New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-05-27
QUESTIONS FOR TIE SOUTH.


process shall be speedy and its success thorough
is our most ardent desire.
1t is already evident that what styles Itself
"the Union party" of the South is utterly made
quate to the work OF reconstruction. It's dolngs
in Louisiana, in Missouri, in Tennessee have
established this beyond question. IL tends on
the one hand to protract and inhame feudS that
ought so soon as possible to be buried IN OBJ
livion, and on the other to pcrpctuate diSabiIi-
ties which memorable events have rendered ab'
surd. Palpably, this Union party lacks at once
faith, strength and courage. Not daring 10
enfranchise the Blacks. it seeks TO govern by
permanently DISTINGUISHING large proportion
Of the Whites Such party can give neither
support TO a Government nor duration to It's
own accidental ascendancy.
We appeal, therefore, to the gentlemen OF the
South-her educated, intelligent property hold
ers. accustomed to business and familiar with
public afTahs-tO step forward, without re-
gard to past differences, and lead their fellow
citizens in the work of restoring their several
States to their former consideration, security
and power We entrcat them to do this in full
recognition of the fact tina, Slavery has passed
away, and in such manner as to secure the intel
ligcnt and hearty concurrence of all their own
people and ofevery class among them. We en-.
treat them to deal with the Blacks and with all
questions affecting their rights and prospects,
not in the spirit of bygone and obsolete notions,
| -. A. l,,xbt Of nd of IN.
plished facts.
h We ask nothing extreme nor extravagant.
We will not too strongly insist on the truth
that there is no civilized country on earth-n0t
even slaveholding Brazil whose constitution
excludes Blacks, as such, from Office or denies
them the Right of Suffrage. We have no wish
that thieves, ruiiians, blacklegs Swindlers,
inveterate yagabonds p,upers, &C., shall be
made voters where they are not-we would
much prefer that they should be disiranchised
whore they now enjoy the dangerous privilege
of voting for the sherifls who ought to arrest
, and the judges who pretend to try them. But
we do ask that -Four Millions OF Americans born,
) forming a majority of the people of several
Southern States, and a large minority in all the
others, shall not be doomed to hopeless, per-
petual impotence and pupilagc in the land of
their nativity and the home of their affections.
Weask that, in States whose every White black
leg is or may be a legal voter -Four Millions Of
faithful, industrious tilers of the soil shall not
be left without voice in the Government
which their labor must support.
T :. - n,
it other than the simplest dictate of essential
Justice and of public saietyf What reason can
be imagined for conceding the Right of Suffrage
to professional gambler who is White and
denying it to sober, industrious, thrifty farmer
who is Black1
Our own conviction that all Rights should be
enjoyed irrespective of color is not disguised
aud will not easily be shaken. We would not
concede the Right of Suffrage to illterate, idle,
drunken vagabonds, White or Black. Nor do
we affirm that the Blacks Of the South are to-
day as well qualified as the Whites to vote prop
erly and safely. But We do hold that the -Four
| Millions of Southern cultivators ought to have
some voice in the making and modifying Of the
laws they are required to obey and in shaping
the policy which insures or mars their pros
peri,y. The Blacks are not all qualified to vote
wisely; but many among them arc qualified,
while Others will make haste. to be like them if
properly encouraged.
If the Southern States will but say to their
Black inhabitants, EQUALITY yourselves, by in
telligence and thrift to vote wisely and safely;
nothing more shall be needed to give You access
to the ballot.box," they will do all that can
! fairly be asked. And who fails TO realize that
this concession would strongly tend TO make the
Blacks fulfill its requirements
| The Constitution of our State, framed III 1921
and left unaltered (on this poinD by that Of
1886. provides, while Whites vote OH their SIM
pie citizenship and one years continuous resi-
dcnce, as to Blacks as follows:
"No man Of color unless be shall have been FOR three
wears citizen Of tas State and for one year next pre-
cedng any election shat have been seized ana possessed
of freehold estate Of tie value Of two hundred and
fy dollars and shall have been actually rated and paid
tax thereon shall be entitled TO vote at sneb election
And no person of color shall be subject to direct taxa
ton unless he shall be seized ana pOseefheu vi buch
real estate aforesaid
Now we have twice voted 10 abolish all dis.
ability on account of color, and hope for a
chance to vote 50 again at an early day; but
the above would do for beginning. Let the
Blacks of the South know that they may make
themselves voters by industry and thrift, and
they will have inducements TO work and save
hitherto denied them.
But no: "hitherto" is too comprehensive.
Within our remembrance, Free Blacks were