The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-03-14
SOUND WORDS FROM A SOUTHERN
SOURCE.

Rising above the currents of popular pas
sion and prejudices and all proslavery pro
olvities, as do the sentiments of the follow
ing paragraph which We take from Gov.
Hamilton's message to the Texas convention.
They do honor TO him, are pertinent and
forcible as addressed TO the people of his
STATE, and are satisfactory to the loyal mer
of the country.
The Governors of the other Sta tes lately in
rebellion, have, many ofthem, been so affec
ted by the hatred of the Government and the
Yankees, which characterizes the Southern
masses, that their policy has been sectona
and pro rebel to such an extent as to be pos
itively hurtful in the work of reconstruction
Yielding themselves professedly TO the su
premacy of a preserved federal Government
and becoming the sworn official agents tc
restore the relations between late revolted
States an the Government, in many par
ticulars their policy has retarded the work for
which they should labor They have given
the force of their official position and sane
ton toa spirit ofnju stice and quasi disloyalty.
Among these Governor Hamilton is not to
be included. Concerning the freedmen he
utters these wholesome sentiments:
In my judgment. gentlemen, it is the part
of wisdom to provide in the organic law of
the State that the freedmen in our midst shall
enjoy civil rights on the equality with the
White population of the State. By civil
rights l mean the right to sue in the courts of
the country and to testify under the same
rules that apply to the admsibility of the ties
umony OF white persons; to acquire and hold
property, real and personal, and to be placed
upon an equality with white men in respect
to the punishment ofcrimes
More than this, believeit would be unwise
to exclude the freedmen in our midst from the
exercise OF political privileges, by making
the enjoyment of these privileges to depend
upon accident OF birth or order. | do not
believe that the great msss of frea eadmen in our
midst are qualified by their intelligence 10
exercise the right of suffrage, and | do not
desire to see this privilege conferred upon
them. But think that progress is tie great
law OF mind, nnder every free government,
and | do not believe that any policy can be
enduring or permanent in this country which
IS based upon accidental circumstances and
the traditions of prejHdIce;' instead of being
10 founded n !i, upon the eternal pricples of truth
anu justice.
should not be willing to deprive any man
who IS qualified under existing laws to vote,
Of the exercise Of that privilege in the future.
But believe it would be wise to regulate the
qualifications of those who are to become vo.
ters hereafter, by rules OF universal applica-
ton. think it would be no difficult task to
fix such qualifications for the exercise of the
right OF suffrage as would be satisfactory to
the nation, ard in no degree detrimental to
the interests of the people of the State.
Had PERRY, SHARKEr and company viewed
with such sound sense, justice and statesman
like forethought the new social and civil con
ddions that the suppression Of rebellion and
the overthrow Of slavery have brought about,
and had they urged justice and iglt for all
the freedmen and the entire southern people,
we apprehend pu5lic sentiment throughout
the South would be greatly improved aud the
work of reconstruction much farther and
more satisfactorily advanced than at present.