The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1865-10-21
NEGRO SUFFRAGE.

70 inc ldIe 0en. w auSWoTlH, VINO was Kill
ed in the battle of the Wilderness. In that
letter AIr. Lincoln said
You desire to know, in the event of our
complete success in the field, and the same
being followed by a loyal and cheerful sub
mission on the part of the South, if universal
amnesty should not be accompanied with
universal suffrage? Now, since you know
my private views as to what terms should be
granted to the South in the contingency men
toned, | will here add, if our success should
thus be realized, and followed by such desir-
cd results, | cannot see if u universal amnesty
is granted, how, under the circumstances,
we can avoid ex%acting in return universal
suffrage, or ut least suffrage on the basis of
intelligence and military service. How to
better the condition of the colorcd race has
long been a study which has attracted my
serious and careful attention. | am clear
and decided as to whit course | she'll pursue
in the premises, regarding it IS a religious
duty that the nation hal be the guardian of
these people, who have so heroically yindi-
Gated their manhood On the battle field, where,
in assisting to save the republic, they have
demonstrated in blood their right to the bal
lot, which is but II humane protection of the
flag they have SO fearlessly defended.
Since the publication of this letter in
this State we have watched for some cx-
preston on the part of the Abolition press
of Oregon in reference to the sentiments
therein contained. But We have watched
in vain. They have not paid it the poor
compliment of even an editorial notice.
Has a " change come over the spirit of
their dreams 2" 1t used to be denounced
as treason by them for any person or paper
to disapprove or fail to accept as final
whatever Mr.. Lincoln declared. Have
they become traitors? Or, has their re-
gard for Lincoln become as cold and dead
as his own mortal remains? Is his com
sci 10 longer respected; are his precepts
and sentiments condemned ? Do they re-
fuse his memory the poor reverence Of
eyen an a%llusion to his living words on
the main issue now agitatingt the country ;
It is for our Abolition contemporaries Il
answer these questions.
In action, We grant, they have answer
ed them. In the Wadsworth letter given
above. Abraham Lincoln advocated tho
right of the negro to vote. The Adolf
ton organs of Oregon, without exception
We believe, say that the negro ought no
to be invested with this freeman's right
In this, they repudiate the sentiments O
the man they have politically canonizct
as a martyr to freedom" but whom they
now virtually contemn. They were mos
clamorous and eager in demonstrating
their unqualified approval of everything
he said or did whilst living. He is dead
and they now eontemptuously pass in 81
lenee or insultingly reject the p~olitiea
views he uttered. And yet these YER
men demanded and shrieked for the bloot
of Democrats who refused to bow to tn
baneful and odious enunciations and dc
crees of the same Abraham Lincoln. who's
memory is so derided by themselves. Nay
! more. they howled for the sacrifice of Dem
~oeratic lives to atone for the assassination
} of their now derided idol, as human sac
, rifees are required in Dahomey and tn
Feejee Islands to appease the names .
: their dead black monarchs.
5 Abraham Lincoln advocated and favor
e ed Negro Suffrage; the Abolition organ
e of Oregon repudiate and denounce i
Their party brethren in all of the Ne
| England States, in Iowa, in Minnesota. b
: their State ll1tforms, and in mass CONVEX
c tons in several other States, have PR
claimed their devotion to Negro Suffrag,
1t is the paramount measure which the
contend for, It is the Act they are d,
: termined to enforce if they acquire til
S power to do so. And yet, in order
Y blind the people to their real intention
to deceive and lure voters to their SUI
: port, the Abolition organs and leaders
Oregon assert that they do not favor N,
:, gro Suffrage, and protest against its bein
u hlauo III iScaS III AHC dppAOdOHihS OdA
paign. The mass of their party are
!. favor of it, here in Oregon, as well as
the States East. But they dare not ayo
n the fact here because the popular sent
ment of the whole State is against it, an
it they want first to triumph, after whic
they win be bold and open. Then-aft'
triumph-they will prove their presel
! falsity, anddemonstrate their real devote
to Negro Suffrage, by enactipg in the LIE
islature, and by the approval of their E.
eeutive, a law which shall seek to overrit
the Constitution, and give to negroes Il
right to vote. They have acted thus
the Test Oath law; they purpose to a
so in regard to the Emigrant voters wi
have lately come into the State.
n Dare they let the people know, the
= Abolition organs, what they think of NJ
i Lincoln's letter? The people will see.
~ TDr1ra.rr1 na,YpxD C.rYa W. H.