The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-01-28
COLUMBIA.
Sunday Morning, January %, 1855.
Negro Suffrage.


pressed our views on this question,
but it is evidently the last plank on
which the radicals can stand. 1t is
proper, therefore, we give it some
consideration. The New York Times,
as the Richmond Dispatch justly OBJ
serves, sis evidently fearful that the
radicals are going towards the pit of
destruction.
The Times, of the 22d, has.an article
upon the subject of negro suffrage in
the District of Columbia, and in the
States, which is evidently put forth in
the interests of the conservative por
ton of that party. 1t declares that
the Republicans have never, in any
National Convention, passed upon the
question with authority; and beyond
that, that negro suffrage is no part of
the Republican creed, and is alto
gether dangerous matter to deal
with. We aver that the recent bills
introduced into Congress proves clear
ly the opposite, and that the ''irre-
pressible conflict is to be carried on
under this motto-''Negro Suffrage. !"
The Times (the organ Of Secretary
Seward) says:
s'While it is matter of compare
lively little consequence to most Of
the Northern and Eastern States, it
touches most closely the sentiments
and prejudices of the West, and is
absolutely matter Of life and death
to Unionism and loyalty among the
masses of the people in the Southern
States"
AS the Dispatch says, how like a
lion this dreaded alliance 'sstands in
the pathway leading to that power
which the radicals are anxious to
perpetuate in their own hands" The
Times sees that the people of its own
section will not sustain the doctrines
of the radicals, and while it has not
the manliness to come out openly and
boldly against the destructive mea-
sures of its party, it has the sagacity
to perceive that the adoption of the
measures proposed, will result in the
destruction of its party.
Mr.. Raymond, the editor of the
Times, voted for the negro suffrage
bill in the District OF Columbia, yet
the Times itself has the following
comments on the prospect of the
bill:
cit is generally assumed that it
will receive the Presidents signature,
and thus become law; but we regard
this us by no means certain. It is
said to have been asserted by Judge
Kelley, on the floor of the House,
while the bill was upon its passage,
that he knew the President would
sign it, and this statement probably
had some effect in swelling the vote
in its favor. Whether Judge Kelley
pretended to speak from positive per-
sonal knowledge of the Presidents
intention, OF only by way of inference
from his position and presumed
opinions, we are not aware.
cit is well enough to bear in mind
that President Johnson has never
committed himself in any way to the
principle of universal negro suffrage,
either for the District of Columbia
or for any State; and that is the
principle which, if this bill passes
the Senate, is to be presented for his
approval. He has never gone farther
than to say that, if acting within his
own State alone, he might favor the
admission OF qualified colored voters
to the exercise of the right of suffrage;
and even this was given merely as q
personal opinion, and in no sense as
an indication Of official action. It is
known, also, that he regards the
people of the District of Columbia as
having in no wise lost their rights as
citizens, or their claim to respect and
regard for their wishes concerning
their own affairs, by their subiection
to the exclusive jurisdiction of Con-
gress; and it would be unwise to
assume that he will feel at liberty
wholly to disregard the vote lately
taken III the District on the subject
of negro suffrage.
cit is possible, therefore, to saw
the least, in our judgment, that Pre-
sident Johnson may withhold his
signature from this bill We distrust
the expressions of confidence of his
approval i'll which these gentlemen
somewhat ostentatiously indulge.
They may have ground for these ex-
pressions in their knowledge of his
purpose-or they may hope t. ;nfu-
ence his action by them-or they may
merely seek to force the party into