The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-12-21
Negro Suffrage in the District of Coz
Imnl hin
WAsHINaroS, Dec. I6, is

WAsHINsroS, Dec. 10, 1865.
The radicals intend 10 press 10 speedy
vote the proposition, now pending in both
Houses, TO grant the right Of suffrage 10 the
negroes Of this District. It's passage may
be set down as 8 foregone conclusion. There
is much 10 be said for and against the
measure On the one hand, the white PEG
pie Of this District are MOTTO be trusted with
the management Of the municiple affairs Of
the natioaal capitol. In this city, which Of
all others should be loyal TO the national
cause, nine out Of ten Of the sctual resident
whites are whipped rebels Of the mesnest
sort Long accustomed 20 the crooking the
pregnant hinges Of the knee 10 the slave
holding aristocracy-now, happily, defunct
they imbibed the spirit which actuated
the rebellion, and espoused the cause OF the
South, not ss their own, exactly, but ss
that Of their masters. The masters have
since been coerced into more healthy con-
diton Of morality and patriotism, but the
lackeys haven't. On the other hand, the
negroes who BY the bill now before Con-
gress will be vested with the night Of suf-
frscc. are, IS a class, the most ignorant and
illiterate Of the race. Nearly all Of them
are Virginia plantation hands, who escaped
from bondage from time 20 time during
the war, and came within our lines.
They live for the most part, in
freedmen's colonies and camps, where
thew arc tolerabsy well cared for.
or in buts aud novels Of their own, where
thew are extremely miserable. With as
much contempt as any one can have for the
political character Of the whites Of the dis
irict. L still think 10 would be unwise in the
extreme 10 confer suffrage upon these thou
sands Of recently enancipatcd slaves, who
know nothing whatever OF the value or the
use of the franchise which it seems 10 be IN
serious contemplation 70 confer upon them.
I know il is frequently urged in reply 10
such Objections that "a great many whites
VINO vote are As ignorant as the southern
negroes, In the frst place this Is an ex
arTera.ion. and in the second place, even IL
IL were true, is would argue more in favor Of
restricting the right Of suffrage among the
whites thar extending il 70 the hlaeks. Il
8 certainly a very singular sort OF remedy
which, 20 cure an acknowledged eyil, eN-
tends il. Then comes the question Of the
right Of Congress 70 enfranchise the blacks
Of the distTict-but what's the use Of srgu-
ing The right" Of any thing 70 be decided
by body that VIII entertain such PROPOSE
lions as are now pending before The Senate
ana House Of Representative What's the
use OF urging constitutional objections %
any measure in this year Of grace, when 30
10 50 Is % be 8 copperhesd OF the worst sort.
Inc best ana only way % settle this Ques-
ton eHectually and satisfactorily, is for Con-
gress to take away the charter OF Washing
ton City and govern t by commissioners Of
ls own appointment. There is 70 necessity
Of any voting here. The citizens Of wash
iugton have proven themselves incapable OF
self government They have 70 dav the
worst managed and most expensive ,itv
government IN the United States. Congress
hss % bear most Of the expense a. any rate
has 20 pay for lighting and paving and
sswerinr, aud might as well take the sddi-
I tionsl burden and run the whole machine,
/ through the Committees on the District Of
I Columbia. ] understand that Mr.. Eggle-
stou intends 10 introduce 3 proposition look
/ ing towards this good result, before the holi
days. i Is worthy st least OF cons Iteration
Lnd investigation, sfording, as thisk ID
does, The only solution Of dihcult problem,
that has foress itself uPop oonTrstt.