The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-10-20
Benefits OfNegrO suffrage Urged.

agree
First, To recognize the supreme uuthoriiy
Of the Government Of the United Slutes.
within the sphere Of ih power, and ths
right % protect itself against disiuieg-ation
by the secession Of the States.
And. second. You must recognise the
abolition Of slavery, aud the rlshi OF those
who have been slaves b the privileges and
protection Of the law OF the land
Prom What / can see, this much viii Be
required As the .easi that would Be likely 10
satisfy the 65vernnent, sud secure 10 you
the benefits Of civil government, and the
admission 81 your members into the Congress
ot the United States.
But even this may fail in ihs attainment
OF these ends, unless provision shall be
made by the new State Govern ment for eon-
ierring the elective franchise on the former
slaves And present appearsncet Indicate
that this VIII be required BY northern pub
lie sentiment and By Congress Aud our
people are ina no condition % disregard thai
opinion or power with safety. But I am
per uaded you may satisfy both without
iurther injury to yourselves than has al.
ready occurred. II you can dothis. and So.
cure TO yourselves liberty, the protection of
the Constitution and the laws Of the United
States and the right q locsl self governments
NA ia AE- AANAF AnLAtMaNN UUlaLl many NIMnH
conquered people have been. The Govern
ment and the people Of the northern states
viii, have no doubt, recognize the neces.
sity Of your securing these blessings. a. inn
portant 90 the whole country, as q mcens Of
preserving 70 It constitutional liberty and
the present form Of republican Government
This is new language to employ IN ad-
dressing you, and VIII Be aI unWelcome 10
you as 10 is sorrowful TO me. But ID would
be more than FOLLY, it would be a great
crime for YOU, and ] aud those whe may be
charged with the duty Of recognizing and
restoring the State % the Union. 90 refuse
% recognizize the facts Of your situation,
however disagreeable, and 70 speak Of and
deal with them with candor snd directness.
Wisdom requires Us 70 accept the decis-
ION Of battle upon tie issues involved, aud
20 be thankful that no more has been de-
manded by the conqnerors, and 20 unite
frankly, aud as cheerfully as we can with
the Government, in carrying out she policy
il has propounded. Some af dur noople
seem stiH to think they can retain their
property and their slaves, under the an
thority Of the Const tuition and laws Of the
United States. If the question had been
originally submitted 10 the courts Of the
country, instead Of to the trial Of battle, this
might have been the esse. But we are rot
now permitted 10 claim the protection Of
the Governments which we rerudmted and
fought against, unless by its consent.
II says, % the great mass Of our people,
you may retain your property, except your
slaves. They are row free And unless
you agree 20 this You can neither get back
into the Government us citizens. nor into
its courts 10 assert your claims TO slaves or
suy other species Of property. The only
wise and safe course for yea to pursue is 70
accept promptly, urrsservedly. and IN good
faith, the terms and policy oferfd and tl
20 forward IN the work of reorganization
and restoration % the Union. This REQUIRES
your assent % great pecuniarv sscriecs.
momenious changes in our social and indus
trail system, and a surrender of your opin-
ions and p-eiudioes on most important
questions. It's humb'ing 10 our self-esteem,
humiliatng to our pride, and cannot De
more unwelcome TO you than it is painful 90
me to foeI that duty requires me 20 give and
you to accept this advice. 10 is net that
sort Of advice which per 0us sometimes give
but do nos accept for themselves. lt is FOR
me and nine az we'll as ior YOU and yours.
To the conterring Of the elective frsu-
chise on your former slaves I anticipate
stubborn and sincere opposition, based on
the ignorance Of the greet mass Of them.
and on their total want Of Information aud
experience IN matters Of legislation, admin
istration aud everything which pertains %
ths science Of gIvernmeni and un0n the
pride of race. And this objection NAV Be
sustained by pointing 90 the examples of
Mexico, aud Of the Central American and
South American States, where, by the en-
franchiscment Of the Indians and the ne
gr0cs, and all others, without reference 30
race or mental or moral fitness fir the exsr-
etzn If fhaaa ranrowafhHa rf~Hfa d. -.
been deprived Of the blessings Of peace
order and good governments, and involved
in an almost uninterrupted series OF was
and revolutions, often Of chs most cruel and
barharous character, for more than half q
century, with no prospect Of an ameliora-
ton OF improvement Of their condition.
