The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-06-30
NEGRO SUFFRAGE.
JOHNSON POPULAR WITH
THE PEOPLE,

Correspondence of the N. Y. Herald
WASHINGTON, June 18.-The decision of
President johnson in leaving the question of
negro suffrage to the several States to regulate
Is daily becoming more popular, not only with
publican party is fast swinging around in it's
favor. The effort of the radicals to excite
sympathy for the emancipated slaves BY manu-
featuring stories of ill-treatment and hardship
bear upon their face as strong and apparent
evidence of being prompted for political pur-
poses that they are reacting against their orig
inators Political managers and wire-pullers
in the Republican party are constantly appear
ing here, remain day or two and return home.
There is also large number who never enter
ed the political arena further than casting their
votes who are called here on business. All of
these classes find the reconstruction policy of
the President, and especially the negro suffrage,
the question of comment.
Election OF those OF the masses of their party
at home those who expect to ride into Office on
the hobby horse of universal negro suffrage
may as well save their wind and hang their
harps on the willow tree. It Is almost impos-
sible, most of the time, to find even Republi-
cans enough at the national capital who are in
favor of comforting the right OF voting upon the
negro to get up an Interesting argument.
When you do find q person who takes that
side of the question, it will be found, in ninety
nine cases out of every hundred, that he is
either holding q position which he obtained
through the influence of Mr.. Chase, or has
been identified with his political interests in
the past.
The efforts of the pretended humanitarians
in this direction, instead of beneftting the ne
gro, are gradually injuring him, and removing
much of the sympathy and friendly feeling
which he would otherwise have. Judging
from the expressions and opinions of Republi-
cans who visit Washington from the different
sections of the North, it will be impossible to
find over two Northern States, and those in
New England, which would at this time en-
dorse such scheme 1t may be considered as
foregone conclusion that the Presidents
course. in leaving the matter to the people of
each State, will be endorsed by two-thirds of
the Republican party in all the Northern States
outside of New England. In fact. the general
expression of the Republicans here is that
insist upon immediate negro suffrage, for that
will enable them to secure such reputation
of the radicals at the ballot-bOx that they will
no longer give any trouble.
An Ohio politician announced last evening
that he was going home to get the convention
which assemblies in that State on the 21st to
adopt q resolution repudiatiDg the Pres dents
course in refusing to give the negroes the right
to vote In the reorganization. 1t was immedi.
ately asked by some of his Republican associ-
ates if he thought the people of Ohio would
endorse such resolution, when they do not
even allow negroes to vote in their State in
any form, either under property restriction or
any other. They said they thought it would
be exhibiting little hypocrisy, to say the
least, if the people of Ohio urged negro suf-
frage upon the South, when they would not
allow them to vote at home under any circum-
stances.
As tar as have been able to learn, a majority
of Republicans consider that removing the
chains of slavery and emancipating the negro
in four years time is doing a great work, and
ought to be considered sufficient for one gene
ration. They seem disposed to wait and see
how the negroes accept and conduct themselves
under their new relations before they confer
upon them more favors. The effort of the
radicals to push their scheme too fast will only
iDjure the cause of the black man, and delay
the time when he will be permitted to exercise
the right of suffrage. for the simple reason
that it will embolden the negro and make him
arrogant.
The feeling in the army among the rank and
| file is very strong against allowing the negro
to vote Especially is this the case in General
Sherman's army, which has seen more of the
negro than any of the others. Some of the
radicals are trying to get up q feeling against
| Gen. Sherman by arguing that he is response.
| BILE for this sentiment. Thus there are all
manner of combinations, and wheels within
wheels, operating upon the question of the
! hour.