New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-07-25
SUFFRAGE AND LOYALTY.

The Republican State Committee of Massa-
chusetts has issued an address to the People Of
that State on the Suffrage question, whereof the
gist is as follows:
The people Of the Free States do not intend to enter
upon crusade against the ancient right OF the States
nix the qualifications of voters Whether such quail
fcatons be OF property or OF education or OF age anu
alone is matter Of state concern with which no
one desires to intermeddle But when the late Rebel
communities denuded by their own act OF their State
Governments without legislative executive or judicial
departments without even justice or constable VINO
can legally the functions OF civil office come for
ward upphnts for pardon and Tor restoration into
the family of States Is exercise On Out part OF the
simplest instinct of sedeense If we require that all
constitutional and statute provisions, all customs.
and usages and traditions solely based upon that iu-
stitution Of Slavery which was the origin and main-
spring of the Rebellion. shall be made TO give way
Laws and ordinances made for tie government OF
chaes not be perpetuated for the government Ok
men. We do not ask the President or Congress to
make use Of any doubtful powers; but the power 70
is not doubtful; the power to keep the country
from again falling into the possession OK an aristocracy
Of casie-the power to preserve Us nom ano'h.r
be followed. perhaps, by new rebeions ana
more devastating wars. is power which the
people will not relinquisb, and which their
servants, we cannot DOUBT will, sooner or later 10
obliged to use Loyalty. as everybody admits, must Dc
insisted on the indispensable qualification OF all
voters no matter whether constitutions laws pre-.
less distinct Of African descent is evidence Of DIS
loyalty Nor is It any test Of intelligence. IL is simply
badge OF that servtude which We have been Obliged
to abolish In order to preserve the National existence.
Shall consent to the restoration 0i the Rebei COM
munties under the two-ffths constitutional provision
which greatly enlarges the political power Of their yo'
ing population. and under system which exciudes
rom the polls loyal people quite as Intelligent as THO
great body OF the Whites whose good VIII toward our
Government has ped to save II rom Destruction, ana
whose continued friendlness VIII be no less ndispen-
sable IN the futuIei ..,
tis no answer TO this 10 say that some OF the loyal
states do NOT allow colorei men To vote. and that We
sy as we'll undertake to exclude Ohio from the Union
a. "a kaen Sonth Carolina from coming back with full
Congressional powers such inequalities. when they
Ssy NOT endangered the loyalty OF the States where
bsv eyst and where they do not threaten hereafter to
nut in per the public peace may be safely left TO tho
reyyng spirit Of justice In the Northern people stimu
lated 10 frendness toward which has performed
for us a useful National service. At any rate. pos
sess and claim right interfere with the electoral
laws of Loyal States. But the Rebel States, every
BODY admits are in condition which requires recon
strction restoration, aud which justes guardian
ship aud the stfctest wachfuness the part OF
Government and people. Whatever safeguards
NAV BE- found necessary the permanent pacihcaton
of the country and for the fnlhment OF the National
pledge OF freedom in spirit well In letter, TO tho
eniranchiscd Blacks. must be insisted upon.