Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-08-05


and those they represent do not think were
adequately defined, by the Union State
Convention.
Wepresent our readers the correspond
ence in full.
TUE LETTER FROM oBERLIN.
........... OBERLIN, July p, 1865.
GEN. j. d. Cox-Dear Sir: The people
of this place, with entire unanimity, sought
your nomination for Governor of Ohio.
With equal unanimity we desire to pro-
mote your election. We rejoiced in your
nomination because we had perfect conf
dence that your views and sympathies were
III harmony with our own on the great issue
before us-the equality of all men before
the. law. Westill believe that we were not
mistaken. But some of us have been star
tied by report coming directly from War
ren, to the effect that you are opposed to
giving the elective franchise to colored peo-
pie, and that you. requested the editor of
The Chronicle to publish your views ON the
subject, that you might not lose the sup
port OF Union men ih the Southern part of
the State. We do not credit the rumor
and yet it has so disturbed some of your
warmest supporters, that the undersigned
nave been requested to address you on the
subject.
We want to know directly from YOU YOUR
views on the following subjects: 1st. Are
you in favor of modifying our Constitution
sol to give the elective franchise to color
ed men! I'd. In the reorganization of the
Southern States should the elective fran
chse be secured to the colOred people?
Among us there is but one opinion on
this subject, and we were never more i'm
earnest on any political question. We be-
lieve that the distinction made by our Con-
stitution between white and cOlored people
was made in the interest Of slavery, and is
both wicked and absurd. And we believe
that to reconstruct the Southern States and
admit them with Constitutions excluding
colored men from the polls would give the
country and the negro into the power of
the very men who have sought and still de-
sire to ruin the one and enslave the other.
Deliver the four millions of freed people
into the hands of their former oppressOrs,
now embittered by their defeat, and they
will make their condition worse than be-
fore. The Copperheads of the North, with
the united South, would gain control of the
General Government, aud in various ways
would harrass and Oppress the negroes and
their friends beyond endurance. A war of
races would be likely to result. Ifas ma
tion we can be so wicked as to deliver our
colored soldiers and the millions whose
freedom we are epledged to maintain, into
the power of the most cruel and vindictive
people that ever laid claim to civilization. a
terrible retribution will await us. We
speak strongly that you may know how we
feel onthe subject. ...
If it be said that the negroes of the South
are ignorant and unfit for the elective fran
chise, we answer, grant it; but this has
nothing to do with the question. Our col
ored soldiers who have fought three years
for the Union are not of this class, nor are
those who have always been free, many of
whom have amassed wealth. 1t is for these
we ask the elective franchise. If it should
take year, or two or three to prepare the
the mass to vote, we would be content.
Though we believe our free institutions
would be safer in the hands of the coIored
people as they are, than in the hands of the
best half of the white population of the
South. The question is, Shall colored peo-
pie be allowed to vote? The enemies of
our country say no. The mass of the loyal
say yes. So decided are our people on the
subject, that they could by no means be
persuaded to vote for man known to be
opposed to it. The Union party of this
country, so, far as we know, are unanimous
on the subject and we believe that through
out the country, the party can be rallied on
this platform with greater enthusiasm than
on any other. All the prominent religious
papers, and, with one or two exceptions, all
the leading Republican papers are in favor
of universal suffrage. We believe that
nothing could be more suicidal to our party
and the cause of freedom than to reject this
doctrine.
Please let us hear from you soon. 1t is
not our wish to publish your views, unless
you desire it. But we wish to have our own
minds relieved, and to be able to contradict
any false reports that may be in circulation
regarding your views on this subject.
Very truly and sincerely yours,
+. III. FAIRCH1LD,
SAMUEL PLUMB,
Committee.