Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-06-14

Another Speech from Gen. Steed. 4,
man--He dOh't Say Negro Suf-
sfrage Once!
On the 18th Of May Gen. STEEDMAN made
q speech to the Toledo Board of Trade. In
that speech one of the points he made was,
that "it would be lasting shame to deny
the ballot to men who had done SO much for
the country" as the colored troops. He was
then on his way to Washington. He was
in Cincinnati on Monday, on his way back
to his command. A serenade was given
him at the Burnet House in the evening,
In response to which the General made the
following brief speech:
"FELLow CITIZENS: appear before you
tonight, not for the purpose OF making q
speech, but to thank you for this honor.
know there are many great men, and some
officers In the army, who, upon occasions
like this, deny all desire to receive such tes-
timonials as this; but compliments are al
WAYS grateful To the human heart, and l
assure you appreciate this honor as highly
as any ever conferred upon me. To meet
my old comrades OF the 9th Ohio Is most
gratifying to me, as it is also to meet other
soldiers and citizens of our State and COM
mon country. lrejoice with you that peace
again pervades the land, and that we have
escaped IRON the bloody struggle as glori-
ously as we have, and now stand amid the
powers of earth as great as any other,
tCheers.l |H iAaA -
"I have recently passed through aportion
of our State and witnessed the blessings of
peace; secretly, too, visited Washington,
and saw the grand review OF cur brave
armies, whose heroic hearts have made the
name of America nonored and respected as
it never was before; and sublimer sight
was never before witnessed than that Of our
immense army, having saved the country
from its threatened destruction, quietly dis
banding and going home TO resume the
peaceful avocations of life. Chters. r'i'
III was with the President too, short
| time, and while there he h1nded me his proc
.ldmation TO the people Of North Carolina. 1
sods happy to agree loith him in has policy toDdrd
them, as I hopelaH Of you are. | knew Andy
! johnson before the war, and during the war,
and no doubt there are many OF you who
remember him, for he was for time our
Moses in the wilderness, while member OF
my staff. We know him as firm patriot, and
the recognized advocate offree institutions,
l[cheers;] and we knew him as terror to
|
Now. all is well, the country is safe; for the
Government is in the hands of a man who
will carry it safely through, and our great
country will soon be on higher road to
prosperity than before the rebellion. '"J
| II have but one word further to say.
have heard my name mentioned in the
army, and seen it in the newspapers OF
Ohio, in connection with the candidacy for
Governor of Ohio. / take this occasion to
say that will not be a candidate for that
or any other office. l am now going back
TO my command, where expect to remain
a soldier asi long as my country needs my
services; after which shall return and re-
sumo my place among you as an humble
quiet citizen"
| 1t will be seen that the General did moi
reterate the statement. that it,would be a
lasting shame to deny the ballot to the COL
ored troops. He was particular, however,
to inform them that while at Washington
the President handed him his North Caro-
lima Proclamation, and that he concurred
in the policy enunciated through that Proc
lamation. That Proclamation ignores al
together all sorts of Negro voting. The
General hoped that those who listened to
him at Cincinnati, and he, undoubtedly,
hopes that all who may read that speech,
will agree with that announced policy OF
the President. So, within less than month,
the General has turned his back complete
ly upon the political interests of the colored
troops, whose ga,lantry and bravery he so
eloquently extolled at Toledo on the 18th
| of last month. The General won't be a
candidate for Governor. The prospect is
not very flattering for his nomination, even
| If he should enter the lists as candidate
for nomination. Evidently he has come to
the conclusion that it is better for him to
adhere to President JOHNSON than to unite
with the Radicals in warning on the Presi-
dent. If evidence were needed to establish
the fact that the President will not throw
his influence in favor OF Negro Suffrage this
speech of General STEEDMAN furnishes it.
Il