The Portland daily press., 1866-01-18
Colored Suffrage in Washington.

~>~>1 oAC IA w dSQ1uRIOu.
That Congress will grant qualified suffrage
to the colored population of the District of
Columbia, we have no doubt. The only cues
tions in relation to which there seems room
for doubt, relate to the conditions or quaiffca-
tions. The House seems inclined to fieer
suffrage than the Senate, but the bill before
the latter is no more restricted in provisions
than are the laws of Massachusetts, in their
application to her white as well as colored
population.
That President johnson will veto such a
bill, if passed, is not to be thought of for a
moment. On the contrary, his language not
only to Major Stearns of Massachusetts, and
to the colored troops in Washington, but to
the South Carolina delegation even, justifes
the belief that he will not only officially ap-
prove such bill as Congress may pass upon
this subject, but that it viii meet with his
most cordial and hearty personal appreciation.
In late number of the Philadelphia Press,
Col. Forney, in one of his Occasional" let
tiers from Washington, thus speaks,-and we
do not believe he would speak so emphatically
did he not have reason to believe his views
would find approval with the President and
his Cabinet. Col. Forney as Secretary of the
Senate, and as keen observer of passing
events, and as a shrewd and generally win
ming polititian, not only has superior oppol-
tunity for Judging accurately of the sentiment
and probable action of Congress, but he is not
likely to commit himself too emphatically to
measure of this kind that has no prospect of
success. In the communication referred to he
says: ''l- soy t-a
If there is spot on this hemisphere where
love of country should be idolatrous and hate
of slavery passionate, this is that spot. No
one fact proves so well the vast strength of
the government and its majestic magnanimity
as the present prosperity of Washington
saved as it was by the strong measures Of the
anti-siayery men, and prepared by the same
agencies for wondrOus future. Is it not,
therefore, surprising to hear sold residents
here insisting that while mighty changes are
taking place everywhere else, as result of the
death of rebellion and slavery, nothing shall
be done to remove the wreck Of old crimes
from the nationol capital And yet such are
not only plenty, but they fly into passion and
denounce all who insist that this renovation is
sisted. There is not border State in which
thousands of Abolitionists have not been
made by the logic of the war; and yet how
few arose from the population around u.s. The
mtellects who stir the prejudices and strike at
the wrongs of rebellion come here from the
free States.
The colored people of the city of Washing
ton are among the most intelligent in the
country, and when they are authorized to
for ho;p IL.
whites, they will, I predict, assist in improy-
ing every portion of the District. l warrant
you there Is not leader of the rebellion in
the States who does not expect modified po-
litical franchise extended to the cOlored men
at the national capital, and who would not be
surprised if Congress refused or feared to re-
alize this general anticipation. Indeed, there
is not in the South one comprehensive mind
who does not see that it is matter of duty
and of necessity to prepare the colored people
everywhere for enfranchisement Four mill
ions of human beings cannot, in the nature of
things, be safely rescued from serfdom, and left
q mighty community of aliens, neglected and
despised, among their former owners and mas
tiers. He who supposes the interests or the
honor of the country could be promoted by
such monstrous ingratitude and desertion, sup
poses an impossibility. And if the colored
men are untitled for suffrage elsewhere, they
are unquestionably prepared for 1t here; and
Congress cannot escape the responsibility of
comforting it upon them, in one or another
shape. While Congress will not be intimidat-
ed by the threats CT force that have come from
the local politicians in view of its plain duty,
it will not legislate in the spirit of retaliation
or revenge. On the contrary, the very men
who denounce the representatives of the peo-
pie for doing that which, if they failed in
would entitle them to the contempt of all
mankind, will live to realize and to say that
their best benefactors are to be found in the
anti-slavery members. ;r -ai 1919