The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-07-17
MICRO sUFFRAgE,
Extract from the F0nFth of JuIy Ora.
ton Of Gen. Banks at Hew Orfeans-

been accused of too much rsdjcslisn, in =,
gard TO them We Wecommend the following
extract from his speech to those who bs.
heve the negro to be too ignorant 10 be- an
trusted with the right of franchise:
THE FREEDMEE-sUFFRAGE.
We have problem again in the adnis-
sion OF large mass of people 70 She Union
never before known to the Government or
the Constitution. The war through which
We have passed has not only been unpsr-
slieled IN It's ehsraeter-in its tasaeity-in
It's struggles, as well as its vietories-but ia
the mOmentous character of its rssuIis.
We have 4, 100000 people now list known
to Us and the world as freemen. TCheers I
With the recognition Of thst right comes
corresponding duties. When Louisiana
was annexed TO the American Republicth
people of Louisiana were recognized ss
citizens, invested with sli the rights and
powers Of cisizsns. When Florida was
acquired the same result was atlsined; and
at q later day, when Texas was acquired,
the same result was accomplished. There
was no question of ftness-there was no
question of expediency-bu the principle
being recognized Of acquisition Of territory
and acquisition of people carried with {
necessarily the investment of that territory
with p3litiesl powers and the people With
political rights. [Applsuse
When the few Thousand eitizsns Of
Louisiana, or of Florida, or Of Texas, being
incorporated In the Union. were invested
with the rights and powers of citizsns of
the Union, who shall say that the sdmis-
sion, as one of the consequences OF the war
of four millions Of people to the Union,
not known TO the laws or the Government
IS freemen, shall not likewise carry with
it political privileges and political rights
[ Loud and long applause. Our Govern
ment rests upon the consent of the govern
ed. It is the fundamental and only maxim q
upon which its broad superstruetare stands.
The consent Ofthe governed requires that
those who have the power, and who have
the will, shall participate in the direction
of the destinies Of the nation. TEnthusiss-
tic applause We cannot restrict the
principle because we don't like the party to
which it is applied We cannot defeat a
destiny or necessity because we don't
choose to recognize it. five hope TO pros
per under our Government to attain a
unity and strength which the thirty mill
hons Of IFS people will give to Us, we must
accord to all It's citizens, irrespective Of
caste OF condition. the advantages of the
principles upon which the Government IS
based. TChsers- In another sense it Is
still more strongly andirresistsbly enforced
upon us. The industry of the nation
speaking Of unskilled iRdustry--slmost en-
tirely is Of this class that las lately been
sAaAsnizad hy the Union in consequence
of the war. 1t Is not within tho power Of
men to to avail themselves Involuntary in-
dustry except upon the condition
that it satisfies the party of indus
try in ALL reasonable and Just demands.
The Government Of the United States, or
ganizsd upon the principle that the con-
sent of the psople ia the authority of the
governing party or agent, can never deny
successfully, or justly, or st all, the frsn-
chise of an American citizen to four mil.
lions of people, or their representatives,
who are devoted to the cultivation of the
soil and constitute one Of the grandest
fruits Of our industry. Enthusiastic sp-
plause.l If you ask if they are fit, IN
qure OF you If every man Of the Methodist
sect, or of the Roman Catholic sect, or of
the PfesbyteTisns, or of the Bsptists, or Of
whatever religious denomination our peo-
pie may be devoted, if every one Ofthese
men is ft to be invested with the right Of
suffrage is fit exponent of the will Of the
people and Is capable of directing safely
and wisely the destinies of the nation2
Every man must say "No, It is not to ba
expected" So I say, as eorollary to the
position have assumed, that fitness and
capacity are not the sole ingredients of
pie. Fitness snd capacity are the attri-
-butes of all rather than of part. APP
plause It is the. concentrated wisdom Of
the multitude that has led our eOun-
try-and its Government through all its
trials to the present prosperity and power.
You may draw from the intellectual and
cultivated 8 tenth, or q quarter even, and
YOU will not sbase or lower the standard
capacity represented By the Government.
You may increase by tenth or quarter If
you please the inexperienced and qnlearD-
ed that participate in the sfsirs Of our
Government without deteriOrating from
the success of our institutions. 1t is there
fore strictly, logically, philosOphieslly and
rsligiously true that fitness and capacity
ara the result of the concentration Of
powers and not the attribute of each indi-
Vidual that chooses 70 exercise, or that Is
invested with the power to exercise tha
rights Of freemen. If you make tbfee
millions of freemen, invested with the
rights OF suffrage, three million i've hum
dfed thousand, Who is sfrsid of the result ?
TApplauss and cries of Nobody" q No
bodYp1 Nobody but q rebel. [Gresl
| applause and cheers.l 1t Is death 10 him
Aflaughterl l-but it IS life to us snc
our nation. Tremendous enthusiasm
On the other hand, it is equslly philosophi
cslly and religiously true that if you with
draw from the three million Of Ysters in GU
country million, whether it be of the ig
norsnt or enlightened classes, you weske
i the capacity snd strength of the people 70
government. 1t is better, as every msl
knows, that all should be represented at tn
bsllot-box, than that only q part should b
represented. Appliance Because al 81
wiser aud greater than part. The mutt
tude of meu Of every natlonls nearer
G6d than any one man that lives within
There is more OF his spirit and of MS poWe
in the race thar there is In any fragmen
of the race, whatever may be Its attribute
and its position. In that where God rs
given the fnll share of his ability and pow
sr, We have greater reason 10 trust than
that, whatever may be its earthly espacit,
or its earthly attainment ghich has le
and imperfect share. Therefore, l 81
again, that fitness and capacity are not Il
sole nor principal test The test of safe
is in the heart of the people-the instruct'
, heart of the psoPle-instructed not in al
csteehism, ,pOr in spelling BOOK, but IN fan
r to God and love to men. And who shs
say that the four millions of people tn
, have been acquired lately, IS it were by
: new birth to the American nation, who shI
) say to me that their hearts ara not as pul
! shat their heart is not as loyal, not as tAis
full to the Government, not as faithful
the interests of the people and God as IN
Of any other GLASS [Gfeat spplause.l
: may be that they are unlettered; that tn
I cannot decipher the mysteries OF Egypt
! hieroglyphics, or wander through I
!, mazes Of geometry and the occult seienc
but these things donot help to make 8 m
wise-lhey do not help to make him lear
!, ed they do not help TO mske him useful
8 they assist to make him ornamental but
, far as the depository of political power
II eoncerned, it is to be exercised for the bsnC
q of all Give me an honest and faith
Is man without letters, before the most Occ
e and sbstruse scholar, who knows nothi
le of the political affairs OF life. see thisl
re merely as matter Of choice, as 8 matter
N political reflection, as q matter of neceI
& ", but IS providence for which we hs
L I - - I,o - oSrSkafu1 n Gof "a for q