The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-07-12
THE PRESIDENT AND NE
GRO SUFFRAGE.


The opponents of President johnson
are disposed to dwell with delight on
the fact that, on Asme occasion, he ex
pressed himself in favor of allowing a
qualified negro sufage-to wit That
it might be reasonable to allow vote
to such as had borne arms, such as could
read and write, or had certain amount
ofproperty. 1t is true also that, whilst
denying the right of Congress or the
the President to interfere with the
States in regard to suffrage, he said, as
n simple citizen of Tennessee, he might
not object to confering the right to such
classes.
TO do him full justice We should look
at the circumstances of the case. He
was elected by the Republican party
which during the war was particularly
fierce towards the South, aud not only
contemplated arming all the negroes Of
the South, but intended if opportunity
offered, TO trust to the negro population
Of the South to assist to vote down and
rule the whites Of that section. Through
their members Of Congress, and Com
mittecs to visit Washington, they kept
he matter constantly before the Execu-
i've; and there can be little doubt, had
Mr. Lincoln lived, he would have even
ually favored this ruling idea Of his
party The case Of Mr.. johnson was
very different. lie understood the sub
ject thoroughly aud, We think, never be-
lieyed it practicable. He did not wish
to break with the party that elected
him; and, through fear of,an unyiclding
obstinacy Of the South, may have be-
lieved that it might become necessary
in the future TO make some compromise
with his party on this subject. At all
events he discovered that he must take
issue with his party forthwith, or say
something calculated to allay their sus-
picions. The project of comforting the
light Of suffrage upon the negroes Of
the District Of Columbia was pressed
forward as feclcr and it was soon
found that he was opposed to it. In or
Ter to maintain his influence with his
1arty, which he then believed might be
necessary to save the country, he took
occasion to make the expressions which,
VIC dare say, he would not make again if
hey could now be recalled. We are
satisfied that he does not believe now
that the extension of the right of SUI.
frage to any class of the colored people
Of the South is necessary. The readi-
ness with which the Southern people
yielded to all the conditions imposed by
him, and the sincerity with which they
desired to return to the Union, together
with the party rupture forced on him by
the arrogant Radicals in Congress, have
convinced him that such proposition
IS no longer tenable or right lie very
naturally relapses into his former views,
as the South gets right, and the North
gets wrong. Indeed, we are warranted
IN coming to this conclusion from his
constant declaration to the coored poo
pie in all their interviews intended to
draw him out on the subject He has
warned them against being brought into
collision with the whits race and adj
vised them that separation must take
place, if they cannot get along harmoni-
ously together.
On the whole, we cannot see any in
consistency on the part of the Presi-
dent, when all the circumstances are
considered. The inconsistency is in
their own party. Many of them, whilst
trying to hold the party together, and
dcnouncing The President, are evidently
backing down on this subject. In this
tate they now profess TO be generally
pposed to negro suffrage, though it is
gellknown they were heretofore inclined
. favor it, and doubtless yet expect to
10 so, if the party North require it.
They will have scene of delightful
Confusion when the issues are made up |
for them by their radical brethren In
the meantime, we warn all conservative
Union men to look out for the coming
storm and, if they wish to preserve
their consistency, to take their stand at
once along with the President whose
views on this question will be found
both honest and consistent-which can
not be said of those who are cavilling at