The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1865-08-09
From the Cincinnati Commercial
IMPORTANT DOCUMENT.
THE ODERIIN LETTER OF GEN. COX.
HEOPPosEsNEGROsUFFRAGE
AS THE CASE STANDS.
Advocates the Separation of the
Races.
OBERLIN, July 81, 1866.
GeneralJ d. Cor:

General j. d. Cor:
DEAR SIR:-The people of this place,
with entire unanimity, sought your nomlna,
ton for Governor OF Ohio. With equal
unanimity We desire to promote your cleo
tion. We rcjoiced in your nomination be-
cause we bad perfect confidence that yeur
views and sympathies were in harmony with
our own on the great issue before us-the
equality OF all men before the law. We still
believe We were not mistaken. But some
of us have been startled by report, coming
directly from Warren, to the effect that you
are opposed to giving the elective fran
chise to colored people, and that you reques-
ted the editor q the Chronicle to publish
your views on the subject, that you might
not lose the support OF Union men IN the
southern part OF the State. We do not
credit the rumor, and yet 1t has SO disturb
ed some of your warmest supporters, that
the undersigned have been requested to ad-
dress you on the subject.
We want to know, directly from you,
your views on the following subjects:
1st. Are you in favor OF modifying our
Constitution so as to give the elective iran
chise to colorrd men?
I'd. In the. reorganization of the should
the elective franchise be secured to colorcd
people?
Among us there is but one opinion on
this subject, and VIC were never more III
earnest on any political question. We be-
lieve that the distinction made 10y our Con
stitution between white and c0lored people
was made in the interest Of slavery, and Is
both wicked aud absurd. And We believe
that to reconstruct the Southern States, and
admit them with Constitutions excluding
colored men from the polls, would give the
country and the negro into the power OF the
very men who have sought and still desire
to ruin the one and enslave the other.
Deliver the four millions Of freed people
into the hands of their former oppressors
now embitteIcd by their defeat, and they
will make their condition worse than before.
The Copperheads of the North, with the
united South, would gain control Of the
General Government, and in various ways
would hanass and suppress the negroes and
their friends leyond endurance. A war OF
races would be likely to result. If, asa ma
ton, we can be so wicked as to deliver our
colored soldiers, and the millions whose free
dom we are pledged to maintain, into the
power of the most cruel and vindictive peo-
pie that ever laid claim to civilization, ter
E:ll 80, II ,,+;,,> ,,;lI ,,.,;+ n, Wo eunaL
rlble retrlbution VIII await Us. we ~ SiIIeah ai,
strongly that you may Aho" NO" VIC ioei oi'
the SUBJECT. c,
II 1t be Said 'tat me negroes o. .i'c nnu.h e'I
are ignorant and nunt for the Giec'iVe ifaal- an
chlSG, we answer; grant IL, nut M tIlls mas
nothing to do with the question, Our ,i. co.,
ored soldiers VINO nave iGughI three years
Tor the Cmon are not OF TINS r' clasS' nor are e
those VINO nave arrays nGeh iTee, many VI
whom nave amasSed wealtn. II ls .o[ 1sii 'aeIJ
we ask the elective llansn,Se g. ] h ~ n,'oto tha
take year, or two or three 10 prepaaTTe paT me ne
mass to vote, We would pc content. 1hough
We believe our free INSTITUTIONS Woulu ne sa-