The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-07-28
MASSACHUSETTS, POLITICS.
Address SHthS Republican State Com
miitee-NegrO Suffrage.

The Republican State Committee of
Massachusetts, has issued an address to the
people, which speaks of negro suffrage
thus:
HLoyalty, as everybody admits, must be
insisted on as the indispensable quslifcs-
ton Of all voters, no matter whether con-
situations or laws prescribe it or not. But
a dark skin, or 8 trace more or less dis
tinct of African descent, Is no evidence of
disloyalty. Nor is it q test Of intelligence.
1t is simply a badge of that serVitude
which we have been obliged to abolish in
order to preserve our national existence.
Shall. we consent to the restoration of the
rebel communities under the two hfths CEN
stitutionaI~ provision, which greatly increas-
es the political power Of their voting popu-
lstion, and under q system which excludes
from the polls q loyal people, quite as intel
ligent as the great body OF the whites,
whose good will toward our government
has helped to save it from destruction, and
whose continued friendliness will be no less
indispensable in the future2
set is no answer to this TO ssy that som
OF the loyal states do not allow colored
men to vote, that We may as well under
take TO exclude Ohio from the Union as
to keep South Carolina from coming back
with full Congressional powers. Such in
| eduslities, when they have endsr gered the
LOYALTY of the states where they exist, and
where they do not threaten hereafter to put
In peril the public peace, may be safely left
to the reviVing spirit of justice In the
northern people, stimulated to ~friendiness
toward 3 race which has performed for US
useful national service. At any rate, we
possess and claim no right to interfere with
the electoral laws of loyal states. But the
rebel states, as everybody admits, are in q
condition which requires reconstruction, OF
restoration, and which justiaes guardian
ship aud the s~trictest watehfulness Oh the
part of our government and people. WhA
eVuI saFoguards may be found necessary
for the permanent p~scification of the cOun'
try, and the fulilment of the national
pledge Of freedom, in spirit IS well IS II
letter, to the ~enfrsnchised blacks, must bt
insisted upon.
"We would not lay uudue stress upOr
the mere question of suffrage as a matter o
right, or seem to insist upon giving to thu
freedmen new powers, which, however val
liable TO them, might not be deemed to b
imperatively demanded by pubic consider
atiOns affecting the whole country. w
are aware too, that there are other question
of administration, the solution of which
in the hands of the President and Con
gress, and which, if rightly settled, IS W
believe they will be, will go far to ensur
for US tranquility and safety. We motto
with great satisfaction that many ineviI
able abuses, which have been brought t
light since the close Of hostilities, hav
been promptly attended to by the civil an
military power. And we are contiden
that q wise and humsne policy will d
what can be lone in the future 70 proteC
/, the colored lOyalists from the spirit
hatred and oppression. But 1t Will .
J found that the secret of our peace policy
} precisely what WAS found to be the secr'
! of our war policy, that is the necessity {
doing justice to this people, and Of Plscin
in their hands the power to protect h
selves, to secure their own rights and to r.
dress their own wrongs. To this com
: plexiOn must it come at last. And II
? great industrial interests of the nation, /
financial stability and honor, the progre'
of the new civilization which is to msE
this continent the peaceful abode of q hui
dred millions self supporting citizens, a
J demand that the work of ststesmaDshl
shall be wisely commenced and thorough
, carried on"
The Republican State Convention vi
be held at Worcester on Thursday, Sci
} tember IA, for the purpose of nOminatin
candidates for Governor, Lieutensnt-Go 10
|, erner, Secretary of the Commonwealth
Treasurer, Auditor, and AttOrney-Ge
ersl.