The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-07-21
THE UNION &c JOURNAL,

recognition Of foreign governments rs possesseu
Of be,ligcrcnt rights, cxtorting the same from
our own, continued the contest until their ar.
mics were destroyed or captured, their country
oyerrup, their resources exhausted, and they
were utterly powcrless to ofier further resist.
ance. II certainly Was not by forco OF any
moral influence, nor by any treaty, they were
induced to cease the contest. but BY sheer iorce
of arms III they could have reinforced anu
subsistcd their armies, who doubts that instead
OF celebrating this anniversary OF the nations
birth in peace. we should still have been en-
gagged in fragrant war, the thunder OF cannon
rolling over the land. and death on the battle
field rcsping his desolating harvest:
Assuming, then, that the nation Is the prop
or arbit.r Of this question OF suffrage in the re-
yolted States, one test naturally suggests itself
10 every mind, whether applied to white or
black. That should be furnished by answer to
the questions: Is the person seeking to exer.
else the right, loyalf and has he been loyst to
the nation during the war.
So far as regards the whites OF the South, tits
very clear that loyalty was but rare virtue
among them. Not 81 with the black race. The
concurrent testimony Of the army Of the Union
in whatever quarter operating, II distinct,
clear. and uncontra,licted, that the blacks were
in all places and at all times our friends. Our
soldiers escaping from the rebel charnel houses
at Andersonvile and Salisbury, trusted their
lives with undoubting confidence to the hands
Of the poor negroes. and were never betrayed.
They fed; they guided; they rescued those fi-
gitives from death. How often did the South.
ern ,rhites give them even "a cup of cold
watery" The fidelity and kindness ot the
blacks 10 our suffering soldiers flying from the
inhuman barbaraities Of their masters, viii
ever stand in bold relief o bright page in their
history, making more infamous by contrast the
- hal IN nur
no. by these Offices alone. rendered by stealth
and ut the peril Of their lives, that the coored
men earned thsfght to be regarded rs loyal!
Stepping boldly forth in the spirit OF genuine
manhood, they entered the ranks VI the ma
tional army. brayely daring all the legitimate
dangers Of war, and the still greater peril aris
ing from the ferocious spirit OF their masters
as illustrated Mt Fort Pillow. The sutierings
and services of the blacks In the army have no,
been surpassed by any Of their associates; anu
II they have not been suci rs to earn the risn.
OF citizenship for themselves and their race.
is difficult to discover by what title 10 can be
claimed. The President Of the United states,
with great wisdom and maguanimity, by his
recent proclamation has released large numbers
of rebels from the pains and penalties legally
attaching to their conduct; but can this act 81
pardon make them better citizens than those
who have never offended, but always sustained
tnat II should not bestow upon these condoned
rebels the right to demand exclusion from clti-
,enship of men who never reyolted against its
authority. That loyalty which rests for its
proof upon letters. patent under the great seal
of the Upi,el States, contrasts but poorly with
that which has sealed its fidelity with blood.
To allow their masters, whose hands are red
with the blood Of their murdered countrymen,
and their hearts filed with III suppressed rage
and hate towards the Government they failed
10 destroy, to resume at once their political
RIGHTS and relations, and to remit to the guard
ianship Of these men the liberties aud fran
chscs of the colored loyalsts depriving them
of all potential voice in framing the laws ny
which thoy are 10 be governed, and by which
they should be protected. the faulty Of which
would be eQualled only by its infamy, and an
infamy which has itself no parallel in the an e
nails OF mankind. II to the slave We have given
liberty without the power Of protecting II, q
situation more abect and remediless than that
of This race cannot be conceived. While the
revolted States are held, rs they now are by
the President, in allegiance, their powers sus-
pended, II will be within the scope OF the ma.
tional authority to provide for the wants OF
the freedman, which have been alluded to.
In n comparatively brief period the objection
of ignorance as dsqualifying him (Which would
be equally good against all complexions) would
be removed, and he become trained to an intel
ligenl exercise Of the functions OF citizenship.
Thus much and solely as relates to the per-
sonal condition and interest OF the freedman.
There are numberless other considerations at-
ect nc the welfare Of the nation, which de-
mand the policy of allowing the negro to vote.
His emancipation increases the political power
of the South. The exercise Of this power, II
limited to those who have held II exclusively
heretofore, will but strengthen the hands OF
those who sought to destroy the Government.
The rebellion has thrust upon the nation an
enormous load of debt, requiring heavy taxa
ton TO preserxe the national faith Reconstruct
. ted rebels would feel but little repugnance to
repuriiate debt they would allege to have
been create in the prosecution ut an unconsti-
tutional war for their subiugation. Failing to
repudiate the debt Of the ultion they would en-
deayor To foist upon IL portion of the Con.
federate debt which has so largely swallowed
the property ofthe suth. Preposterous MS such
a proposition would be, II contains too large
an element Of. and too fertile resource for,
corruption To be contemplated without alarm.
The safety Of this country demands large in
fusion Of loyal voters in that section where the
disloyal SO largely preponlerate. The people
of the United States, with a magnanimity un-
eaualled in any age or country will not invoke.
even upon leading criminals, the punishment
,ustly due to transcentlant crime but II Is to
be hoped while they may fall short Of justice
IN the direction OF mercy to Offenders, that they
will not likewise fail IN meet its demands In
such n manner as to bring upon the nation the
stigma OF inhuman cruelty to those entitled to
the amplest protection.