The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-01-24
Mr.. Stewards Organ upon Negro suffrage III
the DisfricI and In the States.

The New York Times Is evidently Iearlu u
that the Radicals are leading the Repuplican
party towards the pit Of destruction. 1Is iSS"0
of the odd has long editorial upon the SUD
iect of negro suffrage in the District OF Coluih-
bia and in the States, which is evidently put
forth in the interests of the conservative por-
ton of that party. 1t declares that the
RepubIicans have never, In any national con
yention. passed upon the question authorita-
lively: that negro suffrage Is no part OF the
Republican creed and is altogether danger
ous matter to NEEDLE with. We quote:
uWhile il is n matter of comparatively lit.
tle consequences to most of the Northern ana
Eastern States, IL touches most closely me SEMI
,ne,,ts and lyrejuiices gf the West, ana Is aDso-
lutely matter of life and death TO Onlonlsin
and loyalty among the masses OF the people III
the Southern States
All, that dreaded alliance between the South
and the West How like n lion it stands III
the pathway leading TO that power which the
Radicals are anxious to perpetuate in their
own hands The Times sees that the people of
the North will not long uphold Radicalism !;
and while it has not the manliness to come
out openly and boldly against the destructive
measures of its associates, 1t has the sagaclty
to perceive that the adoption of these mea-
sures will result in the destruction of Repub-
lican ascendancy
As to the bill comforting suffrage upon the
negroes in the District of Columbia, although
Mr. Raymond its editor, voted for it, the
Times is doubtful whether the President will
sign it, We quote again:
1T is generally assumed that it will receive
the Presidents signature, and thus become
law but we regard this as by no means GER
,,;r, = 4 nj N j
Kelley on the floor of the House while the Dill
was upon it's passage, that he kaeto the fresl-
dent would sign it, and this statement proDa-
bly had some effect in swelling the vote III us
favor. Whether Judge Kelley pretended to
speak from positive personal knowledge Oh the
Presidents intention, or only by way OF INFER
ence from his position andpresumed Opinions,
we are not aware
President Johnson has never committed NM
self in any way to the principle OF universal
negro suffrage, either for the DlStrlct OF
Columbia or for any State ana mat Is tue
principle which, if this bill passes the Senate
is 10 be presented for his approval. he has
never gone farther than TO say that, II acting
within his own State alone, ne might 1aVor
the admission of qualified Colored voters TO the
exercise of the right of suffrage and even
this was given merely as personal opinion,
and in 10 sense as an indication OF oHclal
action. II is known, also, that ne regards the
proDle of the District of Columbia rs having
in wise lost their rights as ClIlLellS, Vi theIl
claim to respect and regard for their wishes
concerning their own affairs by their subIec-
ton to the exclusive jurisdiction of Congress
and IL would be unwise TO assume that he Will
feel at liberty wholly to disregard the vote
lately taken in the district on the subject OF
negro suffrage.
at is possible. therefore, TO say the least, in
our Judgment that President Johnson may
withhold his signature from this bill. We dis
trust the expressions of confidence OF his
approval in which these gentlemen somewhat
ostentatiously indulge. They may have
ground for these expressions in their know
ledge of his purpose-or they may hope TO
influence his action by them-or they may
merely seek TO force the party into this posi-
ton regardless of the cooperation of the
Executive and reckless of the fate of the party
itself. In these days of difficulty and danger
when the peace now dawning may be dis
persed by tempcsts still more terrible than
that whose frightful fury still sounds i'll our
cars-Ivc cannot look upon indifference to the
fate of the Union party as consistent,with love
for the Union or devotion TO the welfare OF our
common country. This is not the time when
new issues can be forced upon the nation
/ without imminent danger of re-opening those
the nation has Just decided.