The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-03-06
IMME JOHNSON MEETING
Cooper Institute, New York.
Speeches by Secretary Sew.
ard, Postmaster General
DennisOn and Others.
The President t In ndorSedl

New YORK, Feb. % The Cooper In
stitute was thronged tonight by the peo-
pie of New York. All the streets in the
immediate neighborhood were also filled
with thousands of the supporters of the
President. Hon. Francis B. Cutting was
chosen President, assisted by large num-
Der of the most prominent citizens as Vice
Presidents. The meeting was very en-
thusiastic.
Hon David Dudley Field presented an
address to the people of New York, and
resolutions. The address is to the effect
that the first question before the people
is the great one of pacifcation. What
the country needs is repose; the conflict
of arms has ceased, the conflict of pas
stems which led to arms should cease al
so. Our heroic soldiers cherish no enmi-
ties toward those they have overcome
The only element of disturbance is the
political condition of the freedmen.-
There is no substantial disagreement
among men respecting their civil rights.
We all agree that they must have the civil
rights of any other class of citizens-the
rights of person and property, to sue and
to testify; in short, equality before the
law. But whether they also shall have
the suffrage is dividing the question:
There, however, can be no question what
ever that under the Constitution the pow
er of determining who shall or who Shall
not enjoy the elective franchise belongs
exclusively to the respective States. gs
New York has no more right to say
who shall or who shall not vote in Vir-
ginia than Virginia has to say who shall
or shall not vote in New York. The
elective franchise is not a natural right
but political trust. If it Is even true
that every person who is subject to the
laws is entitled to part in making them,
then every sojourner among us, every for
eigner, the moment he lands, is entitled
to vote. ln Fa ie
Because the blacks have fought for the
country that does not necessarily give
them the right to govern it,or participate
in its government If it were otherwise,
every boy from sixteen to twenty one
who fought in the Union ranks should
have votewithout waiting for years to
participate in the government to which
he % subjected, The blacks fought2for
a country, and they have it; they fought
for freedom, and they have it.
We should welcome our emancipated
brother to the rights of manhood; but
when we are asked to give all men of his
race, at the moment, of their emancipa-
ton, the right to participate in the Gov
ernment, we must answer in the words Of
one Of their number, more intelligent
than many others, white or black, "The
able bodied only bear arms-the able
minded only should vote" The address
eommends the Presidents veto, and ex-
presses the conviction that. the exclusion
of representatives from eleven States,
now unre presented in Congress, of loyal
men who were fairly elected and can take
the oath, is manifest usurpatien. 1t con-
cludes by expressing confidence in the
integrity and fidelity to principles, in ref.
erence to which he was elected, of An
drew johnson, and the hearty commenda-
ton Of the general doctrines of his two
messages, and readiness to support him in
all constitutional measures for the public
welfare.
The resolutions are to the same effect.
and in addition approve Of the action Of
Senator Morgan aud Representatives.
Raymond and Darling, in sustaining the
Presidents veto. 9.