Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-10-07
Judge Dickson ON Negro Suffrage.

Judge Dickson ON Negro Suffrage.
Judge WILLIAM M. DICKSON, of Cincin-
natl, who was chairman of the committee
on Resolutions int the State Convention that
nominated General Cox for Governor, de-
livered an address at Oberlin on the Sd inst
In that address, he claimed that he would
sooner trust the Negro in the hands of the
intelligent and well to do Southern Whites
than in the hands of the poor Whites. This
is the way in which he discusses the ques-
| tion: rHi'r.u su Tntnf ~ a.. roy .T
.H# #.1#.ri* *a'iI& - *q*
| 1t is said there is, a deeply rooted an
| tagonsm between the black and white races,
| forbidding their remaining together in the
same country. Ii this Is a fact, it is very
sad one; but it would not furnish an objec-
tion, specially, against the plan, of recon-
struction under consideration. 1t would
seem to apply equally to all plans. 1t is
rather the statement of an insurmountable
difficulty, than the solution of one. 1t is
as if one were to complain of the light of
the sun, or of the alienation of the sea-
Sons. For this is not question of introduc-
ing 100000 of negroes here; they are here
now, and all plans that have ever been sug-
gested for etfecting their separation are
purely chimerical. They cannot be separa-
ted, and yet, the declaration is, they can
not remain together. The case. would seem
to be hopeless. But happily this declara-
tion is not true. The prtj1dices between
these races are not different in character
from other prejudices. There are preiu-
4 dices between lrishmen and Englishmen;
between Catholics and Protestants; between
| Christians and Jews. These have often
| been very violent and wars have grown
| out of them. Not however, because of their
differences, but because one race sought to
subordinate to itself another or one sect
sought to impose its tenets upon another.-
Peace prevailed when each race and each
sect attended to its own business. When
our fathers framed our Constitution they
understood these principles and applied
them. They restrained the different races
and sects, by securing to each absolute
equality before the law. They, however,
excepted the negro race, It being then in
slavery, and they seeing no way of secur-
ing its freedom, permitted this violation of
their principles to remain. But, now we
have, the opportunity of applying these
principles to this race and Of thus re:
moving the last exception. / would make
the application. Prejudice yields to power
and interest. The votes of the black men
will be too valuable to be slighted. ,,s.,5,A
Ii ls lodlu, llOWCtcl, rtlltil luO ulhCho ,CUulu
only vote at the point Of the bayonet-that
the Southern Whites would not otherwise
permit ttiem.8 rhen the rebellion is not
subdued; we hayea truce, not lasting peace.
Ii this is the case, the sooner we know IL
the better; at least it were better to Know
it before we disband our armies. - ios
Again, it is objected that the Southern mes
gro is ignorant and untitTto vote. He seems
to have been intelligent enough to be loyal,
which was more than his master was. But
/ do not deny the ignorance; their cohdi-
ton of slavery forbids that it could be Oth-
erwise. Yet they share this ignorance in
common with the poor whites; and would
be willing to apply to both these classes an |
educational test. Still Iw6uld not recon-
mend this. Freedom is thescho0li in which |
freemen are TO be taught and the ballot,
box is wonderful educator. We cannot
too constantly keep In our minds, that this
Is no ia question as to the policy OF introduc-
ing int0I ourlcountry four millions foig-
norant negroes. They are here, are to re,
main with us In the indefinite future. We
cannot escape, if wedesired, the. .irinfluenSe |