Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-09-11
NEGRO sUFFRAaE-ITs ExPEDI
ENCY

of the Rebel States In the Federal Union
is to be regarded by the general govern
ment. Now the government has it in its
power. indeed it is its duty, to guide, con-
troll and direct the work of reconsruc-
ton. Our people are anxious that uni
versal freedom shall be the law Of the
land, and. to permanently settle this prin-
ciple is a favor to white men and justice
to the negro. When these States are re-
organized, and again take up proper rela-
tons with the government, and the happy
time to do historical justice to an injured
race will have passed away forever, q
State, acting as a State, must be the judge
of the qualification Of its electors. Now,
the government can insist upon measures
necessary for its peace and security, but
reorganization without negro suffrage,
without the power given the freed man to
protect his interests by having a voice in
legislation, without the right to provide
means for his education and the right to
testify in courts Of justice, will convict
our nation Of a gross breach Of plighted
faith, will hold Vi up in history as faith
less to our principles and p%retensions, and
will ultimately press the negro race back
into the vile serfdom, to liberate it from
which, and to purify our national charac-
ter from its stain, we have expended much
blood and treasure. Thus, through will
full perverseness, u efforts which the
whole world now a~pplauds will come to
nought. BY our blind obstinacy, the
truest, safest expedient to guard US
against a repetition of the evils which u
generation has experienced, will be suf-
fered to pass UNDECIDED. But there is an
other and a more selfish view to be taken
in this matter, because it involves our own
welfare, and since the low mutterings Of
future danger seem too near for perma-
nent safety. Who that read but a few
days ago the report Of a meeting in New
York City, gathered to devise ways and
means to procure the acquittal Of Davis,
the champion of American aristocracy and
the avowed enemy of republicanism, but
felt the cold chills of dread creeping over
him when it was openly avowed by men
of commercial influence, that the South
ern Confederacy was not dead, but merely
sleeping from temporary exhaustion that
Southern independence was only a ques-
ton of time, and would be effected by a
political, if not BY military triumph: Can
we repose in fancied security when the
deadly enemies Of our happiness and the
happihess of the race uttering their curses
in u ears Is it the part Of wise men
TO trust to present appearances, which
beneath US lie the forces combining for an
other great social ~upheaval: Let loyal
men bind themselves together with the
common sentiments of loyal hearts and
prepare to NEE, the political issues which
are presented before us, with an eye to
what may happen and to what our ene-
mics are planning against US. We need
in the South a political element in SYM
pathy with the large-minded philanthropy
and craftsmanship of the North, and
where can this element be found: We
believe that in the black mans love for
liberty we can find our most reliable ally.
His feelings will lead him to feel an ear
nest sympathy for the power which has
liberated him. That republican form of
government which we are anxious to in
sure the South, has, as a large-hearted
statesman has well said, more safe guards
in the instincts Of ignorant freedmen than
in the intelligence Of the educated man
whose ~sympathies are against u cause
and our country. Here again We can see
wherein the expediency of negro suffrage
exists.
And again we are not to forget that the
Christian philosophy which has converted
a legal cha,tel into a political person, with
rights and duties recognized by the laws
Of the land, has also bequeathed to our
nation political and social difficulties
which must be %surmounted. Under the
three-6fth rule prescribed by the Conssitu-
tion, the slave-holding States were enti-
tied to eighteen more representatives in
the National Congress than they would
have had if only the free persons of the
South had been counted. BY changing
the blackman from a political fraction"
to a political unit" the South will be
entitled TO twelve more than before. If
these freedmen are denied the right Of suf-
TRACE, the power of the ruling whites will
be increased, and with the aid Of q small
number Of northern allies, the questions
of evenue, Of reputation, Of peace and
waL Of national policy, both foreign and
domestic, will be subject to Southern die
tation. The Southern voter will be en-
abled to WELD a far greater influence in
our National councils than the true and
loyal Northern voter, and who will ven-
ture to calculate the mischiefs which will
result to the nation when an element NOR
ally rebellious shall thus be empowered to
regulate and control Northern interests
aud the political status of the freedman.
The remedy is obvious. That element
which sends thirty members to the Ma
tional Congress must be permitted to sig
nifty its preferences in the election Of its
W thirty representatives. Hereby a