But these difficulties are nst inauperable.
ID you meet them With patience and reason.
have no doubt you can adOpta plan which
viii fully meet the demands Of Justice and
fairness aud satisfy the Northern mind, and
the requirements 0f the 6overnmeuI, with
ont endsngering good govsrnmeuis and the
rcpose Of society This can be done BY.
''First, Extending the privileges and pro-
lection Of the laws over negroes as they are
over the whites aud allowing them 10 testi-
fy in the courts on the same conditions.
leaving their testimony subject DO The rules
relating to its credibility; but n0t objectng
TO is admissibihty. Add N this YOU viii
conform With the wise current Of modern
legislation, and the tendency Of al judicial
decisions iu all enlightened countries.
and Second, BY fixing an Intellectual
aud m0rll, and ifthought necessary, q prop
erty test for the admission of ell persons %
the exercise Of the elective franchise, with
out reference b race or color, wh.ch would
secure its Intelligent exercise"
Ny own view would be-
First, That no person nor entitled b. The
privilege Of voting should be deprived af L
because Of any new test. I would reoog-
Mise IN this the difference between taking
away a right not heretofore exercised.
Second, That 10 authorize tha admission
Of persons hereafter 20 the exercise Of the
elective fnachise, they should BE-, first.
malssi second, tWeuiy-Une vea-s OF age.
lkird, citizeas Of the United States, foarlh J,
should have resided in the STATE one year.
and ln The district, c0uniy or pfocinct, SIX
months next preceding any election, a.
which they propose % vote; aithf should bo
able % read io the kngliah lansuage under.
siandiugiFi a1tal aud must have paid Il res
ior the last year preceding Tor which such
taxes were due aud payable. sabject ~ any
disqualification ior cIime, Of which the per-
son may have been duly convicted. whioh
may be prescribed by lsw
The adoptian oftheae measures, IN addi-
ton 20 those before mentioned, would 10
my Judgment, meet She ends 81 justice and
fairness. secure the rs-esia tiishneuf of tha
S ate goverumenf, The admiasion of harssn-
ators and Representative Ia Coneress. -the
suspension 81 military rule. and he rssio-
ration Of civil, cQustiuional and lcai soif
governments And t would a. more Ia
would secure your pr9taciion a4ainst ofhc-
great 3ae pending eFi.s and a. { arn per.
suaaea, o. me greatest Consequences - vour
iulare peaeei prosperity and happinass.
4il-i--it Fs1ld iem0Fe an ilst grounds
Of ania8onism and hostility between ~.
wniie and black races. Unless this a don.
endless strife and bitterness II feeling rnusf
eharaete ise ihsiT relations, ana an history
ana human experience teach us must. aoei-
eF or later rssult Ia q war of racas. We
hoN know, from sad experiences, what war IL
between equa snd eniightcaad people.
nAt Ct al wsrs, . social var Of races j. the
most relentless and erueli The eztsrnina-
t!qn' or expulsion nom the country, OF eu-
aiaFemeni Of ole OF the othar. beiar lfa IN
evitahle end where thev are len = ihem-
selves, o. the loss Of liberty 10 both races
where they arr an subject b. the control q
a superior power. which would Be- cur s.ila-
t1n- / speak, % coufse, ol the legal rishi.
and status Of The tEo racear 4heir social
felsiiona are Iaattors of iasts and eaoicei ana
nqi aub'eci q legislative reputation
nlcQad-this eource Woal4 aiiafil ana pas
"a end % Interstate, seasonal, political az
itliicu, On this subject, a. least Whicl has
been the special curse oi our country i9r sa
manv venfs- and which vas the caaae of he
rruin, isred wees 20 have Tacaufiy eEpsri-
s1csi snd aiili sufer. BY dePriving he aei-
tators ola salisct on winch 81 keep nn slch
az aeitafio1, and ef tie means 81 produrirr
i.al5usr. suimoslty, snd hatred teiuesu ~
different parts q ihe coguiry, aud bstuesr
the different rlccs. Aud this rouid H.
maeh toward he rsasEal q he uleisHi rs-