The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-10-06
Mr.. Raymond ON Negro Suffrage.

It is well known that Mr.. Raymond, the
Editor of the New York Times, is the author
of the address and resolutions of the Phia-
delphia Convention. 1t is also well known
that Mr.. Raymond voted in Congress for the
Howard amendment. Mr.. Raymond Is the
acknowledged leader Of the Worth partv in
this State. And yet this same Mr.. Raymond
is vehemently urging the Southern States to
accept the Howard amendment, and in his
last issue he takes ground as follows for me-
gro suffrage. He admits that there is moth.
ing in the Howard amendment which ohio
es the States to adopt negro suffrage, but he
thinks the day is not distant when the Soutb-
ern States will adopt it of their own accord
What will those papers that have been
charging us with completely" on this cues
ton with Mr. Stevens, say to this advocacy
of negro suffrage by their file-leader Mr.
Raymond2
We hold, in common with the Journal
that the suffrage question belongs exclusive
ly to the States, and that Congress has M
right to compel any State to allow negroes
aliens, or any other class of its inhabitants
to vote. This is among the powers express''
ly reserved to the States by the Constitution
and it that instrument is still the supreme
law of the land Congress has no right tn
override or override this provision. The sue.
frage question must be left to State repn-
lation.
Our own opinion is that the Southern
States, if left to the free operation of the in
duences which always control political ra
suits, will themselves extend the suffrage to
their colored population. 1t will become
their inf RI 6n cn-ip6oa6 -
speedily become necessary to their peace and
to the preservation of those friendly relations
between the two races upon which the well
fare of both must hereafter depend While
slavery existed, peace was maintained bv
force. The negroes had no rights, no place
in Southern society, no consideration or in
6uence whatever. This is all changed. They
are no longer chattels-they are persons.
They have rights and those rights must and
will be recognized and projected. They
have all the rights of free men-the right to
sue and be sued-the right to earn and re-
ceive wages, to make contracts. to hold
real estate, to hold meetings, to discuss pub
lie questions, to bear arms, to petition for
redress of grievances. The enjoyment and
exercise of these rights gives them power
makes them Important elements of civil and
political society; and just as fast as they
become qualified for the exercise of political
power, they will find or force their admission
to it,
The extirpation of slavery has struck
death-blow at the mere prejudice, based on
race or color, which has hitherto excluded
the negro from political and civil rights 1t
may not die instantly, but it will very spec
Oily lose its commanding power, and yield,
like all other mere prejudices, to the force of
reason and the enlightened and liberal spirit
of the age. The colored race may not be at
!. IL
will not be, as it has been hitherto, solely or
mainly on account of its race or color. but
because slavery, and the prejudices which
had their root in slavery, have deprived that
race of the means and opportunities of be-
coming qualified for the exercise of political
power. When that obstacle is removed its
admission will be prompt and easy"