The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-22

The Dostsn Radicals Once Moro - Negrs
suHrage-Their Lecture % Presiaens
JOHNSON.
We make room In our columns to-day for
what Is called letter, but which is, we may
more properly call, . lecture from The Boston
Board of Trade TO President johnson on the
subject of negro suffrage in connection with
the reconstruction and restoration d the late
rebellious States In looking over he list Of
the signers of this manifesto, we infer 1t is the
work of the same parties who got up and did
the work of the late Faneuil Hall negro
suffrage meeting. These Boston traders in cod
fish and spectators in stocks and cotton, it
will be observed, address the President inia
very patronizing way, and undertake to in
struct him upon this thing of negro suffrage as
an act of charity to poor, bewildbred man
cropping about in the dark.
Having spent all his life, including long,
active and eminently useful public career,
under the institution Of Southern slavery, and
having as devotedly loyal Southern man, in
the midst of Southern traitors, fought through
the late terrible war, from the beginning to the
end of the rebellion, and its moving cause.-the
| institution of slavery-the American people
generally believe that Andrew johnson knows
as well how to deal with the difficulties before
him in this great task Of Southern reconstruc-
ton as any other man in all the world. The
abolition fanatics however, including this
Boston Board Of Trade, are evidently satisfied
that President johnson is a perfect ignoramus
touching the past and present relations exist
ing between the white and black races of the
South, and hence this special letter of
instructions defining the line Of policy which
he is called upon to pursue. He, in
their superior judgment, is all wrong IN bis re-
construction programme in reference to negro
suffrage; and they, therefore, have deemed it
prudent to spare the time required for their
| daily avOcations in goldfish rum, molasses and
| cotton to set him right. Their main purpose,
they say, is to request sufficient delay in final
settlement in the mode of reconstruction "until
| the country, North and South, is better pre-
pared than it now can be to determine wisely
and safely the various questions presented,
especially in the matter of suffrage" In other
words these Boston traders have made for
tunes from the war, and they are still coming
money from the present political condition of
the South resulting from the war, and they
have, moreover from the rebellion secured q
footing of political power which they are fear
| full of losing with the restoration of the late
rebel States, and so they plead the safety of
delay.
| And what is their argument? They contend
tina. the cmancipated blacks of the South are
fairly entitled to the suffrage; that this right
Of theirs cannot be justly turned over to the
disloyal Southern whites, giving them double
the political power which they will otherwise
possess; that such inequality will not be en-
dured In the North and West; that it will be a
dangerous concession, especially in regard to
our great debt" which the late insurgent
Southern whites must feel, "not as burthen
only, but burthen q thousand fold heavier
because Il was incurred for their defeat;'
that justice is always the most cxpedient thing
we can do; tina. hereafter we shall need the
ballots of tho Southern blacks as much as we
have needed their bullets that we must
beware of leaving 10 the future "abiding
aud disastrous conflicts and probable convul-
sion;" thai delay and negro suffrage, as the
| FIRST essential 10 Southern restoration, are i'm
peraiivcly demanded and that, in the mean
time. the States directly concerned ought to be
kept under the restraints of military power,
sitter the fashion Of . subjugated foreign
people
This il the reconstruction programme which
ths Boston Board Of Trade advises President
Johnson must be substituted for that which be
has adopted Ii he desires to DO successful.
few words, we think, viii dispose of this pre-
| cious bal Of Boston radical impudence. Prcsi
dent yohnson's restoration policy gives gene
raj satisfaction 10 the country. II is working
well In the South. and satisfactorily TO thu
great body OF the people of the North. II
giving employment 10 the Southern politician
II Ia developing the actual state Of Southern
public opinion. which II il desirable TO know
Moreover, M the President, according to Gen
crsi Schenck, has declared that these restora
ton movements are experiments, and that the,
will be subjected 10 Me closest tests of loyalt.
a. they 20 on, aud, finally, an they must b.
passed upon by the two houses OF Congress
State by state. before any of them can be re
cognizcd under thck new organization, we ar
puzzled 10 account Cor all this Boston uproa
upon this disturbing question Of negro suffrage
There IL neither rhyme nor reason In thi
ciamor; but II Ia full Of the combustibles o
another roaring sectional negro agitation, me
nacing war Of races aud the complete dcpor
ulstion and dc.olation Of the South, in fil6
mrnt NJ the radical abolition programme Of re
construction.
These Boston traders recognize the blessing
Of military government over the Soutl
although Il involves the continued reign {
military authority oil over the country. The
find H. perhaps. - good for their trade as 70