The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-08-14

deep seated hatred q - uppIG SfsAs NIsth
md to the Federal III and &c ref 1lion
itself is but too cor siy proof ~ the1 sue
oess. Our uitpph1&t SetoE. 6ler tn il
he military c6fe6st tSlosed kas IS1essa.
lily and naturally stil1 tho embittered their
hatred towards us md 49, onion; and theil
now il not that Of consent, bui
Of necessity. Ten u not UdB n IA; bur d
81 rek1sks n tie rebellioul
States Many .thssa. lava bsen forced ipte
the rebellion, and have co-operated with i
Only - fhr ~ they have been compelled 70 d
SO, aMd still retainl their love for the Union
and desire for fellowship with the people 81
the North. These latter are the exceptions
and not the rule "a 10 IS
Can the Government safely or wisely en-.
trust the control of sovereign States 20 thi.
subiaested, rebelIious majority, which would
certainly take possession Of and control them
if left alone to the white population there
Does not the peace and safety of our Union
demand that the political power in those
States shall be exercised and controlled BY
others than the majority referred to ? If the
ordinary sagacity and Judgment Of every loyn
man, would not, unaided, give negative an
swer to both these questions, certain it is,
that even less than such ordinary agacity and
Judgment, would, with the little experience
we have already had, unerlngly SO respond.
Where can the Federal Government look
for the means with which to preserve its own
sovereignty and control those State Govern.
ments in subordination to its paramount au.
thority, except to the negroes there? ] m.
swer without fear of contradiction, no schere'
The African race-the denizsns of the South
n Al. IL,
means You may ask, can they be relied
upon7 / answer that the sagacity, wisdom
and fidelity of the black race, which has ena-
bled them, without single exception or err,
ror, 10 discover and serve our national interest
in the military contest, will enable then, to
discover and serve the right in political con-
test That devotion to our cause which has
stimulated the negroes Of the South, Ut the
peril Of their own lives, to conceal, feed and
guide our starving soldiers in their efforts to
escape from the vile, infamous and barbarous
prison pens of the South. is a guarantee oil
their fidelity to our cause now. That skill
and bravery which has characterized their use
of bullets against our enemies, ought to be
received as sufficient proof of their ability thus
to use the ballot also. The ..poor white
trash" Of the South were easily led int<
arms bearing against the Government: but
the enslaved African could neither be led MOI
driven into acts of hostility TO us. -
1t is sometimes said by the opponents o.
negro suffrage, that the negroes would vote
just as their masters or employers would die
tate. This is Preciseiy tie same oryssneal
used by the same men, against extending tn
right Of suffrage to soldiers. They told us
that the soldiers would vote just IS their
officers should dictate. The same men re-
sisted soldier suffrage y on the same ground
as they resist negro suffrage They re-
sisted il in the Legislature and in the Courts,
and being defeated in both, they gratifed
their malice by charging that the soldiers
were Lincoln hirelings, and were controlled
in their voting by their officers. And yet
these same men are now seeking to work
upon the supposed prejudices of the soldiers
against the negroes, and thereby secure the
cooperation OF the slandered with the slam
derers. | rejoice in knowing that the sagaei-
ty of soldiers will discover the trick, and that
you did not oppose soldier suffrage, and in
the hope that careful review of the whole
question will convince you of your duty no,
to oppose negro suffrage.
The answer to this specious and stale argu-
ment may be found in the fact that while
these very negroes were in actual slavery.
and therefore within the complete power o,
their masters, they dared to and did act in
direct opposition to their masters wishes
sometimes doing it openly, but generally un-
der cover of that peculiar African deception,
cultivated by and resulting from slavery
which enables them to appear to obey their
masters, when they are really acting for the
right and in opposition to their masters will.
That daring and skill which enabled them.
against the wish of their masters. to serve the
right in our military contest, will, | have nc
doubt, enable them to fearlessiy serve the
right in our political contests. As between
the negroes, who refused obedience to rebel
masters, and the miserable hirelngs who
yielded obedience to rebel orders for starving
our loyal prisoners. give my voice and vote
for the right of suffrage to the former instead
OF TO the latter. Do you differ with me in
this
But the extension of the right of suffrage to
the negroes IS necessity, not only for the
wise and safe government of the rebellious
States, but also in order to protect ourselves
and the Federal Union. By the abolition ef
slavery, the Electoral and Congressional rem
resentation of those States will be increased
eighteen. This occurs from the fact that the
same persons, who, as slaves, were renre-
sented as three to Ave, are to be, az freemen.
represented as five to i've. And hence Che
same Southern votes will possess that addi-
tional power, without casting single add
tional vote, and to that extent a Southern
voter will possess and exercise a greater pow.
er than Northern voter. With this additi-
tlonal power, they can, by the help of few
Northern votes in Congress, control its &C.
ton.
AS soon as they can control Congressional
q aftnv, Will IL i
our war debt, which, in the shape Of 'sseven-
thirties," is held almost exclusively by the
loyal people of the North Or. tpos.
slbly, and, they will assume the rebel war
debt, which is largely held by the institutions
and people Of the South.
ILL., As to duty. Our Goyernment has. az
q means necessary to secure its triumph over
the rebellion, emsncipated the slaves in the
rebellious States. This act has, of itself. not
oniy increased the hatred Of the slsvehelders
toward the Government, but it has made
them hate the slaves themselves and the
loyal conduct OF the slaves has 30 intensified
That hatred, that they seize every opportunity
Tor the manifestation of their yindictiveness
toward them.
Now, while the institution of slavery is the
embodiment of all villainy, it vet has one
colorado redeeming quality. and that is. the
masters would look after and secure, to q Ger.
lam al, extent, the health and physical comfortof
lneir slaves, and would protect them from
violence oy others. This, Of course. Was the
result OF interest, not charity. This inferred
g now destroyed by the act of our Govern.
nent and the negroes are trithom ann Drofec.
hon. 1t rs, therefore, the duty of the Gov.
to secure protection for them. Sncb
protection r can only be secured by giving to
hem "the ballot" With the right Of snf,