The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1866-01-24

while the many thousands who sympathize
with the rebellion, giving aid and comfort b
the enemy, are allowed to vote and hold oific
under our laws?
Disclaimng any authority as the organ o
others, and speaking only for myself, declar,
It rs my deliberate and solemn conviction tha
the prayer Of this memorial should be heard
and granted
Political cq,ialit.", the object sough. to be
obtained, is vital principle of the American
constitution, as Clearly exemplfed by the co
temporaneous acts Of the men who framed II.
For in their day freemen enjoyed the right Of
suffrage without regard to color, and if in any
locality distinction existed, it was a marked
exception to the general rule. No danger was
ever apprehended from this impartial dispense.
ton of the elective privilege. With proper
safeguards to the purity OF the ballot box, |
can perceive no danger in making loyalty to
the constitution and the union the basis Of
suffrage, adding thereto the qualification Of in
te!ligence. But, whatever conditions may bo
deemed cxpedient, the gravest considerations
OF policy demand that we make them applic1.
Die to all classes. Ignoring the tyrannical dis
tlnction based upon nationality or color.
Desiring no fundamental change in eur po.
lltical system, we seek only practical acqui
csence in those immutable principles which an
| enlightened patriotism, intensified by the or.
deal OF civil war, has indicated as the only
true foundation of the American union.
For these reasons, and because tho end can.
not be otherwise attained, | earnestly press
upon your attention the cxpedency of propos.
lug an amendment to the constitution for
striking ou. the word "white" from the article
on suffrage, in order tint, in due time, this
much agisated question shall be submitted d.
rcctly to the people, for their ultimate and final
decision
Every vcstige Of this atrocious institution
must be 70 ever obliterated from the lanl. No
rene or memento should be left to remind pos-
tcrlty that the stars of our ,tonal emblem
ever shonc upon such monstrons crime.
The paragraph below should stand alone,
because it virtually upsets all the arsuner.
tative appeals cf Stone relative to our in
reference with Southern S1f'tage. Not
until Iowa has done this 'impartal IS.
tice' to the African race can her Executive
or her people insist upon it in other states.
We thank you, Governor for this a1mis
sion. 1t will take two years at lelst-s,
anti free suffrage orators and ,urnals Of
the late canvass told us-baforc this ques<
ton can be decided in Iowa and until that
time all Hawkeyes are told to let the South
alone. In the meantime The .Lnion is to-
remain dismembered, whites and blacIs,
all unrcprescnted until Iowa peaks! We
italicisc:
We cannot e,L Others 10 alp, tsis s.ers
principle Of impartial justice, if 10: reject
it IN our oun State Before we assert that
no nc ha in
vested with equality of political rights, let
us chasten ourselves, placate our own ami
mostly, and tauS practically illustra's tn.
sincerity of the convictions We profess t"
cherish.
The Governor was evidently little suS.
piciou of this paragraph and he proceeds
to say:
The recent political canvass in tais State
was characterized by thorough and com,
prehensive discussion of this su ject by the
opposing parties, and, while the result may
not be fairly construed as d rect endorse
meut Of free suffrage, it can nevertheless
with entire accuracy be taken as popular
demand for the submission Of the proposed
to the people.
SO far was the late canvass from "corn-
p rehensive discussion of this subiec. that
many Of the Republican stumpers, news
papers, county conventions and candidates
ignored it and denounced those who in
serted the "negro plank in the state plat
form. 1t was held that in any event no
'ots on the question. could ta1s place till
1867, and that the "B ,ntonites" in oppos.
ns negro sulfcag, We're fighting myth"
The myth, we thought to be question Of
mischief and its defeat at the threshold was
he best way 20 settle it, AS the Governor
egards the election as popular demand
or submission Of the question we hope
he Legislature VIII propose it to the. peo-
lie and order special election long before
SGT By all means, Messrs Senators and
let US have the naked
uestion, soon! Connecticut, Wisconsin,
'olerado and Minnesota have had it before
he:a, why no! Iowa? Don't wait till '67 and
hen mix it up with officers, patronage;
latforms, and party drill-if it has merit,
can stand alone. Give it to Us straight.
Gov Stone conpiiments Iowa for her
rogress toward equal rights recon.
nends the immediate adoption of the Com
amendment; refers to our faith
rs, to the declaration Of Independence; to
he lately oppressed bondmen, and. in
cry bad taste, We think, Stone Guotes
air of lines ref citing upon our country
nd our government up to the time when
(r. Garrison and Mr.. Seward commenced
starring" it:
"That starry flag no longer waves
In splendid mockeryoer land Of Saves"
nd concludes as follows:
These ures-Emancipatio and En-
anchisement-radiant with the hopes Of
lillons, and dictated alike by wisdom and
lstice, should together receive our cordial
anction. They are intimately related as
oncurrent rights, and we cannot consist.
ntly grant the one and withhold the other.
Fellow citizens OF the General Assem-.
ly, let me imp!ore you to meet this great
risis like men and patriots, fearless in
he discharge Of duty. This Offering OF
eedom should not be an empty thing
mere formality. La aside your preju-
ice against the slave when ycu lift the
on from his neck, and make him a man.
ur $4,000 bayonets have made wall
,tween you and the wrongs Of slavery,
hile ten thousand Iowa graves scattered
ON the banks Of the Des MoineS to the
llantc seaboarti, are silent, yet eloquent
|vocates for those who have nobly earned
e rights of manhood as the price Of valor
ID blood.
AS the unhding line OF history stretch
back from this aga to the sea and the
lderness through whith Jehovak guided
e delivcrers OF Iseral, SO may it reach
rward to that golden era when this en-
.nchised race shall point to tho children Of