Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-10-26
mr. Reagan and Suffrage.

6eneral OF the southern Con1eoeracy, while
a prisoner 10 Fert Warren sent on address
to the people of Texas, the substance of
which comes to us in the New Orleans pa.
pers. The topic Of most Importance which
he discusses, and which is of most interest
to Northern readers, is that of suffrage
He says; ~
''To the comforting Of the elective fran.
chise on your former slaves [ anticipate a
stubborn and sincere opposi;ien, based on
the Ignorance Of the great mass of them,
and on their total want of information and
experience in matters o. legislation, admin
istration, and every, hing which pertains to
the science of government and upon the
pride Of race. And this objection may be
sustained by pointing to the examples of
Mexico, and Of the Central American and
South American States, where, by the en-
franchsement Of the Indians and the ne.
groes, and all others, without reference to
race, or mental or moral fitness for the ex-
ercise of these responsible rights, they have
been deprived of the blessings of peace,
order and good government, and involved
in an almost uninterrupted series of wars
and revolutions, often of the most cruel aud
barbarous character, for more than half
century, with no present prospect of an
amplioration or improvement of their con
dition.
but these difficulties are not insuperable,
II you meet them with patience and reason.
have no doubt you can adopt plan which
will fully meet the demands of justice and
fairness, and satisfy the Northern mind,
and the requirements of the Government,
without endangerng good government and
the repose OF society. This can be done
by: ,
First: Extending the privileges and pro-
lection of the laws over the negroes as they
are over the whites, and allowing them to
testify in the courts on the same conditions;
leaving their testimony subject to the rules
relating to its credibility, but not objecting
to its adiDissibility. And in this you will
conform viii the wise current Of modern
legislation, and the tendency of judicial
decisions in all euligh countries.
Aud, second. BY dxng an intellectual
and mnra, ao1, If Thought necessary, O pro.
pertty test ter the admission of all persons
to ihe cx''lcise ot the elective franchise,
'csfhom reference tD rnce or color, phich
'oouto secure lis mtclhiyeut erercise.
My own view would be
First: That no person now entitled to
| the privilege Of voting should be deprived
, OF 1t because Of any new test.
, Second: That to authorize the admis-
sion Of persons hereafter to the exercise ol
the. elective franchise, they should be- first,
males; second. 81 years Of age third, cit
{ tizens Of the United States fourth, should
8 have resided in the State one year, and in
the district, county, or precinct six months
= next preceding any election at which they
: propose to vote fifth, should be able tc
, read in the English language understand
ingly; sixth, and must have paid taxes tor
9 the last year preceding for which such taxes
a were due and payable, subject to any dis
: qualification for crime, OF which the person
may have been duly convicted, which may
. be prescribed by law.
''rhe adoption Of these measures in ad
l.. dilian to those before mentioned, would, il
D. my judgment, meet the ends of justice anG
= fairness secure the re establishment o.
: State government, the admission of hel
g Senators and Representatives in Congress
b. the suspension Of military rule, and tn,
y restoration Of civil, constitutional and loca
y self government. And Il would do more
n Ii would secure your protection sgains
e other great aud pending evils, and is, an
l. persuaded, If The greatest consequence t
Q your future peace, prosperity and happiness
2 "FrSf.. 1t would remove all Just ground
}. white and black races Unless this Is done
y endless strife and bitterness Of feeling mus
!. characterize their relations. And all his
, tory and human expcr ence teach us mus
j. sooner or later result in a war of races. W,
now know, from sad experience, what wa
. u, between equals and enlightened people
!. But Of nil wars, a social war of races rs th,
most relentless and cruel. The extermina
> ton, or expulsion from the country. or en-
slavement Of the one or the other, being il
inevitable end whore they are leit to them
a selves; or the less of liberty to both races
Y where they are all tiect to the control o.
q superior power, which would be our situa
, tiOn. | speak Of course OF the legal right,
I and status of the two races. Their socia
: relations are matters Of taste and choice
! and not subject to legislative regulation.
I " Second: This course would disarm and
q put an end to the inter state, sectional, po
, litical agitation, on this subject, at least,
{ which has been the special curse Of oal
: country for So many years, and which was
. the cause OF the unnumbered woes we have
= recently experienced and still suffer, by de-
, prving the agitators Of a subject on which
RI to keep up such an agitation, and of the
means Of producing jealousy, animosity and
, hatred between the different parts of the
, country and between the different races. -
And this would do much toward the renew
al of the ancient relations OF national bar.
, mony and fraternal goodwill between all
parts of the country. And this, toe, is of
the greatest consequence to our future vel.
fare, and especially as our people now know
there is no hope of escape. from il by ap,
pealing to the rinciples Of State Sovereign
ty and the right OF secession.
eff the State will accept this policy at
once, twill attain tho great ends, hereto
fore mentioned, and il ,oiW sope its o,cn peo
PIE from years Of painful strife and agita-
f'om on these questions, ,ohich ,oouid at last,
probobty after years Of contention, be found
to be The only means Of bringin0at to an end,
eren 1aied 10 nothing ,eorse How infinite.
~ belrer 1t would be Tor you, for both races,
for tho prcsen, and the future, for the whole
country, ifyou will unhesitatingly recognize
b the unaiterable facts.as to your condition,
and the inevitable logic of events and
hasten, as is in your power to do, the re,
turn Of the blessings OF civil government
and constitutional liberty and avoid. as it
! is in your DoWar to do the fearful nerils