Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-04-04

If the problem be not dealt with in this way
or some such way, it will be solved in an ad-
verse sense.
If it be not solved rightly, it threatens to
generate a barren and bitter agitation. sure to
result disasterously to those who propose the
political enfranchisemen: of the negroes, and
to consolidate the Union of the enemies Of the
government in the loyal and rebel States into
an irresistible power, which must wrest the
government from the hands of those who have
saved it. This coalition is probable in any
event, but on this question it is certain and
fatal.
The negro population must be recognized by
| the President and Congress integral part
of the people OF the State, in the view Of the
| Constitution of the United >tates, without
whose concurrence and full participation in
| power no state governm ent will be recognized
IN any state which rebelled, it will remain
ostracised and outcasts for another generation,
and the enemies of the government wrest ii
| from those who saved it.
! To permit the whites to disfrsnctise the ne
groeS is 10 permit those who have been cur
enemies to ostracse friends. The negroes
| are the only persons in those states who have
| not been in arms against Us. They have always
and everywhere been friendly and not hostile 10
Us. They alone have deep interest IN the
continued supremacy Of the United States, for
then freedom depends 90 it. On them alone
can We depend suppress a nsurrection-
| They alone Will be inclined TO for the
friends of TIE government IN all the southern
states. They alone have sheltered, fed and
pioneered our starved and hunted brethren
through the swamps and woods of the south, in
their flight from those who now aspire to rule
them.
Inc shame and folly of deserting the negroes
are equaied by the wisdom of recognizing and
PROTECTING their power.
They will form cI~ar and controlling ma
II against the united white vote in South
Carolina, Mississippi and Louisiana
W IN a very small secession from the loyal
whites, they viii form majority in Alabama,
Georgla, aud Virginia.
Uualded in ali those states, they will be
majority in many congressional and legislative
dis rcts. ana that alone suffces % break the
terrible and menacing unity of the southern
vote II Congress
If organized and led by men having their
confidence, The negroes Will prove as powerful
and loya! at the polls as they have already, 10
the face Of equal clamor and equal prejudice,
proved themselves under such leaders the
field Of battle.
To those who say they are unfit for the fran
chlse, reply they are more fl than secession
ists
than large masses of the wtIJe voters of the
Soutn, the rabbe that is tumbed on the
wharyes of New York and runs straight to the
polls.
However ignorant, they know enough to be
on The side OF the government, and the inteih-
gence of the master has not yet taught him
that wisdom.
They may be influenced by the master. but
the master must touch MS hat TO them at iea,t,
aud Il vii. be an open question whet her they
viii vote with the master any more than they
fought on MS side. l. Is certain the northern
Immigrant will find the negro safe ally, and
arguments on MS lips will lose no weight by
their aukee origin.
II is s4il not be safe for the master TO visit
their plantations IN Georgia; when be does be
viii hardly carry mnch Influence politically.
l repeat that in this problem are involved
the issues of life and death.
II the negro population be recognized an
ntegra. portion OF the people OF the states
whicn reb-lled, and governments be organized
on the basis of universal sufrage and equality
before the law, Congress ought to recognize
them, and the problem is soved forever.
Il the qeestion De submitted to The vote OF
any portion OF the white popui4ti q, the ne
groes viii De excluded from power.
The result entails on US barren agitation
instead Of benlfcent settlement. Ii carries
WITH L q division of the friends of the govern
ment and threatens TO evste its enemies TO
power.
For premature agtators | have small sym
pathy they are cocks which at midnight;
they co not herald the dawn, but merely dis
tur0 natural rest by untimey clamor.
But this is question CT political dyna.nics,
when presses now for solution and on it de-
penCs the chief fruits of the war.
If it BE- not rightly solved notc, it will find 10
solution for a generation, a d possibly none
then without renewed civil com notions. Over
the result have no power. can only hope
and fear. Your ob't servant,
H. W INTER DAVIS.