The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-03-29

be ant.repubican. Now, candidly.
does it not appear impr oper to thrust
upon the South negro suffrage, while we
repudate it ourselves. more especially |
when we consider how far above the ne.
groes of the South the negroes of the |
North are in point of intelligence. Is
it intended as punishment? The win.
dictive may triumph over fallen enc
my, and delight in inAicting upon them
an odious system in revenge, but to no.
bic minds revenge is not sweet. Besides
we impose these repulsive measures up
on whole communities, of which the 10y
al thousands who emgrate from the
North will foim part and they will
suffer as much from their operation as
those who have been deepest in the
crime of rebellion.
1t is said that the people Of the
South are still animated by spirit of
treason, and that their submission is on
ly feigned. With candid men tits only
necessary to oppose to this obj 'ction n
the testimony Of President johnson and
General Grant who say that thi. is not
true that they have accepted the situa.
ton in good faith We have been sat
isied all along that such objections we're
but mere pretexts to sustain their great
hobby of negro suffrage. IF any doubt
remains in any persons mind on this
subject it ought to be removed, since
the proceedings in the Senate OF the
United States on the 10th instant. on the
introduction of Senator Stewards reso
lutious which provide for restoration of
the Southern States, Immediately upon
their Incorporating certain provisions in
their constitutions, chief Of which is
universal suffrage.
These resolutions also. provide that
upon the performance of these con.
ditions, ga general amnesty shall be
proclaimed IN regard to all persons in
such states pho ,oere IN any ,oay cnn.
mected Nth armed opposition to the go0'
ernment of the United States, aoholy
eronerating them frcm MI pains, penal
ties, or disabilities, to which they may
haze bec"n,e table, by reason of co nnec
ho" Nth rebei1ion" These resolutions
show that they are not so much afraid
of the ex rebels after all,.-are really
willing to admit them again into Con.
Z gress. but they do want them to allow
negro suffrage These resolutions were
: we'll received by the radical portion o
, the Senate Henry Wilson exclaimine
"T am, for one, and I believe the couutr
. is in favor Of setting this whole question
on the basis of universal liberty, uni
versal Justice, uniOersaI suffrage, ant
" uajyersal amnesty" The fear of tn
e Southern whites then is all put on. as
IS rretext for the support of their hobb,
9 The great republican party was oil
ganized upon an idea - oppositio
! to chattel slavery. Within a yer
IT few years, its great mission was accom-
l. plished by the abolition of slavery
l. Having performed its work, the part
= ceases to have a common object, an
its members are free to take sides upo
Is TIE new issues that have since ariser
n as to them may seem right. Now com
l. in the radical leaders and attempt to us
,e the marty whip, to coerce their former 70
lowers into this new measure Th
y President and a number of the best an
lie most respected of the party, and we b,
" !ieve a majority of the masses of tt
is republicans never advocated Negro Su
49, frape. and never thought of making it
, mart of their creed. The President hi
T. led off against this radical programm
n In this we think that all conservative
- men. without regard to former party a
70 6liations should give him their supror
~ 1t is the great question ofthe day. Tt
>" adoption of the radical programme
OF keeping the states out and preventing
IN complete restoration unless they can a
on complish their purpose, will produce di
# content in the south, distrust and u
:. certainty in the North, paralyze Il
F." productive energies of the people, ha7
''' withering influence on the busine
us hopes of the country, and depreciate Il
of credit of our government securities
II. Europe We should consider the que
-, ton carefully and come to a correct co
Lo clusion on the merits. Then we shou
to scan the party platforms closely al
or support that which comedies with o
ar views. If voters would adopt this mo
20 We should have a better and strong
government, and the great defect in q
u" American system would be remedied.
IN.