Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1866-01-19

loyal CITIZEN of N1frt2n nrsevi.t, 1trf Wy
upon our soil, shall, among "all men"
be the solitary exception TO this truth.
lie has worn our uniform, fought our
battles, and proved true to the flag
We made him freeman, an element of
National power, and thereby citizen,
and rs a citizen he oheys the laws, owns
property, pays taxes, and will, when
called upon again, chccrfully defend
the flag. Yet there are those among us
who would deny him the common po-
lilical right which, mere than any 9TH
er, Is enjoyed by all citizens under this
Government. Can we satisfy ourselves
that it would bc cxpcdient or wise 10
inflict SO great wrong upon an obcdi-
ent and loyal subject. History affords
no example of a Government having
rrnspered, while violating funda-
mental principle oS its Constitution -
This Government was not established
for the benefit of any particular nation
atty or complexion of men, but was de
signed 10y it's immortal founders N az
asylum for all men who seek the shell
ter of its flag.
| speak now of national necessity
Hereafter the political power of the late
insurgent States must be exercised ell
ther 10y loyal citizens or traitors, or by
both conformity. Prejudice may dictate,
but Justice and sound policy will never
sanction the disfranch hisCment Of these
four millions OF tried people. whose
loyal ballots, more formidable to trea-
son than hayonets, would hereafter
con stitute them an army of occupation
to the Government In the yet unquiet
regions of the South.
Shall we adhere to this fundamental
idea of political equality Incorporated
with our very eNistencn, or must we
surrender ii in the hour of the nations s
triumph, to the caprice of men who,
by four years of desperate war, attempt-
cd to destroy the Constitution, thereby
acknowledging that in spite of our
greatness, the Government has ceased
to contain in itself the means of its own
preservation.
States in their individual capacity,
must meet this vital issue by bold and
decided action. Indications are not
wanting that the people of this State
will pronounce upon it their calm and
Intelligent Judgment. We have stricl>-
Ell from our statutes the infamous laws
enacted in our early history. which
denied the free negro, or the hunted
fugitive, Che right to tread the SOL of
Iowa. And 1t l. q reflection no less
gratifying, that the men through whose
truculency to the slave power this black
code was adopted, have long since been
consigned to their political graves. Our
present just laws reflect the liberal and
humane sentiments of the people. We
acknowledge that black men have some
rights which are entitled to respect
! They testify i'm oar courts they have the
right Of immigration and exit, they hold
property, enjoy the benefits of our com
Z I,4h TN, a - ,,t IrY y IN
protected.
In the darkest hour of the late strug-
gle for the Union, several hundred of
these black citizens stepped forward to
| fill the quota of Iowa under the Presi-
dents call for troops. No class or peo-
pie contributed so many soldiers in pro-
/ portion to their numbers. The regiment
thus formed, proud of the noble State
whose name was borne upon their tug
served faithfully aud fought bravcly.-
Receiving the highest recommendations
| for their good discipline and valor, they
were h"norahly discharged ut the close
Of the war, aud are now among u.s.
| Their history belongs TO the state. Their
! flag, torn by the storms of battle, has
been received from their hands and de-
posted among the cherished mcmcn.
toes of the war. Many Of them have
y
! becl among our industrious and quiet
inhabitants. Have we that degree oi
moral courage which viii enable us 10
| recognize these black veterans, and do
/ them Justice? Anticipating your
friendly consideration, they have for
warded memorial to your honorable
| body, asking that you take the neccssa-
ry steps TO secure them the right Of suf-
frage. Shall we assume the response
hility Of denying this request, while the
many thousands who synipathized with
the rebellion, giving aid and comfort to
! the enemy, are allowed to vote and hold
office under our laws?
Disciaiming my authority n the Or
gan of other, and speaking only for
myself / declare it as my Deliberate
and solemn conviction that the prayer
Of this memorial should be heard and
! granted.
Political equality, the object sought
10 be obtained, IL vital principle of
the American Constitution as clearly
c&empliiied 10y the cotcmpuraneuuy
acts Of the men who framed it. For,
in their day, frecmen enjoyed the right
of suffrage without regard to color, and
.f in any locality distinction existed,
1t was a marked exception TO the eener-
al rule. No danger was ever apprehend-
ed from this impartial dispcnsation
Of the elective privilege. With proper
safeguards to the purity Of The ballot
box, | car perceive no danger in max ing
loyalty TO the Constitution and the
| Union, the basis OF suffrage, added
| thereto the qualification ofintclligcncc.
! Bat, whatever conditions may be deem
ed eXpedient, the grayest considerations
of policy demand that we make them
J q al r. stI al
! tyraEnical distinction based upon ma
| tionality or color
| Desiring no fundamental change ia
| our political system, we seek only IL
practical acquiescenCe in those immu-
table principles which an enlightened
patriotism, Intensified by the ordeal of
civil war, has indicated a. the only
true foundation ofthe American Union.
For these reasons, and because the
end cannot otherwise be attained, |
earnestly press upon your attention
the cEpedieucy of proposing an amend
mcnt to the Constitution for striking
out the word white" from the article
on suffrage, in order that, In due time,
this much agitated question shall be
submitted directly to the people, for
their ultimate and final decision.
Every yestagc of this atrocous ingli-
thtlOii bfh7t ~ iDttSEA DDlltGIdttu iIDlfl
the land. No relic or memento should
be left to remind posterity tliattlie stars
of our national emblem ever shonc
upon such crime.
Ne cannot ask others to Adopt this
stern principle Of impartial justice, il
we reject 1t In our own State. Before
we assert that the freedmen Of the
South should be invested with equality
Of political rights, let us chasteii our
! selves, piaeate our own animosity, and
thus practically illustrate the sincerity
of the convictions we profess to cherish
The recent political canvass in this
state was characterized by thorough
and comprehensive discussion of this
subject by the opposing parties, and
while the result may not be fairly con.
strucd as n direct Endorsement of free
suffrage, it can nevertheless with entire
accuracy be taken as popular demand
| for the submission OF the proposed
amendment to the people
Boldly assuming the van guard in
this great struggle for equal rights, and
| deliberately choosing our owa patti,
. H.. -, 1 tI a