The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1865-07-12
The Presidential Policy ON Me-
gro Suffrage.

& s 3ssl gro SuUfaSes
81 We have said that the whole and
undivided energy of the people
ought to be5directed to the sustaining
Of the President in the reorganiza.
tionsof the lately rebellious States,
and this belief leads US to deplore
that already positions are taken by
public men tending to- hinder all
President Johnson's labor 1T the very
outset Of his great mission While
this is to be seriously regretted, il at
sthessame time should weakenno hon
est mans faithin the ultimate success
of the cause Of harmonious Union. e
Now that the war is over, many
men South and North think it is time.
to resume the disc ussion Of subjects
which it was the sincere hope Of the
people had been buried BY the war.
Having elected Mr.. johnson s to the
Vice Presidency, and consequently
stothe Presidency an attempt is max.
ing at the very outset, to overbalance
his wisdom, force him from his path
and thWart his designs in the recon
.struction cfour political fabric. Those.
who throw obstacles in the way Of
reconstruction are endangered popu.I
lar peace and risking more than we.
can afford to lose, NE donot want
to see azrenewal Of that tone inpoliti-
cal discussion which brought about
the state Of affairs which necessitatesl
reconstruction.
These efforts here and at the North
will fail. The sense Of the people,
after the suffering Of the past four
years; after the blood that has been
shed aid the treasure that has been
expended; after the victory that has
crowned our cause, will check and
render futile any policy tending to g
continuation Of the discussion which
mainly led to the rebellion.
While we deplore this attempt to
create4division in the ranks of those
who fought for and won the Union,
we also have the highest confidence
in President Johnson's ability to
carry through his just and rational
| policy. He will be supported by the
trusty, strong men Of the whole coun-
try, who are not to be led off on the
oretical and pseudo philanthropieal
IDEAS which are untimcly and imprac,
ticable.
BY supporting negro suffrage at
this particular juncture, and before
the Presidents policy was thorong.
! " understood twas hoped to, shape
| his opinions and raise party which
The could not afford todispise. We
have reason to know, however, and
we state the fact broadly, that the
/ President has a fixed policy on the
matter, and that he will be as little
subservientto the mad passions Of
4 sectional party now as he has here.
1 tofore been when dealing with ques-
/ tons which rise 10 national impor,
lance. On one occasion, referring t.
the purely partisan and fanaticaI as
| pect ii which extremists, both North
1 South, viewed all measures, be said
thatsif any one should introduce the
4 Ten Commandments Or the lords
/ Prayer into Congress, a negro would
j be discovered in the one, OF evasion
Of the rights ofthe South in the 9th
4 er, The same just sense Of the val
i .ue of fanatical or extreme views ane
4 advice guides and aett,ates him to
1day. He cannotssee Whytbe lnegfe
/ must be introduced again as an ad
1 diticnal. disturbance Of the already
!. sorely RESPONSIBILITIES Of the PEG
pie. He sees no jUtice and declares e
i there is no reason in it; Fence ~
! will not recognize as he cannot lie
lceiye il. His sense Of duty is al
right rigorous as his thoughts art
q vital and vigorous. He will no
4 distract himself Or the people By en-
4 coutaying. doctrines totally at var
D lance with experience and precedent
q President johnson holds that the
3 freedom Of the negro does not imply
Ills right to vote; more especially il
Hit ridiculous to give the right ofssuf
|frage to millions Of negroes in tn
transition state from total darkness
and servitude into the path of>inde
/, pendent labor. He wisely and fair.
thinks thatif intelligent foreigner
have to undergo probation Of fv
years before they can exercise th
right of voting as citizens If the I'm
ted States, that it is certainly un
wise to place such a power in th
hands of a negro just emancipate
and utterly untutored. Moreover
| the Free States indicate to PYesiden
johnson the course to be pursued. /
Ithem freedom is not another name fo
universal suffrage to the negroes
j, Freedom, then, is what the Presideu
], told the negroes it would be il th
3, South--the freedom to work and |;
Ibor under the dictates of their ow
q wantsor DESTROYS. On the subjec
the President is comprehensive an