The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-11-16

treated the subject Of suffrage thus:
ssThe coiored race have shown greater ap
tituds for lesraing aad intsligeaee shAs vas
saeadfast loyalty have rapidly won upon The
good opinion and respsct Of the Hhite race
while the late rebels, under the encourage
ment OF the President, have shown less dis
position TO return to true loyalty than vas
hoped for the national sentiment in favor of
impartial suffrage. In the message to which
have alluded, while candidly admitting that
"negro voting cannot suit my prejudicss OF
easss," it is ret stated that there ID . class
Of them that would be Wiling to see vote at
once" The opinion is also expressed that
negro suffrage is bound to follow as one Of
the great results OF the rebellion, and that
the time would come when 1t would be proper
aud right" but that the time had not then
come, the great objection being to . thsim-
medistc and indiscriminate Acknowledgement
Of the negro = but it is directly insisted in
the message to which refer, that sit the
tive franchise, let US no longer deny those
political rights TO the late slaves who have
BEEN faithful among the faithless' still
adhere to the opinion that ''al this great out
cry against negro voting many contingency,
comes from lingering sentiment of disloyal,y
in the South. In all the states lately in re-
bellion, except Tennessee, the rebels had
been fully restored to the nghts. Of lie saec-
tive franchise and even in our own State,
under . somewhat stringent suffrage law, a
large numbet Of disloysl persons were an
svoidsby allowed to vote, whether the time
has come when it 10 'sproper and right 70
confer the ballot upon the eolored man, or
whether that time is approaching at which
that sacred right shall accrue 10 him, are
questions demanding our earnest c4nsidera-
ton and final decision. The admirers and
followers Of the President cannot, with any
show of consistency, oppose the enftanchise-
ment Of the negro. 10 any authorized and
public by his direction, long since bis Acces
sion to the Presidency, he declares that if he
we're sin Tennessee be would endeayor to in.
troduce negro saffrage.n He declares that be
would begin with three classes Of negroes to
vote at once: "Those who have served 10
the army; those who could read and write,
and those having property qualification OF
$500 or $3.50" Thus, by . system not very
gradual, he desired to extend the privilege
to the entire race, IF what is termed the
radical party in the legislature shA Ill agree
with the President and bis followers on the
question Of negro suffrage, It would seem
that an excellent opportunity for agreement
and Cancellation on q vexed question will be
presented, and that the negro may be en-
franchised With unan,mity. As for myself,
while have confessed to those prejndices Of
caste, resulting from education and lifelong
habits, / am free to say that dessire to act
in harmony with the great body ofthe loyal
people of the Union. think should not,
without great and controlling reasons, sever
ourselves from that great and national party
whose wisdom and coursge saved the life Of
the nation, and rescued the loyal people Of
Tennessee from the hands of the oppressor.'
Referring to the Law disfranchising voters
on account Of the rebellion, he says:
"Ths law was not passed from vindictive
or malevolent motives, but in self defense TO
protect the loyal people from oppression and
the State from misrule The spirit and pe.
MUS Of republican institutions demand that
every citizen should be allowed TO vote who
may do 90 consistently with the safety OF the
Government. If there be classes disfran-
chised by the present law. who are worthy Of
the privilege, you should restore them; and
If there be classes enfrznchised who are nm.
worthy, you should restrict them. If YOU
are satisfied that in the process of time the
disfranchised class will become good citizens
by learning to respect loyalty, you may e Z
hunt to the operations Of the Law by nomina.
ting some day in the future when its restric-
ton shall wholly or partially cease. At all
events, you should, before your inal adjourn
ment see, if possible, that the Law is such a.
to iced no further amendments
Advices from Nashville say that Governor
Brownlow's recommendation for colord sufs
frage will hardly be acted upon without other
conditions. That impartial suffargeand unver-
sal amnesty are likely to be the policy the
loyal men Of Tennessee will adopt.
Order by Gen. Thsmas.
Iha Southern naners ara very anrrr nxer