Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1866-12-06
Mr.. Greeley ms q lecconssrocslon.
esn-

Mr.. Greeley No q 1eccous1roc6ho0s
isa.
Mr.. Greeley availcd himself Of the occa
sion Of his departure for the West, where
he proposes to be absent for several weeks,
to express his views upon the all important
subject Of Reconstruction. Mr.. Greeley's
opinions are in strange contrast 10 those
generally promulgated by the Radical press,
and therefore challenge more than ordpNfy
consideration. While Mr.. Greeley consid-
ers universal amnesty and impartial suffrage
to be the only sure foundation Of hscon>
s,ruction, be does not commend them as re
ciprocal concessions. On the contrary, he
favors universal amnesty IS correct prin-
cipIc to be enforced, not granted, to the ex>
tent Of securing immunity from punishment
of person or confscation Of property, even
though impartial suffrage should be tempo
rily defeated. He believes the time past
for the arraignment, trial and punishment
Of Jefferson Davis il convicted, and thinks
tina, such a course, at this late day, must
inevitably result in evil, for the reason that
it would revive well nigh extineuishedkpas-
sions, arrest Cancellation, involve An unnec-
essary and -erious expense, and, unless the
jury were packed, could only result in
disagreement. Mr.. Greeley 10 forced 10
this conclusion by the belief that Mr.. Davis
is neither better nor worse than many 9th
ers who participated in the rebellion and
should be treated in the same manner. I'm.
partial suffrage he hopes TO see established
by general consent. Treating the negro q
a man he believes to be the only cfficscious
method Of taking him out Of politics. Let
the law once assert The fact that color shal
be inmaterial, urges Mr. Greeley, and from
that moment all championship Of the negro
must cease of necessity. He thinks, too,
that this end should be reached by independ-
ent action on the part Of the States and not
by Congressional legislation, but tho right
OF the black man to vote being thus c0nced-
ed, that right shall be thereafter protected
by the Federal Constitution. The poll tax.
in his opinion, shall be nominal, and should
extent 20 every useful, honest and indusir,>
Gus citizens, lunatics, paupers. vagrnnt.
and criminals alone excepted. An "intelli-
gent" basis for suffrage no looks upon Al
being wholly imprscticablc at present, bu,
thinks that with the establishment Of FIRE,
schools over all the South and the lapse o
ten years it might then be insisted that nj
one should vote who could not read. W,
here present Mr. Greclcy's concluding para
grapha intact, and regret that the length o
h,s letter precludcs republication In full IL
our columns:
l have said that LJaror both unirerso
amnesty and impartial suffrage on their rs
spectre merns each Tihhoat regard 10 N,
other hold that the North Is bound "a
insist on manhood suffrage--not in the
South only, but in every State and Terrific
because Of the service required of and
rendered by tho blacks in putting down the
rebellion that il would be perfidy and
basencss, in view Of the facts, not to insist
on this hold the South bound TO accord
suffrage TO the blacks a. an important and
useful, though-humblc, portion OF he,
people, whom it ~ her interest IS well a.
her duty to conciliAte and satisfy, even
though the North did not desire il. There
is no conflict between tie interests and du
ties Of the North on one side and tho Sou,l
on the other what is best for each, or eth
.r, is best for both he oniy COLLISION is be-
ircen TIER rsSpectice resentmcnts and preju,
dices. The North wants 10 keep ut leas
the leading rebels under ban indefinitely
the South-thnt IL, n majority Of the domi
nant caste At the South-wants to keen the
negroes under foot cspised, powerle.s :,
and often abascl hy the white ruf,ians.
whose crimes the better class dissvon, but
neither prevent nor punish. The loyal
Ncrth has demonstrated her ability to keep
the rebels out OF Congress the rebel South
has likewise proved her power 10 prevent
indefinitely the due ratification of the Con-
stitutional Amendment. This deadlock
affords TO those whom | must consider the
more generous and far seeing minds Of eth
CT section an opportunity which once Lost.
may never return. Even though the South
were able TO force her leaders into Congress
they could Mt hope for full restoration of
power aud public favor even though the
North were able to force impartial suffrage
on the South, it would prove Of little value
whies resisted by n ms iority Of the dominant
caste there. But let North and South
strike hands an the basis Of UNIVERSAL am,
nesfy and impartial Suffrage. and the resut
ing peace wa De perfect, all embracing and
tna"r'ng. Each section will gain every
thing and lose really nothing.
As 10 how the blacks will vote if cnfrsn
chlscd have not inquired, and do not care
90 know. That they will not vote for the
establishment Of slavery, nor for their
own Acknowledgement. nor to cxslt to power
those who bum their school houses and
mob their camp meetings, take to be self,
evident. They may make some mistakes nj
first; but experience will tend steadily to
Their diminuuon and correction. | do not
concur with the careful mother who insisted
that her son mast he kept out Of the water
TIL he should have learned TO swim. And
! ise confident that blacks, like other men.
~ill vote frst 70 secure their own rights.
chen TO promote tho welware Of TIER coun.
try.
II the South shall insist on her abstract
rsht 70 hold he blacks as . subject race.
the North will doubtless insist on the ipdet.
mi'e disirAnchisement Of all the prominent
rebels, and matters will tn ~ 20 on MS they
have Tor the last year. must still cherish
my opinion that this is unwisc; but I shall
sand with my own people. while awaiting
the ca''ner and wiser view that am conf,
ucut must ultimately prevail. Tho dis,n,er-
es'ed VIII say "Let the rebels remain under
'he Dan SO long as they insist on keeping
;ae blacks therc"-and they will sav no with
ample reason II the adjudgcment I urge
should ultimately fail, and, IN the mutations
OF party ascendancy, the rebels should he
let up and the blacks be kept down; | shall
regret It rs much for the sake OF tho South
a. OF the North; and shall feel that the
p'stne docs not all attach to the South
A. Whatever the immediate issue, l shall
oa'e no Jo' ct heart or hope that At Last
ana at no very distant day our people will
90 thoroughly harmonixed aud united on
the basis 81 impartial and universal free.
dom.
Whatever may be said Of Mr.. Greeley,
peculiar ideas. it must at least be admitted
that they are always advocated With can
dor and force that entities them to respec,
II they do not meet with approval. But in
the sentiments contained in tho letter from
which We have quoted there is more t.
praise than condemn. lf the leaders Of tho
Republican party generally could be induced
GO iorcgo psrtlzanship, and honestly stat,