The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-08-15

Msjor Ralph Plumb, formerly a resident
of Obsrlin, but now, we believe, Post
Qasrtermaster at Camp DennisoD, has
written 8 letter to Messrs. Fsirchild and
Plumb, of Oberlin, suggested by the recent
correspondence between the latter gentle
men and General Cox on the suffrage ques-
ton. After urging briefly and successful
ly the Utopisn imprsctiesbility Of General
Cox's theory of separating the races, he
proceeds to remind the gentlemen whom
he addresses of the Importance of giving
the Union ticket a hearty and unanimous
support. Upon this subject he writes ss
follows:
slavery vCts VIII Be given THIS fsTI Tor the
Union nominee, for the reasons following
The only question presented by the dis
agreement between yourselves and Gene
raj Cox is one of policy and not of princi-
pie. If the issue was slavery or freedom,
Us has often been the case, there could be
no hesitation about duty but here Gene
raj Cox is as heartily in favor of securing
the legal freedom of every slave and the
total abolition of all slavery BY means Of
the constitutional amendment, as either of
us, and it is his solicitude on this subject
that has brought him to the adoption of
the colonization scheme, perhaps more than
anything else.
The suggestions of Major Plumb are ex-
csllent and truthful. We think, however,
that they arenot needed by the Union men
either of Oberlin or elsewhere, We do
not believe that there is a single earnest
anti-slavery man, who has scted with the
Union party during the war, who will re-
fuse TO give, not only his vote, but his
Aesrty and enthusiastic support to Genera
Cox and the Union ticket.
With another part of Major Plumb's let
letter we cannot so readily concur. That
gentleman says that Eif the Union party
adopt the sfiI NATIVE on the question of
negro suffrage now, and appeal to the
people on that platform, the first result
would be their defeat at the North" and
proceeds to demonstrate the evil conse-
quenees that would result from such ade-
feat. Hence, argues Major Plumb, the
Union party must dodge the negro suffrage
question, until slavery is dead. To this
we have to say:
l. The Union party would not be defeat
ed at the North were it to "adopt the af.
irmstive on the question of negro suf-
frsge" We are sstonished that an old
auti-slsVery man like Msj. Plumb, who has
opposed slavery in the face off violent and
frequent abusive msjority who havs favor
ed ii, and who has seen his cherished prin-
ciples at last triumphant, should be 60 Tim
orous and fearful in regard to the new
issue, SO distrustful of the progress of
Northern sentiment against slavery in
all shapes, and so ready 10 mistake partial
and temporary for complete and final
sasaor Wa Do Mt .haIio-o
the Union party would lose q single State,
or a single Congressional district, by max.
ing negro suffrage the issue of the coming
elections. But ven if it should meet with
partial losses, these defeats would be better
for the party and for the country than sue
cess with no gain of principle.
2. The time to settle the negro suffrage
question is NOW. Delays, always danger.
Gus, wouldin this case be fatal. With the
Presidents plan for reconstrucsing the rebel
States in full operation, with State after
State rapidly preparing to g the
with the prospect that before a
twelvemOnth has passed delegations from
every once rebelliOus State will be knock.
for admission at the door of Congress
It is msnifect that TO postpone the demand
Tor Re~gro. suffrage is to abandon it forever.
And not only SO, but 1t is daily becoming
more evident, from the tone and temper of
he South, that unless we insist on negro
as a condition precedent of re-
admission to power, the Union, as we'll as
ne liberty of the e~msncip4ted blacks, will
% placed in hazard. Let us not then post
oOne the question of negro suffrage to in.
ure the death of slavery. Let US rather
insist upon it as the only sure means of Sc.
ing the death of slavery and the safety +
2 A a TTnion !