The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-08-10
AN ADDRESS

lOyai c1ClZen6 OF Lee cOunkys IoWS, opposed
to Negro Suffrage, held . Charleston, in
said county, on the 29th uiumo, we the un-
dersirued. were appointeda committee to ad-
dress you. inviting and urging your attend
ance, 1t an Anti-Negro Suffrage, and Anti
Stone State Convention, ct Des Moines, on
the Esd day of August instant.
Powerful and persistent efforts have been
made repeatedly, by the friends of Governor
Stone and Negro Suffrage to stife the ex.
preston of the soldiers of Lee county, in OPP
position to their designs. The political opin-
ions of soldiers when in accordance with the
sentiments of these politicians, have been
eagerly sought for; but now when they are
in opposition to their views, every trick,
however low, is practiced, to suppress them.
Thus far thank God, they have signally
failed.
The overthrow Of the rebellion and the
consequent destruction Of slavery, should
be q subject of sincere Joy to every good cit
izen. The continued agitation about the
negro, which has distracted the country for
a long series of years, has been thus put at
rest, and, it was hoped, forever. But this
good fortune, it seems, is not in store for the
people. A new element OF political strife
and contention, in the shape Of Negro Suf-
frage, has been thrust upon them by the
in their resolve to strike the word ''white"
out of the article on suffrage, in the Consti-
tuition of Iowa.
AS the friends of Negro Suffrage and
Governor Stone, are hypocriticaly and
meanly attempting to evade this issue-the
true and only issue of the present campaign
by striving to deceive honest voters on
this subjeat, let us briefly refer to the action
10 their convention:
1.-The Committee on Resolutions reported
among others, one in favor Of the equality
of oil men before the law" This was not
deemed explicit enough, and so, on motion
of Mr.. Russell, of Scott county, an amend
ment was offered that I'VE are in favor of
amending the Constitution of our State by
striking out the word ''wHITE" in the article
on suffrage" This amendment was adopt
ed by vote, by counties of 554 for and
$50 against. "These resolutions as amend
ed" 80 says the official repeat, ''were then
unanimously adopted" Governor Stone
was then introduced, accepted the nomina-
ton, and, we are told, interested the con-
vention for some considerable length of time
with appropriate remarks"
1t will be st en- that this amended resolu-
tioE does not propose, as politicians would
induce gudgeons to believe, to present Ne
gro Suffrage as question to be settled by
the popular vote three gears hence, but it de-
clares strongly and attirmatively, that the
Republican party of Iowa is now in favor of
1t. The resolution does not attempt to dodge
| the question. 1t presents it fairly and
| squarely.
Governor Stone accepted nomination on
| that resolution. As an honest man, he
stands pledged in favor of Negro Suffrage,
and is bound to defend it wherever he goes.
| Negro Suffrage has become q chief part, il
not the Whole OF the creed of the Republi
can party-and Stone and his colleagues
| are its ministers. and fully committed to it,
How, then, can Governor Stone and his com.
peers face any Intelligent and honest au-
dience, and say that he and his party are
not in favor of Negro Suffrage. They can't
talk this year with double tongue on this
question. 1t has become too big too i'm
portant in the minds of the people. The
action of their own convention has made il
| SO.
Governor Stone is in favor of Negro Suf-
frage now dare he or has friends DENY it
He is emphatically the Negro Suffrage can
didatel His repeated public and private
declarations shows this. His statement, in
the presence of an old patriot of this coun-
ty few weeks ago, that no logaI man
could be opposed to Negro Suffrage" proves
this. His election in October, would be
taken as endorsing fully this doctrine, and
used to aid its ultimate success. Four
fifths of the newspapers of the State, in the
interest of Governor Stone, are strongly in
favor of Negro Suffrage nog, and believe il
is the leading question to be decided at the
| October election. Hear the Davenport
Gazette, one of the ablest and most promi-
nent of these Journals:
| We did assert, and reiterate, that the
convention decided in favor of extending the
right of suffrage to colored citizens OF. Iowa
and By this decision placed the question oil
that extension directly before the voters OF
this State, to be tried at the ensuing election,
and at this election the people will decide
whether the next Legislature shall or shall
not initiate the amendment to the State con.
stitution, which the convention SO positively
and ensphanca1y declared to be just and
| desirGblen
The leading supporters of Gov. Stone are
ALL in favor of Negro Suffrage: epery dele
gate to the convention that nominated him
endorsed Negro Suffrage; B. r. Cue, his
candidate for Lieut. Governor, is in favor of
negro suffrage; Geo. G. Wright, his candi-
date for Supreme Judge, is in favor of
negro suffrage; Grin taville, his candi-
date for Superintendent Of Public Instruc-
ton, is in favor of negro suffrage; the con-
vention which nominated Stone, was EN-.
phatically negro suffrage convention, and
the ticket is negro suffrage ticket and
yet, with all these facts staring them in the
face, soldiers and loyal citizens, opposed to
negro suffrage, are unblushingly asked to
support Gov. Stonel
Don't be deluded, soldiers and loyal citi-
zens, by the false assertion that this ques-
ton is not roto before you; to be decided
virtually, by the defeat or election of Stone.
IL has been forced upon the people it can't
be postponed but must be settled by the
ragnlf of thu 0cfrbox !.