The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-11-01
President johnson and the COlored Man.

ing out what may OF i4dt ADl Df lit views
OF the President on the ColOred Man and
Reconstruction, We are able % present 20
the reader, for the frs; time since he has
been President, frank and liberal state
ment Of his views, revised by himself and
certified by his SIGNATURE. Having this
importance, we have concluded 10 publish
the document entire.
On the Reconstruction question, 10 viii
be seen that be comedies fully with the views
we have recently advocated for some weeks
past on this subject. that all power for
lifting up the PROSTATE State governments,
and adjusting them rightly lies ultimately
10 Congress and the General Government
and all mistakes made hy the States should
be righted by that authority, which IS am
pie and full; and that. IN The present state
Of things, If cOlOrd suffrage had been auth
orIsed by the President, at ,he late eiec-
tions, no colOred men could possibly have
voted at the polls.
"The President" says the y. Y. Tr.j-
tne, makes the important admission that
as a citizen Of Tennessee, he should TRY
TO Introduce negro suffrage gradually" He
would first give 10 % those WHO had served
in the army; aud this, as 10 would be done
because they had served as soldiers we pre-
sumo be would bestOw Immediately While
they are all alive 10 receive il. Next ne
would accord il TO those who could read
and write. If man who can read and
write is 10 be presumed rs fitted, for that
reason, TO exercise the elective franchise
he is, OF course, quite as worthy Of it this
year as next, or the year after. The grad
uai process would come into play in pre-
senting the privilege Of voting "a an in
ducemeut TO The ignorant 10 acquire the
rudiments of education. But finally he
would give il to all, whether they had the
two first qualifications or not, provided
they owned 5000 or $3.50 worth Of proper
". His objection, then, Is not 10 negro
suffrage, but 10 giving TO all negroes The
right to vote nOir. His fear is that il would
breed war Of races bur he, nevertheless.
Is in favor of making a beginning, and one
which would gradually bestOw the franchise
upon all the cOlored freemen who should
earn il By the acquisition Of knowledge or
property. Should Southern statesmen
adopt this policy, by which Mr.. Johnson
avOws he should be governed as a citizen
OF Tennessee, we should get rid Of the
most troublesome question in tho way OF
reconstruction, and reconcile the moderate
men OF both classes"
So, in his remarks 10 tho ColoreG Sold
iers, which We published the other day, he
not only asserted the equality Of the races
on their merits, but went so far as 10 say
the "most meritOri0us is superior without
regard 10 color" He told the negroes,
"this is your country rs well as any body
else's country" This is the country in
which you expect to live" II lis founded
on the principle OF equality" Here 1.-The |
STANDARD by which persons are 10 be esti- |
mated is their merit and worth" Hence |
FORTH" said he, "you must be measured |
according to your merits, and If one man |
Is more merltorious than the other, they |
cannot be equals; and he who is the most |
meritoriOus is the superior without regard to |
color. lCheers. He that IS tire most mer.
itoriOus, and virtuous, and intelligent and |
well informed must stand highest without /
regard TO color"
Again, here Is short extract from a
speech made by Mr. Johnson to the co.ored
men OF Tennessee, Oct oath, lS64-ouly
about year since;
Looking at the vast crowd of colored
people, aud rejecting through what a
storm of persecution and oblOquy they are
compelled 10 pass, l am almost induced 10
wish that. as in the days OF old. a Moses
might arise VINO should lead them in safety
10 their promised land OF freedom and hap
piness."
You are our Moses. shouted several
voices. and the exclamation was caught up
and cheered until the capitol rung again.
GOD. continued the speaker, "nO
doubt has prepared somewhere an instru-
ment for the great work which he designs
10 perform in behalf OF this outraged peO-
pie, ami IN due time yonr leader will come
forth; your Moses will be revealed 10 YOU"
We want no Moses but YOU 80 again
shouted the crowd.
"Well. then replied the speaker.
humble and unworthy as am. if no 9th
er and better shall be found. l will indeed be
your Moses, and lead you through the Red .
Sea OF war and bondage 20 fairer future .
OF liberty and peace. l speak now as one
who feels tue world bis country. and all
love equal rights his friends. | speak. too
as a citizen OF Tennessee. | am here on
nv own soil; and here mean 10 STAY and
tight this great battle OF truth ami Justice
TO q triumphant end. Rebellion and slavery
shall by Gods good help, no longer pollute
our State. Loyal meu, whether white or !
black. shall alone control our deStinies: and
when this strife N which We are all enl-arel ,
Is past, l trust. know. We shall have
better state Of things, and shall al rejoice
that honest labor reaps the fruit Of its own
industry, aud that every man has a fair :
chance IN the race Of life
The whole Of this record, taken together D
proves that. in reference to the colored r
man. the position Of Mr.. Johnson and tina; ,
Of the Democracy are as Tar apart 8 the
poles. Tue col red man turns TO the Dem
oeratic party to see what they will 10 for {
him. and they reply: I've hate you merely ,
because you are colored, and we will there Z
J0'e crush down you And your children as Z
servhe class forever He turns to Mr.. :
johnson WHO says: Il respect you accor- .
ding to your moral and Intellectual worth.
regardless OF color, and will help to elevate
you and your children to every privilege OF
The white man, as fast as you deserve it,
Can any two positions be more perfectly an
tagonistic than these.
Mr.. Johnson has before him q great na-
tioual work. and we believe he has mind
,arge enough to comprehend its magnitude.
This II properly done, will not only tend
70 me nOnor and glory Of his country, but
viii cause his own personal record IN ,ha
pages OF history 70 stand out brightly As a