material wealth will
be produced in the State, and the greater
will be the amount of taxable property, fol
lowed by corresponding increase of the
public improvement and prosperity on all
sides.
1t is admitted that the best and most thor
ousn system of education is the common
school system, supported by tax on prop
erty. The negro's property is not exempt
from school tax; and to tax his property
for educational purposes and deny him the
boon Of education, would be sheer robbery
The right of the coored man to testify in
courts of justice and to common school
education, are the fundamental principles
claimed for him in the restoration policy of
the Administration, which the Copperheads
and ex.Rebels are trying so earnestly to per.
suade President Johnson they are in raptures
over.
We assume that the negro has no right to
vote, but none Of us can give any satisfac-
tory reason for that hypothesis. The reason
is found in the fact that the majority of his
race In this country has been held in slavery
for several generations. This has not only
served to keep those in actual bondage down,
but the whole race, the free as we'll as the
bound, have been dragged down by its inau-
ence.
The race is now legally free but their
deplorable ignorance from being deprived
of all means of education, remains. together
with the prejudice against them the latter
almost wholly owing to slavery. That pre-
judice will remain with the present genera.
ton.
The prosperity of the State demands pop.
ular, universal education, without respect to
class, sex or color. This is our immediate
duty. Our executors will manage the affairs
OF government to please themselves. IT'S
tor us to perform our duty of insuring to
them an educated people. Slavery being
dead its widespread degradation will have
disappeared, and whatever of merit NAV be.
long to the black man will then be accorded
to him; and whatever of inferiority may at.
tach to him he will have to bear, Invested
of the crushing weight of odium, the off.
spring Of slavery.
The Democrats belittleing process has
about played ont. The negro is as ''ltte"
as he can be made. He is here amongst us
an intelligent being. The more of educa.
ton we can add to that intelligence, the
greater advantage will accrue to the State
therefrom and every individual in State
is partaker of her prosperity. Not we, but
an unprecedented poste"ity, will determine
the nrOhleu, of paoro