Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-07-03
oh, No! Nos I'm Favor of Negro
GuffirnUel


suffrage upon the Negroes-after the Re-
publican members in Congress have talked
and legislated to that end-say they are
not in favor of Negro Suffrage; that they |
have tumbled the whole matter overheard,
and are content that the Negro, who, ar-
cording to their say so heretofore, did SO
much to put down the Rebellion, and who
is the only loyal parsonage in the South
may now shift for himself. Heretofore,
the public were told by these journalists,
that it was absolutely necessary that suf-
frage should be conferred upon the Negroes
in the South, as a shield against the cruelty
and cupidity of their late masters. civil
Rights bills, and kindred legislation, were
pronounced by them well enough In their
way; but that if suffrage were withheld
from the Negroes they would be left almost
helpless. If suffrage is so necessary tothe
welfare of the Negroes just set free in the
South, why do these champions OF the Ne
groes proclaim with an air of exultation
that they are not now advocating Negro
Suffrage? Why this abandonment OF the
Negro and his welfarep Is ito make good
the words of President JOHNSON, used, when
few months ago he addressed a Negro
Delegation, that they would find that he
was better friend to them than are the
Revolutionists, with STEVENS, SUMNER q
Co. at their head? Or is 1t because facts
prove that there is no such embittered an
tagonism between the Whites and Blacks
as they have been in the habit Of rep
resenting as existing? The majority
of the Reconstruction committee, In
their report advocating the adop-
ton of the proposed amendment to the
Constitution, assert: "The feeling In
many portions of the country toward
emlncipated slaves, especially among
the uneducated and ignorant, is one OF
vim lictive and malicious hatred" Ii this
be so, and if it be true, as 1t was recently
alleged, that the only substantial protection
for the Negro against such "vindlctive
and malicious hatred" " is to be found in the
ballot, and if it be true that the Republicans
are no longer in favor of putting into his
hands this protection, they publish them
selves as a most constituencies party, and
as false to what they have professed to be-
lieve evo utly.
But have they abandoned the cause of
Negro Suffrage? The amendment to the
Constitution that is now before the country
for its ratification, lifts the Negro into full
citizenship. 1t interdicts, with threat
ened penalties, the abridgment OF any
right or immunity that this complete citi-
zeuship confers upon the Negro.
Under pretense of reconciling Southern
Whites to Negro Suffrage, it promises them
the ''bloody handed traitors" and ''unre-
pentaut Rebels" as they call them-in-
creased representation in Congress; that is
more political influence in the Federal Gov
ernment, than the Democratic party is will
ing to give to them; but if they shall not
do this-if they shall not make voters out
of the Negroes-their representation, and,
consequently, their political power in the
Federal Government, shall be diminished.
1t shall not be diminished as punishment
for treason; it shall not be diminished be-
cause they sought to destroy "the best Gov
ernment on e&rth;" it shall not be dimin-
ished because our prisoners were shame
fully maltreated at Andersonville and Lib
BY; it shall not be diminished because of
the immense public debt that was created
In putting down the rebellion; it shall not
be diminished to prevent the reputation
of the public debt. Nothing of the sort;
but ii shall be. diminished if the Negroes are
not made uoters. They have affected fear that
if the South were admitted to her repre-
sentatiOn, upon her present basis of repre-
sentation, among other things she would do
that is pernicous, would be to repudiate
the public debt. Through the proposed
amendment, they propose to give the South
increased power to repudiate the public
debt, if they cherish such intention, il they
uoiU only make voters out Of the Negroes
"Make voters out of the Negroes, and you
shall have more power in the Federal Gov
ernment than you ever enjoyed-power to
do whatever you wilr'-is what the propos-
ed Constitutional amendment, which forms
the platform of the Republican party Of
Ohio, in effect says to the Southern people.
Oh, no! the Republican party is not in
favor of Negro Suffrage. Only to secure
it, it will sell out the best interests OF the
country.