Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1866-02-28

been deceived by it.
It is we'll known to you that am moi
in favor OF unlimited negro suffrage.
have never concealed my opinions on
this subject bat have expressed them
repeatedly both in speeches and letters.
i The ignorant and nnlettered negro oi
the Southern States do not regard as
safe sdepositary of political power.
To give him the suffrage in his present
condition might do the Government
harm; il certainly could do him no
good. And again, if the suffrage we're
made universal, In several of the South
ern States, at least, the negroes might
take political control, aud thus prob
lem be presented, for the solution of
which the public mind even of Connec-
ticut seems not to be prepared. But
have not said, and I hope I will never
say, that an Intelligent and educated
freeman, black or white, discharging his
duties as citizen, laboring under no
disability for crime or alienage, and loyal
to his Government, should be debarred
of the right to participate in the making
of laws designed to operate upon him in
common with others 1t is idle 10 insist
that there is no slavery where the direc.-
tion of public affairs is given to q ia
vored class. Those without political in
fuence become, sooner or later, "hew-
ers of wood and drawers of water"
They are regarded as inferior TO the rul.
ing class The canvassers for public ia
vor have no promises or pledges to make
to them, but succeed oftener by appeal
ing to the prejudices of those who gov
ern. Nature has provided the weaker
animals and insects Of creation with
weapons of defense. He who would
crush the bee must bear the sting. So
in the governments Of men, each m an
aud each class of men must have some
power or means of protection; otherw.se
they become the prey Of the stronger.
We all agree that the negro should be
educated; bat how will it be accomplish
ed sithout giving him some po yer to
secure the means of education? You
expect money for educational purposes,
but you will not suffer the negro to come
10 your schools. If you give him politi
cal influence politics. ans win fear him
and do him Justice / have not suppos-
ed 1t safe to keep any large body Of peo-
pie deprived of their suffrage under our
Government, or under any Government
protesting to derive its Just powers
from the consent of the governed, ,, for
any great length of time, and then only
for the most urgent reasons when the
public safety would otherwise be endan-
gered.
Such being my own opinions, and be-
lieving from what 4 knew Of the views
of President johnson that they.were not
materially different, when recently in
Washington, | called on him and had
full and frank talk with him in refer
ence to all the questions connected with |
his reconstruction policy. In that con- |
nection he stated that in his view the |
States attempting to secede were still in |
the Union and had always been. That |
slavery was practically abolished lin |
those States, and must be entirely so to |
secure admission of their members into |
Congress-that thsy must adopt the con-
stitutional amendment, destroying slave |
~ throughout the nation, and provide /
in their own constitution that hereafter |
property shall not exist in man. Tax. |
ing bis stand point that the States are
still in the Union, be does not think be
Sod SOnototcnhJ iutCEi6EC Win tuo iran
chise in those States--or IN any other |
that is, that he cannot confer it upon per- |
sons not enjoying it, under the respe etive
State constitutions as they existed be.
fore the rebellion But as an individual /
he desires that the negro shall be en-.
.trGnekised, and would be gratifed to /
see the several State conventions extend
the franchise to all persons of color
who can read the Constitution of the
United States in English and write their
names, and also to all persons Of color |
who own real estate valued at not less /
than two hundred and fifty dollars, and
who pay taxes thereon. 4 have now |
quoted the precise words of the Presi-
dent, and yon will see that If the Dem
ocratic party indorse him they must in
dorse negro suffrage, and thus remove |
the last plank from their platform. |
am rejoiced myself to see all parties |
indorsing the President. I am satisfied |
he is doing the best he can to restore |
peace and harmony between the Sec
lions. He may commit errors. 1t
would be strange If he did not OF one
thing think we may oil rest assured,
and that is, whenever be finds an error
he viii correct it, and correct it on the
side of justice and the Union. ga