The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-08-10
Gen. Cox Defnes. hIsl FosttLon.


Last week General Cox responded
to1a letter from a Committee at Ober-
lin, interrogating him upon questions
which said-Committee and those they
represent, do not think were adequate
ly defined, by the Union State Con-
vention!ga'T,GppoG Ti5f; 4u Ia@an p 4.
I'VE present our readers the CORES
pondence in full. i0f s'5a,a3 20
THE LETTER FROM OBERL1N.
s"'if,ril aOBERLIN, July "a, 1865.
General j. d. Cor: '.e ed
DEAR SIR The people of this place,
with entire nnanimity, sought your
nomination for Governor of Ohio.
With equal unanimity we desire to
promote your election. We rejoice
in your nomination because we
had perfect confidence that your views
and ,sympathies were in harmony with
our own on the great issue before us
the equality ofail men before tho law.
We still beliovo that we were not mis-
taken. But some of us have been
startled by report coming, directly
from Warren, to the effect that you are
opposed to giving the elective franchise
to colored people, and that you request
ed the editor of the Chronicle to pub
aish your views on the subject, that you
might not lose the support of Union
men in the Southern part of the State
We do not credit the rumor, and yet
it has 80 disturbed some of your warm
est supporters, that the undersigned
have been requested to address, you
ION the subject.
We want to know directly from you
your views on the following subjects
list. Are you in favor Of modifying our
Constitution so as to give the elective
franchise to colorcd menP I'd. In the
Reorganization of the Southern States
SHOULD the elective franchise be secur-
ed to the colored people?
Among US there is but one opinion
on this subjoct, and we were never
more earnest on any political question.
We believe that the distinction made
by our Constitution between white and
'colored people was made in the inter-
est of slavery, and is both wicked and
absurd. And we believe that TO re-
construct the Southern States and ad-
init them with constitutions excluding
.coored men from the polls would give
the country and the negro into the
power of the men who have soughtand
still desire to ruin the one and enslave
the other. .ii e.
Deliver the four millions of freed
people into the hands of their former
oppressors, now embittered by their
defeat, 'nnd they will make their con-
dition worse than before. The Cop
perheads of the North, with the united
South, would gain control of the Cen
eral Government, and in various ways
would harrass and oppress the negroes
and thoir friends beyond endurance
A war of races would be likely to re-
suit. IF as a nation we can be SC
wicked as to deliver our colored SOL
diers and the millions whose freedom
we are pledged to maintain, into the
power of the most cruel and vindic.
tive people that eyor daid claim tc
civilization, terrible retribution will
await us. We speak strongly that
you may know how We feel on the
subject. ....
Ii it be said that the negroes of the
South are ignorant and unfit for the
elective franchise, we answer, grant it
but this has nothing to do with the
question. Our colored soldiers who
have fought three years for the Union
are not of this class, nor are those who
have always been free, many of whom
have amassed wealth. 1t is Tor these
VIC ask the elective franchise. If i
should take q year, or two or three tC
prepare the masses to vote, we woulc
bs content. Though we believe oul
constitutions would be safe in thu
hands of the colored people as they
arc than in the hands of the best hal
of the population of tho South. Th'
question is, Shall colored people
be allowed to vote? The enemies o
our country say no. Tho mass Of tn,
loyal say yes. So decided are our peo
pie on the subject, that they could b.
no means be persuaded to vote for
man known to be opposed to it. TIL
Union party of this country, 80 far a
we know, are unanimous on the sub
ject, and we believe that throughou
the country the party can be ralie'
on this platform with greater enthu
siasm than on any other. All the pro
minent religious papers, and, with on
or two exceptions, all the leading Re
publican papers are in favor of uni
versal suffrage. We believe that no
thing could be moro suicidal to ou
party and the cause of freedom than t
reject this doctrine.
Please let us hear from you soon.-
1t is not our wish to publish you
viows, unless you desire it. But W
wish to have our own minds relieved
and to be able to contradict any falls
reports that may be in circulation re
gardlng your views on this subject.
Very truly and sincerely yours,
e. III. FAIRCHILD, co.,;...,
SAMUEL PLUMB, o0n'H'''0'