The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-07-26
The Negro SufFrage Question


views on this subject, are in humble opinion, by
the policy they advocate, bringing injury rather than
benefit upon race they profess abiding friendship
for Some of them are undoubtedly honestain theiI
convictions; but the majority opine, unquestion-
ably have political axes to grind and they are deter
minded that the negro shall noIens voleIs, turn the
griudstone, no matter how much it wearies his bae;
or tires his arms.
The fortune of war has suddenly bestowed freedom
upon three four millions of human beings previous
" held in slavery. This fact is accepted without muir
muir or question ~ the white population of the SOUTH
and they at least are honestly striving to do the best
they with the circumstances that surround them,
and working Loyalty and truly to restore the coun-
try to a condition of thrift snd prosperity.
Probably not more than one out of every hundred
of the negroes thus made free are capable of appreca
ting either the duties meeting the responsibilities Of
freedom. They have not had opportunity of pass
ing through probationary term-no time in which to
prepare for the great change, allowed them. In
instant their political changed and they
were thrust upon the world to take of themselves
as they could, with the vague idea running through
their heads that their emancipation meant freedom
from labor freedom from responsibility, with illmita-
Bile supplies Of everything to eat, drink and wear
How sadly they disappointed in their hopes,
and how wofuIy they failed meet the expectations
Of especia sefconstituted friends is well known to-
and generally acknowledged by those who have been
in command in various parts Of the southern States
Thinking men knew nov IL WOuu De, ana prleYed over
facts they only anticipated but they also knew that
time and experience alone would settle the question
Those who are truly aud conscientousy DESTROYS to
promote the well-being and improvement of the ne
groes of the south, are know that the first thing
to be done is to educate them in the arts of labor and
the various occupatons-to train them up to habits Of
industry and sefreliance-so that they may hereaf-
ter be enabled take Of themselves and their
families. Heretofore everything has been provided
for them and their families. Hereafter they must
support by their labor not only themselves but all
who are dependent upon them. This is fearful res
possibility to devolye, all at once, upon the uneduca-
ted inexperienced negro-a man in years and strength
but an infant so far knowledge of the WAYS of the
world is concerned; and unless he is taught by those
in authority well as the people, and aided in many
WAYS and at all seasons, the boon of freedom which
has been conferred upon him will become direfu
and tremendous curse, not only to himself and his
PROSPERITY, but to the whole country.
Yet, in face of indspuable facts like these-n face
Of the great truth demonstrated at hundreds of
military posts throughout the country, and at thou
sands of her places, that the negroes as mass are
as yet incompetent, from lack Of knowledge to sup
port themselves honestly by their labor that tens
of thousands are supported by tile government, and
scores Of thousands by private individuals; that not
outstanding all this public and private aid An i'm
rensc amount Of suffering exists among them which
is depicting their numbers at frightfu rate; and in
face of the inconroVerble truth that while in the
transition state they are undergoing, they need
and are entitled to the sympathy and assistance of all
true phlanthropsts to enable them to surmount the
difficulties and responsibilities of their new position
to meet which they comparatively feeble and
helpless and without the aid and assistance before
mentioned they would be wholly and absolutely i'm
potent to oyercome-it is gravely proposed to impose
new burdens additional responsibilities, and serious
duties upon them, by compelling them to accept the
right Of suffrage! To this we are Numerically oppos
ed and against it enter solemn protest. 1t will
be time enough discuss this part of the question
years hence, when the improving influences OF expe-
rence have demonstrated that the freedmen have be-
come sufficiently advanced and educated in the various
avocations of industry to enable them to an hon
est living by their hands, just white men have
been compelled to do from time mmemOria
Then again. the prOTo ton to confer right of suffrage
upon the negroes at once, without probation pre-
paraton is only contrary to the laws of the
try and the policy of the government but fraught
with injustice to emigrants from abroad 1t has been
the policy of the United States to encourage emigration
from Europe. The resources of the Union have been
greatly developed aud its strength increased by this
emigration Yet when the intelligent and educated
Iris4man, German, Frenchman Engshman Spaniard
or Scotchman comes among us, with the view of be-
coming citizen, he is told that the Laws require he
should remain certain number of years in the land
after making due application proper court before
he can obtain his naturalization papers and become
voter To place such a bar before educated, expe-
renced and useful men, 10 cOnpel them 10 wall years be-
fore the privilege Of citizenship conferred upon them
and at the same time bestow the right of suffrage
upon the Just enranchscd Ignorant incompetent, in
experienced freedmen, would not only be absurd in
the highest degree, but would be supremacy unjust
n. O. True Delta.
The LATEST OPINION OF THE LONDON TIMEs-We
are on outspoken people, and make no secret of our
conclusions but there is nothing in those conclusions
to which any citizen need object We have been sur
~, n fbp unr but Ot
50 than the Americans themselves. Whatever may have
been our speculations sympathies, we rejoice that
the work of carnage is at all end. We cordially re-
ciprocate the expressions OF anY which reach us from
America and shall not be dis-beeved in profes
sons of desire for permanent peace For the rest
can only wait. We see nothing Of the future nor
will we pretend to believe that the revolution is
On the contrary that it is but half finished and
that America will certainly again be the America
of the past But it may well be something better. The
blot of slavery, any rate is eifaced from its soil anC
one subject of contention is removed. The position
too of each State Of the Union in relation to the whole
is now defined and established if not improved. Their
the people have learned truths and untarned allacies
besides undergoing that instructive experience which
war seldom fails to yield We expect indeed, that thC
Americans of the future will be more like other people
and less like their former selves.
We will not attempt TO hatter them. They know
r,il enough what thought of their civil war; ant
gaay will be prompt to comprehend that our udgmen
remains in suspense still In few words, they hav
won-won against the expectation of the whole worll
but what they won remains yet to be seen The re
slt is probably within their control Upon thei
policy it will depend whether the south becomes agaiI
amalgamated with the north, survives only as
DI amish and burden to the republic The work o
reconstruction may be more trying than the work Q
slbjugation The present policy Of the victorious ad
uHstration it is easier to comprehend than to approve
We can well understand that Americans, after learning
10 their own cost what instruction means, begin
mig to entertain new idea of its character; nor ar
surprised at the denunciations LAUGHED agains
Tie crime of treason" but the government Of Wash
ington should remember that between acts of Treason
nrtin