Journal of freedom. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1865-186?, 1865-09-30
sUFFRAGE AVID PREJUDICE.

their prejudices, the great political ques-
tions which have arisen with the new
state of affairs in the South will be set
tied amicably and without difficulty
Time was when the free colored popu1a-
ton of North Carolina exercised the right
of suffrage with the whites, and the re-
cords of that period do not show that the
State was injured by it, nor would any Of
the many men now alive, who received
colored votes, be willing, we think, to
admit that they were degraded by them.
Many a man who talks Of the degrade
ton of such a thing has, in times past,
placed his vote side by side in the same
ballot-box with chat of a colored man.
This right was only taken from the free
colored man because of its influence over
the slaves. There are no slaves now,
and consequently no pernicious influence
can be exerted if this right is re-estab-
lished. Plainly, if it is not re-establish-
ed, it will be on account of prejudice
Some of the best blood of'North Care
lima flows in the veins of those who are
prescribed on account of color. Men
whose Intelligence is acknowledged, even
by their enemies, to be superior to that
of many who now exercise the precious
right unquestioned, are also placed in
the background, merely on account. of
color. No sensible man can for 8 mo-
ment oppose the extension of the privi-
lege of the elective franchise to the col
ored man or account of his lack of intel
llgence. 1t is only necessary to go to
any large city in order to find more ig-
norant and debased voters than they
would make in fact, to find such men
it is not necessary to leave this section.
There are hundreds, aye thousands, of
freedmen who, while slaves, were trust
ed by their masters in business transac-
tons of great Importance, and there is
an equal if not a larger number of white
voters, proportionately, in every commu-
nifty, who are not entitled to, and do not
receive, the same confidence. Manifest
ly, then, the exclusion of the colored
man from a privilege which some of them
are equally fitted to exercise with some
of the whites, is merely the result of
prejudice, which prejudice arises from
different reasons.
One of these reasons is the vanity of
human nature. It is a gratifying thought
that a man is the. superior Of another,
and pleases the unnitr of AVIAN 4h4 1~~V
minds OF the country. Admitting all
to be true. e., that the white man
is the superior of the black, and no one
it at this time-to be consistent
should carry out the doctrine to the
extent. The result is clear final
~ only n man in the country would be
qualified to vote. He would be the one
who impudently arrogated to himself
over all others or his or any
race.
Another and equally powerful reason
s selfshness. Mankind is 10th to give
Up his power, or rather to divide it
The Know Eothings were opposed to di-
'iding the power of the .ballot-box with
oreigners, and o Know Nothings and
oreigners are opposed to extending the
anne privilege to the natives-natives,
90, who have proved themselves true
,mong the faitAless. The theory that
is a white mans country is based on
same selfish principle, and has it's
in the most ungenerous spirit
which can control the mind of man. A
rec invitation is extended by our gov
rnment to the oppressed of all the world
take rest within it's domains and to
freedom of religion and political
Yet some of the people who
ompose this government are, in their
lindness, so inconsistent Is to selfshly
ellie this great inducement which has
ways been the great incentive to emil
In their selfshness and vanity
hey overstep the bounds Of Republican
i'm, and; are striving to establish q gov
based OF principles far from
democratic, and almost as exclusive as $
of a limited monarchy. :
A simple and just application of. the ,
reat principle on which our government .
based-the consent Of the governed
ould obliterate all distinction on account t
color, or race, and the African would j