Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1865-07-20

Eultorial no[lfe, ree o. cnhl 8e al olners 70 %
paid Tor in advance.
up the cry against negro suffrage,
and ace-their opposition TO it on
the ground of the ignorance and in
capacity Of the race. If this be true
what has caused it but slavery, and
who alone are to blame for it, but
those who have held them in bon
dagger ,,lql rTsq .Tr,sr
After all We may justly surmise,
that this opposition on their part,
arises more from q knowledge that
the votes Of the negroes would be
cast solid against the rebel leaders
having any further control Of politi-
cal affairs IN the South. thsn simply
fear that their ignorance would lead
them to vote wrongly Let it once
be settled, that the negroes would
vote the so called Democratic ticket
and in favor OF their former masters
holding the reins of power, and no
cry would be heard of ignorance or
stupidity. ,,,
Resides, if the lack of education
only, be barrier to their enjoyment
of this right, and that qualification
=
be essential in all persons white or
black who use it, very many of the
present, yosers of the, Copperhead
party would be excluded. Suppose
the ability to read and write be the
test, how many of the present De-
mocracy would loose their..votesl All
this gabble about the ignorance of
the blacks disqualifying them for
voting in the South is merely to
cover up the true issue se.t 96I
1t will be remembered that these
same Copperheads vehemenhy OPP
posed the arming of the negroes in
the South, and never favored it until
danger Of being drafted in their own
proper persons, opened their eyes
to the fact that after all, "niggers''
made pretty good soldiers. Now,
that danger being ayerted through
the cooperation of these very ne
groes, it is in perfect keeping with
their principles to deny them any
voice in the government of those
States, which they aided to rescue
from traitors of the deepest dye.
Again when we call to mind the
fact, that in all States both North
and South, where negroes ever had
any political rights, they were al
ways granted them by Democratic
administrations, or when the Demo-
cratic party had the power, the sim
cerity of this present hue and cry
against them may well be doubted.
We are content to rest the case
with the American people. They
carried the perplexing questions
arising out Of slavery, to a successful
issue, and did it too when surrounded
by dangers that no longer exist
They have made millions of slaves
free. They have organized them in
to armies, of brave and efficient SOL
diers who have. laid down their lives
Icheerfully In defence of country
and government in which they had
no choice of rulers = The govern
ment has placed them before the
world as its champions and defen-
ders. The world will look with scorn
and contempt, on that Government,
which would refuse on any pretext
to grant them equal privileges with
other citizens, especially in those
States where she has for the past
four years, found Few friends and
supporters outside of the colored race.
Copperheads and rebels may be
loud mouthed and violent, but it re-
qulres no special gift of divination to
foresee that in the end they will be
bitterly execrated and il such thing
were possible, their very existence
made miserable to themselves, when
the Union ofnthese States is once
more established. Their record is
base and black enough. I If they are
wise as serpents should be, they will
cease their unholt crusade against
liberty and human rights. '' p -