The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1866-11-24

Suffrage.

The Democratic Party and Negro
Suffrage.
Throughout the campaign just ended it was
charged that the radicals were the advocates
of negro suffrage. Passionate appeals were made
to vote the Democratic ticket, in order that me-
gro equality might not be forced upon the peo-
ple 1t was the burden of the song of Democrat
ic newspapers and politicians The election is
over and although in this State and in Della
aware, probably owing to this senseless cry Of
negro suffrage, the Democratic party is success
full yet in all the other States the verdict against
the policy of the Democratic party is unparal-
lelIed in the history of politics in this country
Now mark the sequel. The Democratic party has
become the dOooced advocates Of negro Suffrage
Within the last fortnight many of the leading
Democratic papers in this country, (including
the Chicago Times, Milwaukee Nesos, Boston
Post New York World and Times, Cincinnati
Gazette, and hosts of lesser lights, have come
out squareIy in favor Of impartial suffrage,
and advocate it not merely as expedient, but as
being right More than this numerous delega-
Southerners, have waited on President Johnson
and recommended him to adopt it as part of
his policy. The Southerners say their States will
adopt it; that they prefer it to the Constitution
al Amendment, and they are besieging Mr.. john
son to proclaim g universal suffrage" and "uni-
versa amnesty as his platform. Still more !:
the President fauors The scheme. He has stated TO
all these delegations that be will give the subject
a careful consideration that he is in tdUor Of
impartial suffrage, and still adheres TO the princi-
pile he laid dorm IN his umous letter to Coz. Sar-
key, Of Mississippi That the advocates of Mr..
Johnson's policy may see bis views as expressed
in that letter we reproduce it:
EXECUTIVE MANSION
WASHINGTON, D. O., August 18th, 1865.
Governor William L. Sharkey, Jackson, Mss:
lam gratifed to see that you have organized
vour Convention ] hope that without delay
your Convention will amend your State Constitu-
ton, abolshing slavery and denying to all fu-
ure legislatures the power to legslate that there
is property in man. Also that they will adopt
the Amendment to the Constitution of the United
States abolishing slavery. IF yo0 could e1tend
the eIectoe franchise to all persons Of color aoho
read the Constitution Of the y. S. and write their
names, and to all persons who own real estate cal
ned at not less than $3.50, and pay tdees thereon,
you would completely disarm the adversary, and
set an example the other States aO0uld follo,c. This
you can do aoith perfect safety and thus place the
Southern States on the same basis with the Free
States. Thope and trust your Conuention cdt do
this, and, as a consequence, the Radicals, who
are wild upon negro franchise, will be complete
ly foiled in their attempts to keep the Southern
States from renewing their relations to the Union
by not accepting their Senators and Representa-
tiyes ANDREW JOHNSON,
President of the United States.
Thus we have the President and the Democrat
ic party squarely in favor Of negro suffrage
This is certainly radical change in the profess
ia principles of that party, but yetit is not to be
wondered at. They have swung round the
circle so often in their hunt after office that we
can scarcely wonder at anything Democrats may
do. They have tried opposition to the Govern
ment, and been beaten. They then 1" changed
their base,p and pretended to be the Unions
irmest supporters, but yet the people have repu-
dated them AS last resort, on the same prin-
ciple that a drowning man will catch at straws,
they have mounted the hobby of impartial suf-
frage, and propose to ride upon it to power
They will be as greatly mistaken in this as in
their many other calculations. They may give
negroes the right to vote, but yet will be beaten
as badly, in fact, will be but providing stick to
break their own heads. I'VE wait to see the
further developments of this precious scheme !;
how democrats will look opposing the principles
of their whole life how they will manage TO ex-
plain their many denunciations of negro-lov-
ers, radicals" &C., in the past. We do not
suppose, however, it will be hard work, as all
changes of their principle can be easily explained,
at least to the satisfaction of democrats themselves.