New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-07-11
QUER "

exclusively "White Mans Government -
SO, in its late Address, says the Democratic
National Association Of the District OF Co.
lumbia. BY this, we suppose, the Association
means to declare that colored suffrage is con-
trary to the spirit Of our institutions" ne
groes" being, as we are further informed, " SO
greatly inferior as race to the Whites, that
they would lower tho standard Of average intel
ligcnce if permitted to interminge." This is
sheer opinion and, within its province, this
Washington Association is at liberty to act
upon It's opinion. If it thinks that 1.-THE
average intelligence Of it, own body would be
lowered by the admission Of Blacks-we don't
it has to say 80 r perfect right; though we do
not see how that standard could be made
lower'sby any possible change. But, leaving
the Association to Judge of the qualifications of
its own members, we deny its authority to
speak for the United States Of America. 1t
may think that suffrage should be denied to all
men with long noses-to all men under five feet
in hght-to all men unable to >cOnstrue q
chapter in the Hebrew Bbe-tO all men not
members Of the Democ' a'ic National Ass0ca-
ton of the District Of ,lumba-to eli men
who have not one hundred thousand dollars in
vested in real ostate-to all men who remain
unmarried after the age of thrty-to all men
who are deaf, or dumb or blind--to all men who
smoke tobacco, or to all men who do not drink
whisky. But this would be merely its opinion,
its whim, its notion, its eccentrcity, and
nothing more or better can DO said OF its die.
tum against Black Suffrage. Its talk about
Lowering the standard Of average intelligence"
is sheer assumption, and without any founda'
ton either in the Declaration of Independence,
the Constitution, or the experience of those
States in which colored men have for years been
allowed to vote. l. "the standard OF average
intelligence" any lower in Massachusetts, where
blacks have voted for years, than il ia in South
Carolina whore they have not voted at ALI At
any comparison of that kind, Massachusetts
would he ready to show her hand upon call
Iu fixing the political status Of different
classes, We hold that the chief authority should
be the fundamental law of the Republic. We
prefer the opinion OF Thomas Jefferson TO that
of the District of Columbia club. lie declared
it TO be self-evident that governments derive
their just powers from the consent of the gov
erned." He published the sacred and eternal
assertion, although he knew and with grief
often admitted that the practice Of his own
beloved Virginia was very far behind its abstract
professions. He trusted that time and the
public sense Of justice would soon reconcile
.i. M l;uh do
mails of his benevolent theory. He would not
believe that the American people could long
insult the God Of Justice by legalizing a cruel
and shameful crime. He gave in his mighty
doctrine as precious legacy, and deemed the
day not far distant when all difficulties would
be overcome and all discrepancies abatcd. He
uttered 40 such ridiculous proposition as that
governments derive their just powers from the
consent of White Men" He knew that such a
! limitation would be q substantial concession Of
the whole question, and virtual surrender Of
the whole Democratic theory. lie little
thought how grossly his protested disciples
would take his name in vain.
Between suffrage supreme over the acct
dents of birth, station and estate, and an abso-
! lutte monarchy, there is morally no hating
ground The right must rest upon the simple
humanity of every human being. There always
have been and there always will be limitations
Of this right, but TO be just they must be con-
sistent Bygeneral consent, the right of voting
Is confined to men-we stop there, nor do we
say, call men may yote--and all women with
red hair" So if u property qualification be in
troduced, it will not do to say: All white men
worth $4,000 may vote, but no black man
shall vote who il not worth 100000. So if
you make reading and writing test, what right
have you to drive from the polls acolored man who
possesses that qualification What is wanted
is the most substantial equality which is con.
sstcnt with the safety of the principles; 60 that
all exceptions to universal suffrage should, in n
manner, be for the preservation of universal
suffrage itself. Then, fregistry be required to
prevent double Voting, no man who neglects to
register can complain If his ballot be refused;
and the same principle may, perhaps, DO applied
TO the payment of any small tax which the
person upon whom it is assessed Is clearly able
to pay. There may be sensible restrictions, and
there may be silly ones, and among the latter,
if not something worse, We reckon the establish.
mont Of disabilities which 1t is utterly out of the
power of the person disfranohissd to overcome.
TO SAY that man shall never however hs NAV