New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-01-19
Negro Suffrage.

'HCA't Jhu. . tC""'
70 he Editor Of The Missouri Democrat:
Let me borrow hand's-breadth OF your
space 20 cay from a distance 10 your constitutional
Convention what several gentlemen IN 81 LOUIS desired
ne TO tarIy and say by word OF mouth
The Convention has q novel prerogative-to rnrke n
rev constitution, which, when made. Is net TO DO SUD
nitted TO the people put 70 90 INTO hs
subject to no Tribunal Of revision or rejection but the
Convention is instructed by the people TO perform three
autes-fTst TO emaucipee the saN es seeonu' " eis
franchise the Rebels third. 10 ofdan Whht ese Inc
Inblic good requires AS to emancipation and dsfran
-ehsement only one sentiment tand that Ilght on.
prevails As TO what else the public good requires IN
rate glands wide open 10 suggestions. old or new
Iventure concerning snhrage-a SUBJECT you arc
sow debating. Gre te halo! 10 all Eao can Teae ana
<np IL TO al CANNOT! 1t IS strange that thls piopo
stop-approYed, as it is by every Wise mans pil,ae
sonyction-is so generally omitted from the pubic law
Democratic government Is grounded on the lheilgeDee
Of the people. Every voter IL legislator Tor every
other The theory, therefore, il that the voter ipnst
cast an intelligent vote But what shall be the emitting
measure OF nelgencet Let IL be the lowest measure
consistent with the public safety What this lowest
measured II who could net read was once count
Cd ft for an English king let man who can rcud be
counted TT Tor an American NOtcT lhs 10 iIe slnpes'
easiest and best OF tests.
What Is lie practical value TO your ConvontIon' 1t
Affords beautiful just and equitable disposition o your
disputed point Of negro suffrage. asked the radicals
IN 81. Louis, "Wi ycu permit black men who hght
for the Union 10 vote for the Uniont . MOI" sara
shey; the blacks are too ignorant" " 1on are DOT
opposed then 20 negro suffrage because the negro Is
black, but because he is ignoTantf' They answered
when the negro knows bow TO- vote we WIN fiye him
vote tin he knows how. Nor sh0u4 the rhite
DENY the ballot to both 80 long they cannot read
rive IL TO both as they learn. Today in Nilsson
81 more phis tlan blacs unable 20 read. TO grant
Che ballot TO these ignorant whites and deny TO these
ignorant blacks il caprice Of prejudice. Grant
N 10 neither till they II by alphabet and spelling
book On the other band, 10 deny negro suffrage en-
tirey-to say for instance 10 black man who Is intel
iigent and thrifty " You may pay taxes on twenty
thousand dollars earnings but you shall not have Q
vote this violates the diviney ord aimed democracy
Of mankind. and is an afront 10 Him who Is no to
Spacter Of persons" -,
Ia negro outrage untried novelty, that IL shouit
be feared Not at all. Many years ago Maryland ana
Gorth Carolina their free negroes to the polls
few DAYS ago Gra,z Brown told you truly that except
for The negro vote 10 Newhork State. The celamii,
called BoratiO Seymour would have been repeated al
Shs last election. believe with Frederick Douglass
that "if negro knows much when sober as an lIsh
man Sken drulk, be knows enough to vote" There Is
no reason WHY your State should not now receive the
nobcst Of political constitutions Slch basis OF sui
fage would command the assent and admiration Of the
world. Rendering impartial justice TO all classes u
would crown ts makers with everlasting remembrance
Now IL the golden hour for Missouri Let not her Con
senton tarnsb their opportunity by any stain OF III
Justice and inequality Faithfully yours
ChienSo Jas, . 1865 THEODORE TILTOg