Council Bluffs bugle. [volume] (Council Bluffs, Iowa) 1860-1868, 1865-12-21
NEGRO SUFFRAGE ~ THE s0CrH

3
While in oil charity we believe there Is
el ISIS Of philaBthropisss at the North
sho have n real compassion fur the ne
gro. we also helicge the class Of agita-
| tors OF the Wendell Phillips stamp use
the questions contested With them for
the most selfish and upja4tiaabic objects.
Like the cutie fish they wish to raise d
black cloud about their path and escape
the pursuit of their antagonists By the
election of their usual means OF defence.
We do not perceive any OF this pretend
ed philanthropy in their treatment Of the
eolored race around them at home, no
manifestation Of regard or sympathy. no
real assimilation With il ia manners, hab-
its and special intercourse, and 90 Eeesiii-
cation Of any legal inequalities to, which
By Northern legislation it il still subject
ed. At distance they can feel for the
blacks, they can claim all sorts of con-
eessions for them from their Southern
friends, but are not SO ready 10 make
any themselves. For agitation, for po-
litical advantages, for personal saeeess
they proclaim the extremist doctrines,
and do not care what becomes Of the
country II they can but distinguish them
selves by pseudo humanity. Let as zee
for a moment shat the CONSCIOUSNESS OF
negro suffrage, if granted uucoRdiaon-
ally, would be 10 3 single State.
By the census Of 1860 it appears that
ia the State Of South Carolina there vas
population of 29I, $3.50 whites and 402,-
400 slaves. OF course il is clear If uni
versal suffrage was established in that
State the siaves would be at ouco 10
most decided majority. What would
be the consequence Plain enough
The political power Of that State would
pass directly into the hands OK The blacAs.
What nextF Most assaredly we should
ace a negro Legislature, Governor and
other officers Of State, negro Congress
sioEal delegation and Two colored United
States Senators. Now, is the county
prepared to witness such result. Is il
ready to welcome the immediate asesu-
dspcE In one of tae States Of a race
without any other claim than that OF
color, without education, experience or
property, taking full share OF the con.
troll Of The couatry or directing any part
Of its policy Is it possible that the
most rabii abolitionist would approve Of
such B state Of thinks2 What would
become CT the unfortunate white minority
Of South Carolina when at TIE mercy of
such q class of rulers What would be
the feelings of the representatives Of the
States when called upon 20 affiliate, Goa
sulE With aud defer to such associates at
Washington Have We seen in St. Do
miDgo or Jamaica that the mere posses
sion of political power has raised the in-
teiiectaal or moral or social condition Of
tbe vote-c asting population of color
there Events for The last generation il
that part Of the werid contradict the as
sertion if any one should be bold enough
to make it.
We clearly are Of the OF inion that we
are not called on in any way to cheaper
American suffrage TO this extent, CT 10
place any portion Of oar Union in dan.
ger ike that referred to. Ii has already
been carried to the verge of danger. If
il be said that the men who have borne
arms for tbs country are entitled to
the Immediate aud highest preTogatives
Of citizenship, then We should az once
proclaim to the thirty thousand Canndi-
ans, who il is claimed have been in our
ranks. THAI they too should DO welcomed
at once to Our ballot boxes, whether they
cenfofn to the naturalization laws or not,
We do not believe this proposition would
fnd many friends, even among the most
radical. Thera Is limit to the reward
If the most gallant services. The bra
vest soldier Of foreign birth is compelled
10 seek othes Qualifications as an elector
than that of BEARING arms. And 80 OF
the negroes. While we would fully pro-
tees their lives, labor and property, aud
giVe them the entire security Of the laws,
we doubt If 1t would be advisable to
trust them INN ediatel5 With the framing
Of those laws.
We come to the con clusiou, therefore,
that this question should be left to che
restored States and the future OF those
States. We do nat care to see this
country q political checker. board, on
which the moves Of the blacks and whites
are to determine TIC gane.-h Y. Her.
aid.