Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1866-06-13
THE KNOXVILLE WING
Knoxville, Tenn, June Is, 1866.
President JOhnSOn'S Views on Negro
Suffrage.

The majority of the State Executive Committee
at the meeting on the lst Of May adopted the fol-
lowing resolution:
ResJLrcd, As a consequence of these principles,
that cordially endorse the restoration policy Of
President johnson WISE patriotic constitutional,
and IN harmony with the loyal sentiment and pur-
pose Of the people in the suppression of the rebel
lion, with the platform upon which he WAS elected
with the declared policy Of the late President Lin
coln and the action of Congress in its pledges given
during the war.
1t seems from this that they adopt the Prcsi-
dents policy without any qualification or excep-
ton. Below we give the Presidents own construc-
ton of it, by which it seems as though they ought
to be bound:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
Washington, d. c., August l5 1865. J
Cor. VIM L. SharEcy Jackson Mss:
am gratifed to see that you have organized your
Convention. l hope that without delay your Con-
vention will amend your State Constitution abolish
ing slavery, and denying to all future legislatures
the power TO legslate that there property in
Also that they will adopt the amendment TO the
Constitution OF the United States aboshing slavery
If you could extend the elective franchise all per
sons of color who can read the Constitution Of the
United States and write their names and to all per
sons who own real estate valued at not less than
$3.50, and pay taxes thereon, you would completely
disarm the adversary and set an example the other
States would follow This you can do with perfect
safety, and thus place the Southern States on the
same basis with the Free States. l hope and trust
your Convention will do this, and, a consequence,
the Radicals, who are wild upon negro franchise
will be completely foiled in their attempts to keep
the Southern States from renewing their relations
TO the Union by not accepting their Senators and
Representatives. ANDREW JOHNSON,
President of the United States.
This is full and explicit enough. The President
comes out clearly and emphatcslly in favor of quail
fled negro suffrage. 1t is well known to all that
he has repeatedly urged the Union men of Tennes-
see TO adopt it.
Two months later in the same year President
johnson, in his conversation with Geo. F. Stearns,
on the Sd of October, 1865, also said
Ny position here is different from what it would
be if L was in Tennessee. There 1 should try to
introduce negro suffrage gradually; first those who
had served in the army; those who could read and
write; and perhaps a property qualification for
others-say 5000 or $3.50.
The correctness of this version of the converse
ton WAS endorsed by President johnson in the fol-
lowing emphatic manner: It IS substantially cor
rcct-T horc made some rcrJaI alterations"
Now, what do the majority of the Executive Com
mittee say upon this question? At their meeting
the first Of May they adopted the following pre-
smble and resolutions as expressing their views:
Whereas, 1t is the opinion of the Executive Com
mttee of the State Central Committee that the in
PRODUCTION Of negro suffrage at this time into the
State of Maryland would be revolving TO our peo-
pie especially our mechanical and working class, by
the introduction of the negro to all rights, social
civil and political thus bringing him into recog-
niZed competition with the white race, invading the
workshops Of the mechanic well as other avenues
OF labor and industry by an unnatural and forced
amslgmatiOn of the two races and
Whereas, Those who have the means may flee from
the results which such a system imposes, while the
poor man, having no means of reliance except the
labor of his hands, would be compelled to submit
without remedy to the degradation thus sought to be
imposed; therefore,
Be II rcsoLrel, That we earnestly recommend to
the people of the State 10 vote for candidate in
the approaching fall elections who shall, under any
circumstances, advocate negro suffrage and negro
equality within the limits of the State of Maryland
or fraternizc with those who do.
Here is a beautiful specimen of consistency. In
one resolution they adopt the Presidents policy"
negro suffrage and ALL and declare that ii was the
policy of the party who elected him, and of the la
msnted Lincoln, and then in the next they declare
that they will not vote for any one who advocates
negro suffrage fraternizes with one who ad-
vocates it. President johnson declares that the
elective franchise can be crtendcd to negroes srih
perfect safety; they declare that it will bring upon
us unnumbered evils. What perfect harmony there
Is between them and their chietain The President
must have felt peculiarly pleased when he saw the
clause about determination! The Presidents letter
and their resolutions, taken together, show why it
that they introduced the question of negro suf-
rage at a time when it is not even agtated in this
State. The man they pretend to follow, sci Longo
lerralLo is committed TO the principle and hence,
without some resolution Of this kind the presump-
ton would be that they advocated it If the Presi
dent was however, to seriously insist upon it, they
would, we suppose, wiggle-waggle just as Simon
says How potent Federal patronage is. There
seems to be magic in it, that can, somehow or
other, make black white and white black