The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-07-13
THE DEMOCRACY ON THE RiGHT
OF NEGRO SUFFRAGE.

In our Issue Of juno 18th, wesaid: ::
Whether as a matter of policy it
would be wise 10 extend the elective
franchise to them (the blacks) immedi-
atoly, we do not pretend to say. As
to tho right of suffrage, there can be no
question" E"
For thus proclaiming the right Of ev-
cry man to vote, we have been 'cussed
and discussed" without stint. Our
idea, not fully expressed, was that in
a government of the people, all men
naturally have a voice, 1fa portion
arc excluded, it is an aristocracy, a
government by a portion Of tho peo.
pie. 81
Since writing tho article from which
We have quoted, the New York Ncns,
the leading Copperhead paper in the
United States, has taken p ccisely the
Same ground about the natural right
OF all free men to vote. But it goes
further and advocates the admission of
the blacks 10 Tic franchise.
The Neus epcaPs as follows Of the
right Of the blacks to vote:
Thus much for where the power
resides ....'
What is the nature Of this power Z
Is it not plainly one to regulate, by
Decdful aud necessary rules, the cXcr-
else OF tho elective franchise; and not
II power to create the right itself?--
Tic right to voto belongs TO each male
citizcn of twenty one years of age. 1T
is his by birth; and he, by operation
tf law, 'o:omrs II citizen Of tho United
States aud entitled to all rights, priv
iIegcs aud immunitics through tho re-
lations of his native Stale 10 the Ma,
tionaI Union. The elective franchise
! is his Inherent right-tho exercise
alone is subject to State regulation
Congress has the exclusive power TO
make uniform law OF naturalization.
BY birth or by naturalization the re,
IatOn of the citizen to The State and
United States ls created. l he slave.
trade mas been discontinued since
1898, aud therefore we assume that the
blacks in the Southern States are
nearly all natives Of this conntry.--
Hor,t ,lore nothing stood between
them and (Wl citizenship, but their
condition ot Involuntary servitudo
- tho compromising cxpodient Of the
Constitution winch regards thom as in.
haJiidntS but Lus dobascd by Serritude be.
l0w the equal Of free Inhabitants,
which regards the stare as diyestod of
! two hilhs Of the man Even unlor
this "cxpcdicnt' they bore n political
relation. through their owners to so
clcty, aud were, through them. repre-
sontcd much 10 the mode in which an
infant or married woman is related,
aud represented through the father or
husband The cxnct legal and pol'ti-
cal condition OF the slave in this coun.
Try has not always ben clcarl y appre.
ciat ID, An eminent writer we'll dc.
fines him to be "a person who is rola
tod to society through another person,
called u master, 10 whom ho owes due
service or labor, and from whom he is
entitled TO receive support and protec.
ton. Nothing stood between the
slave and fM citizenship but this in.
voluntary serviee--that impedimcnt
is gono through tho actual operation
Of the war, and the liberated black
stands himself citizen in his own
prorcr person, aud not through the
relation of another called II master.
Th,n it tho abstract right to voto in.
heres in every citizen. why not in the
native black man' What rule of law
denies him that right2 is it, candid.
", in tho power OF the State or of tho
National Government to give or TO
withhold the right2 IL is not his ab.
solutc personal right now that he IS
libernirR And il it is his, who shall
take it from him. or who shall come
between him and the State Of which
he ia n ci,i2ol? 1t, as all other civic
rights. may BE- torloited bv an adequate
crime hut this is common 10 all cit,
i2ons -