The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-08-16
suFF&AGE AND WAR or RAcs,

SUFKMAGE AND WAR OF RACE 3
Democracy exteuuates the murder of ne
groes ~ New Orleans and Memphis by whs
it calls the natural antagonism ofraces. Il
wants to give the rebels uncontrolled rule anc
perpetaatc injustice towards the negro By
preaching. the horrors of a war of races. II
this has not come by che long years of OPP
preston aud wrong which the negroes have
suffered at the hands of the whites it 10 moi
likely to come if we remedy wrong and dc
justly by all men. Senator HowR treated thii
subject sensibiy in his late speech at Madison
Wisconsin. In reviewing the call for the
Peiladelphia Convention he said
"Anotber principle to which the member.
Of the Philadelphia Convention are called up
on to subscribe is that each State has the
lndoubted right to prescribs-the qualification,
OF its own electors, and no external power
nghtfuliy can. or ought. to dictate, control,
or infinenfe the free and voluntary action OF
the States in the exercise Of tAa. rifht. Tha,
is ose of the rights of the States.
Unique stionably, fellow ctizens, under
the Constitution as it existed. that is one OF
the rights Of the States. They bs ve exer.
eised it. They have not been deprived Of il,
and there is at present no attempt to deprive
them OF it, any where. Whether they have
exercised that power rightly or wrongly is a
question about which mendiffer. You know
It has been execised differently in almost every
State. But the attempt of the argument il 10
iasten upon the majority of Congress the
charge that they keep the Representatives OF
these communities gu, of Congress with the
view OF forcing upon them what is called me-
gro suffrage, and to compel them to put the
ballot into the hands Of their colored men.
Nov, il you have watched, as your Char
man says you have, the action of YOUR Con-
gress, you know that they have made no such
d ,mand upon them. Whether it would be
Jnst or expedient to make such demand ia
question about which men differ. For my
self have no doubt thrt it would be better
ior these communities, better for the welfare
q the United States, better for mankind
everywhere. if the ballot was put into the
hands OF ali gulltless men. prolonged an.
flsuse.
81 know, fellow citizens, thu, grea, many
% these eoiored men are ignorant aud don I
know how TO use the ballot. but am sorry
10 say that great many OF us white men don I
snow what 10 do with the ballot. lCbeers /
THESE
men. ignorant as they are, who would NIKE
worse use of the ballot than is likely IN l..
made iu the Philadephia Convention NOV,
week. Laughter. | think. myself that
the ballot hould be placed in the hand. Of ali
hose men as much black a. white.
Blu, it is said, fellow citizens. that that will
not do, because it will lead to war Of races
Why war Of races! II we allow the negro
TO vote, # he is legally authorized 10 vote
Why should war ensue between the races?
From whom 10 the war to come? Who will
make ~ The negro has been excluded from
NE ballot Tor great many years He has
not fought because of that exclusion. II the
ballot Is put into his hands, will he make
var because ofthat? VIII be not be lust rs
disposed after that ballot IL nut
nto his hands IS he has been while the ballot
las been kept from his hands? Then he l.
lot going to make war because be is enfran.
'msed. Who is? The other color. the white
ace, are they going TO commence a war Of
determination because the ballot il mt into
he hands of the black man. You know. fel.
ow citizens, that in the earlier and hetser
lays Of the Republic that the black man did
'ote in every State of the Union hut two.
md there was no war Of races. then. Wby
hould there be now? Will they commenc. !.
var upon the black race because the sunrema
aw allows the black man to vote? car,n,
ay that they will not know. IN sni,e ~
ny previous belief to the contrary, thru did
make wal upon you in 1851 because YOU
'oted for Abraham Lincoln in 1880: and
annof undertake TO say that the same kind
y men will not make war upon the black man
he votes at oil for anybody or anything.
but. recollect that the negro + not
'oing to be allowed to vote until be & allowed
y Law TO vote. Either the States must per.
mt him 10 vote. or the United States. by an
mendment OF the supreme law, must allow
I'm TO vote. Bat, let me tell you, for your
that il he should happen
DC enirHachised, either by the one process
|, tne other, l don't think any portson of the |
nn -: race are gong to make war upon him. |
believe in the State Of Wisconsin negroes |
re allowed to vote by the supreme law ~
nas stale, lapplause and you hrve not vet |
ommenced the war Of exterminai;on No.
ave you? And you are not likely 10 com
pence If Virginia should do the name I
ninf, do you think the war of DETERMINATION !
'out0 commence therrf No! What "a ii.
op.e O. me United States should take Il |
-. ~ snsir heads to amend the Supreme NV |
" pus tne ballot into the banda II n. -.
no who do you think is eoins tn 6sh, -.
!, nlseo Ststes againf Not the H.. 1870 ~. |
ms neI arr I'D Of that work. No ~. ~
s Iney never had sny heart for e.ht'
~ kAPllasss end lanshtsfl. 49,
49, oiahything % idle o. q abpri Is.
i, you allow the simplest - "a ;nsa;ce !,
q Ccne, inst TN. ir&oins u 80 70 Z =.
III 9loa9on We eesd nj - I'D
~ 4 WShAss ned that exne.s.S.3 -. l
,escsE, eo's..} - a1ser1 hjss pso6.aedly