The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-07-20
Gen. Grant and John Minor Bolts on
...... Negro Suffrage.

zen. Grant ana JOhn minor Bolts on
... Negro Suffrage. f.
According to the Chicago Tribune
Gen. Grant, in conversation with his
friends, says that it is too soon to de-
clare that the loyal blacks in the
South shall not be allowed to VOTE
Aside from tho abstract right and the
legal problem of what authority can
confer or withhold tho franchise
whether it be Congress or the States
the question may assume the shape of
q political necessity. The Govern
ment and people may have to choose
between keeping standing army of
100, 600 men at an expense OF Sl00, ,000,-
600 year to the taxpayers, TO sup
port the white minority in the South
against the white rebel majority, or of
cnfranchising the blacks, and thereby
enabling them to support the white
loyalists. Gen. Grant iorcsees that
the suffrage question may take this
form. ,....i ...,.. .u....,... ..
A correspondent ofthc Tribune. who
processes to bo posted in the opinions
Of John Minor Bolts, the Virginia I'M
ionist, says in regard to negro suf-
frage, Mr.. Bolts says that, aside from
all other reasons against it, it would
do moro than all other measures COM
bincd TO pcrpetuato tho authority of
the old shareholders. Whatever may
be their present temper, it is certain
that sooner or later these men must
employ thoir former slaves as FREQ la
borers, lie thinks they will, as n gen
eral thing, do so throughout the entire
South. 1t will be for their interest
(and that must in tho end control
their action to mako friends of the
freed slaves and this they, will do
AS n necessary consequence, the nc
groes, dependent upon lhom for en-
ploymcnt, wages, everything they
have, will be guided by their advice
nvoting as in everything else; and
thus the effect of giving them the suf'
trage would bo to multiply largely
the political power Of thcir former
masters" .. ... ..
In regard TO tho test oath required
ofvoters at tho South, Mr.. Bolts thinks
it unwisc to restrict tho right of vo-
ting by requiring too stringent oaths.
He would have tho right Of holding
Office restricted great deal more than
it is, SO that no man should ever hold
Office North or South, who had not
always been II thorough, uncomproml-
sing Union man. Ho thinks that
Congress should make law by which
every man should be required, as u
condition of holding any office in the
United States, North or South, to
swear that he had mover done, written
Or said anything to prejudice Or in,
Ijure the authority Of the government
of tho United States, nor in any way
by act or word, given aid, comfort OF
encouragement TO its enemies, This
would keep all tho powers of tho gov
eminent in tho hands of loyal men
and Mr. Bolts thinks it quite as much
needed in tho North as in the South
for he says tho copperheads in the
North have given more MD to the re-
bol!ion than thousands in tho robe
States, and are far more dangerous t
tho future peace and welfare of the
country. IIo would have every cop,
pcrhead, who could not take tho oatl
above recitod, excluded from office
and tho same oath, covering tho same
ground and couched it tho same terms
should DO required of every man il
every section of the country, as u con
dition of holding Office. f.H
Ills. .t -----------s.s >.-'----N 7-r--- ...
JouN Minor Bolts says Of the Cop