The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-01-22
Gov. Swami on Negro Suffrag gre.

Gov. Swami, of Mary land, in his recent
message to the Legislature of that state has
the following on the subject of negro suf-
frags:
| have advocated the cause of universal
emancipation in Maryland, and throughout
the country, because / believe it to be a meas
ure of duty, as well as urgent state necessity.
But | could not Justify myself to the people
of Maryland, if should give oountenancs to
the effort now making by some impulsive
men, no doubt sincere aud honest in their con-
victions, to confer universal suffrage upon the
negro race. l cordially accept the views of
President johnson III reference to the only
practicable mode of adj ustment between these
conflicting interests. | AN willing to do the
coored race full justice. If they prefer to
remain with us, upon terms not inconsistent
with our claim to exclusive control in the gov
eminent uf the state. l am willing to try the
experiment, without pre- Udice, and to the
fullest extent. But | am not at liberty to
withhold opinions, which were foreshadowed
by me- on taking the oath of Office under your
new constitution. W hose provisions denied the
right OF suffrage TO the negro, that his mani
fest destiny assigns him, sooner or latsr-not
as the result of legislative compulsion, but of
his own voluntary notion-to some more con
genial locality, where his distinctive charac-
teristics will furnish no barrier to his enjoy
ment of pocial and political rights, and where,
under government Of his own choice, he cen
pursue and fulfill the measure Of his appointed
usefulness In this deliberate judgement
am supported by some of the wisest men of
tue country. The right of suffrage, by which
| it is proposed to elevate his condition, and
| bring him at once upon terms of social and
political equality with the white race, will not
| L i
has been SO long hanging over us. Should
! the time ever come. as come 1t may, when the
| freedmen, under the guidance, as l believe, OF
unwise counsels, shall insist upon equality in
your governmental afairs,i in your workshops,
| in all the varied competitions Of labOr and in
| du5try, trust that ! may not over-estim ate
the consequences of the irrepressble conflict
! which Is certain to ensue, when the two races,
| from causes however trivial, shall stand in
accepted antagonism towards each other
These views are presented In the interest of
| the African race, and with reference to the
warnings of an unmistakabie future. may
| be in error, but trust that the sincerity and
| earnestDess of conviction, never more DELHI
| ately expressed, may save me from the preju-
dice, in treating upon subject of such grave
magnitude, both in its bearing upon the har
monious working of our government, and the
down trodden people, who have been made
free By the results of this rebellion. If / have
not been controlled by the impulses OF mista-
ken philan throphy, or the still more exacting
claims of party obligation, yield to no one
in nv desire to improve and elevate the con-
dltion of the freedmen, by all practical ct
forts. A large class of the people OF this
country, both south and north, are not pre-
nsred to concede this claim of universal SUIT
frage to the negro race. Whether that time
will ever come, will be for the future to de-
termine. Compulsory legislation certainly
wild not hasten 1t. The full protection OF the
laws, the privileges of education, and the I'M
trammelled enjoyment of his labor, are all that
have been deprived To force an experiment
at this time which is already creating so
much angry feeling, will be to endanger the
safety of people who are wholly unable to
sustain themselves in the conflict likely to en-
sue. If it be true, as experience shows, that
races and natonalites assimIlate and frater-
nalize with each other, in natural sympathy,
aud the impulse of common interest what
will be the fate of the unfortunate negro,
overwhelmed in an unequal contest of num-
bers, and forced, as he may be. when over
whelmed, to bondage more degrading than
| that from which he had So recently escaped.
Maryland has no interest in negro suffrage.
! beyond the effect which it is calculated to pro
duce upon tho general interest and welfare of
| the country and the negro himself. Her poll
| cy is already settled by her new constitution
| To withhold from other states the same pow
er which she has exercised, to deal with this
and other subjects of like character, apper-
tanning to their domestic governments, would
| be to let 60 the most popular feature which