New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-09-18
NEGRO VOTING - HEAR BOTH
SIDES!

that he very much approves all we nave sa'u III
favor of Universal Amnesty, but utterly con-
demns our advocacy of Universal Suffrage Lou
Us hear what he says to the point, as follows;
"In your plea for Universal Amnesty, agree win
YOU that it will best effect the great ends Oh peace aau
he promotye of the best interests OF the country
few exceptions were made should not OBJECT DUB III
vonr advocacy of Universal Suffrage. think you go
that much too far The country is not prepared ior
snch step; nor the intended recipients OF the hgh
privilege competent to wisely exercise that great power
The Government is based upon the supposed rrae ana
iu.eenee Of the people, All men agree that the negro
is free man; but who supposes. even, that he pos
sesses the virtue and intelligence to wisely and under
snudingly exercise the Right BY such an enactment
over 100000 ignorant persons who know no more OF the
genius and workings of institutions than they know
of the geography Of the moon would be added to our
great mass already too large, of mletered and igno
rant voters. II any change is tobe made in the Elect
i've Franchise let il restricted TO those who have the
intelligence to USE. and not abr the prviege-not by
property qualification but by requiring all who offer
to vote at least to know how to read and write.
'In Gods namc If you would preserve the liberties Of
our country intrust power only to those Who when
they vote, can vote understandingly.
Il do not purpose TO enter into discussion OF the
many questions opened by this letter, but merely touch
on some prominent points The negro now has r'edo"
Let him take that and improve his Situation ana al
least wait for time and experience and the developments
and advancements he may make before he asks the
Right of Suffrage The White man, even though he DO
unfrendy to him. is better prepared to egsac for the
negro than he ia 10 legisate for himself He Is now
but '.mewlng and pukng in the arms OF his deiverers
from the bondage of Slavery let him at least advance
by deSrees-try grading rst.hen see If he can walk
When II is proved that he stand erect enjoy ana
appreciate his freedom, and understand its great prln
cipesits responsibilitiesthe Will DO time enough
to talk OF his voting to make laws for the country and
carry on the Government"
To all which thus responds THE TRIBUNE:
|. The country not being prepared Gas our
correspondent avers) for Impartial Suffrage, we
are trying to prepare it.
ii. We have over and again explained that
we ask no exemption for Blacks from any merely
intellectual or literary test of fitness and capa-
city that bears equally upon all classes. We
will gladly agree that none shall vote but those
who can read-Or read and write-0r who pay
taxes-or who follow some useful vocation-or
to any other touchstone calculated to cOnfine
the Right of Suffrage to the capable and worthy
Why, then, do our antagonists coolly dodge our
position and fight instead man Of straw Of
their own construction Can't they answer US
without evasion or cont they
III. We lack evidence that the Blacks Of the
South are exceptionally ignorant or stolid. On
the contrary, we hold them fairly intelligent,
while eagerly acquiring knowledge. We be-
lieve them in the average no whit less enllght'
ened than the Poor Whites" all of whom can
vote.
". And it is clearly untrue that the exton-
sion of Suffrage we seek would increase the
power of ignorance in our political AFFAIRS
On the contrary, it will vastly diminish IT,
That power coheres not in the number OF the
ignorant voters, butin their clannishness-in the
fact that they nearly all vote one way. million
unlettered voters, fairly divided between the
two great parties, would do less mischief than
One Hundred Thousand voting unanimously
and steadily on one side. And II all the Black
voted to-day that circumstance would lessen
not increase, the power of Ignorance IN oul
party conflicts. Restriction Of Suffrage Is
scarcely possible: not so with Extension,
whereby the power of the most benighted and
DEGRADED portion of our White voters would
! be essened.
V. Our correspondent asserts that "the ne
: gro now has his FREEDOM" Relatively, this is
II. 4, fraa1
Tennessee tfor instance) is not the genuine
article.
. VI If the Declaration of Independence was
z not based on lie, one man or class can't legis'
late for another; to attempt to do so is mis-
take, certain to result in calamity. Govern
ments "derve their just power from the con-
sent of the governed" says the Declaration. We
have great respect for our correspondent; but
we have more faith in the Declaration and it
authors.
VII. The negroes have been Crawling q
tresome while. They propose now to stand
erect, foy change; and we would help them &c
do so.
VIII. Our Tennessee friend wants the Rebe
Amnesty hurried up, but thinks Black Suffrage
can wait while. The Blacks say, No; it ii
"nOw or never" with them. And we believe
they have correct notion of the matter. Give
us Peace with Universal Amnesty and Restora
ton, without Black Suffrage, and the great op
portunity will have passed unimproved. The
Southern Whites will say, "Why agitate fol
Black Suffrage now' Isn't all quietl Let well
alone, and give the land rest" And ifany peti'