The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-11-20

Another Prominent and Influential
Democratic Paper Comes out for
Negro Suffrage.
F|Om he Boston POEt-Ise NetO EJtOl0nli DcD,.
cratic Organ.
There can be no valid objection to the
prevalence of the impartial suffrage
principle. Base it, as here In Massa-
chusetts, on citizenship, taxation, and a
certain degree of intelligence, and no
reasonable man will question the fact
that 1t Is calculated TO strengthen tke
political character Of every STATE that
ADOPTS u. These three simple and COM
Paratiyely easy qualifications are per
tectly fair and do not derogate from the
value and dignity of the elective fran
chise. They bestoW 1t with freedom
enough, and still surround it with the
safeguards that are calculated TO EN-
nance it in the popular esteem. Those
who acquire it feel that It is an acouisi-
ton To be without 1t after coming to
MANHOOD would mark the denied indli-
Vldual unenviably. And from such
considerations 1t becomes possession
that speaks the general authority with
an aPpreciative emphasis.
These qualifications, which we have
named as peculiar to Massachusetts,
I1e should be glad to see adopted by eVeTg
State IN the Union. They are jist, be-
cause they are impartial. We would like
70 see them set up as a common stand
ard OF suffrage, to which men of all.
conditions and colors should duly re-
port themselves for examination. Color
ought to hare no more TO do nth the mat
ter Than size. Only establish proper
standard, and apply it impartially. A
rule OF that sort Is too firmly fixed in
justice and equality to be shaken. 1t
commends itself too clearly to the right
sentiment of the entire body of our
cOuntrymen to be successfully ira
versed by objections. once 1t this
principle be fairly presented to the peo-
pie OF the several States, with the
knowledge on their part that they alone
are TO have the disposal and settlement
oft, and we sincerely believe it would
not be long before it would be adopted
by every State in the Union.
But adoption is another matter from
enforcement. Tue most patient exam
nation fails to reveal the authority
from which Congress derives the pow
er which many latterly claim for 1t, to
go into the States and compel them to
adopt particular rule of suffrage, or
to abolish all rules entirely. Not only
Is the ballot, which is the source OF au-
thority, corrupted by so levelling pro-
cess, put the primary prerOgative of
the states themselves is seized and
trampled upon. The ballot loses its
purity the State is robbed by open viO-
lence, and the people arc taught les
son III arbitrary proceedings which they
can as readily put in practice In the fi-
ture without regard to the ballot as
with. WerepcGt that tUc shall rejoice at
Tie adoption Of impartial suffrage 6y all
the States, N0TLh and South alike
but we should not like to see that or any
other sound and excellent principle
forced upon the citizens of the States
by any outside power whatever. There
is such n thing as practically running
even good principle by bad method
OF applying 1t. We are at perfect lib
erty to discuss this matter within those
limits by which our own political pow
er is bounded; and we may set forth as
noble IN illustration of our convictions
as local example will admit; but it is
not allowed us to combine in Congress
to compel other States to follow that
example, though it were the perfection
of reason in itself, and the ste plus ultra
of tustice and morality,