Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-05-09
SENATOR WILSON'S SPEECH.
IExTRACTs.I
THE GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY.

THE GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY.
On the first of May, ten months ago,
the rebels States were PROSTATE at the
feet of the nation, completely conquered
and subjugated. They had fought, and
brsvely, for four years, against the au-
thority of the country; but they had been
defeated, and the people could then have
been moulded at the nations will
Abraham Lincoln had been assassinated.
The people of the rebellious States saw
that the Government of the United States
had million men in arms; and they
were willing to accept any policy the ma
ton chose to impose upon them, and to
accept it freely. The leaders of the
Southern opinion, in May and June of
last year, all expected the reorganization
of the insurgent States upon the basis of
the eqaulity of all men before the law.
The public sentiment in the south was
fast settling down into complete acouies-
cence in any conditions the Government
should demand. Many of the eminent
men of the South cheerfully avOwed their
readiness to accept the enfranchisement
of the black man, and Mr.. Reagan and
Mr.. Mallory, members of JEFF. Davis
cabinet, publicly advised the granting of
suffrage to the new-made freedmen.
Sir, in the North the religious associa-
Citations, at their anniversary meetings.
with voices approaching unanimity, de-
manded suffrage for the freedmen the
literary journals and religious press ably
and earnestly advocated enfranchise-
ment; the Republican press was unani-
nous for suffrage; the New York Herald.
always quick to discern the currents of
public opinion, proposed plan of quail
fed suffrage, EN- bracing colored persons
who had served in the army or navy, who
could read, who possessed a small amount
of property, or were members of Chris
tian churches; the New York News. ed
tied by Ben Wood, a late member of the
House of Representatives, took ground
in favor of suffrage in an elaborate arti-
Gle; the New York World, that may
perhaps be accepted as the leading Dem
ocratic organ of the country, declared
that suffrage to the black man must
come sooner or later; the Boston Post,
the leading Democratic journal of New
England, was ready to extend suffrage to
the colored race other journals, suppor-
ting the Democratic party, manifested
their readiness to settle the controversary
about the rights. of the negro by giving
him suffrage for his own protection. The
holders of the public securities, with the
quick instinct of selfinterest, would ex-
tend suffrage for the better security of
the public credit; and the people North
and South were then ready most cheer
fully TO acquiesee in the extension of suf-
frsge to colored men in the rebel States
Tens of thousands of the most progress.
i've and liberal men of the Democratic
of every hundred who
IN November, 1864. thronged to the polls.
snd consecrated their treasure, blood and
lives to the unity of the Republic and
the liberties of the people-believed with
Andrew johnson that
IAN men should have an equal start and fair
chance in the race of life and that merit should be
Warded without regard to color"
and in the immortal words of Abraham
Lincoln, that -...
"The ballot of the black man in some trying
time TO come may keep the jewel of liberty in the
Thoughtful men, anxious to heal the
wounds of civil war, and bury in forget
fulness the memories of old contests,
were for universal suffrage for fOrgiving
and restoring all.
If the President of the United States
had seized that golden moment, that
grand opportunity then vouchsafed by
Providence, to weapon the hand of the
neB-made freedman with the ballot,
these controversies would have perished
forever, the representatives of the rebel
lious States would ere this have filed the
vacant chairs, and the heavens would
have been raining their choicest blessings
on the nation for deed so wise and Just.
But the President, though frankly avow
ing himself in favor of qualified suffrage,
declined to assume the responsibility.
which the condition of the country i'm
posed upon him ; and SO the great oppor
tunity God gave the nation to destroy
caste, to clothe the emancipated race
with power TO guard their own liberties,
rights and interests without struggle,
passed by-perhaps forever.
The President began the work of reor.
ganizatlon by the appointment of Gov
ernor- Holden in North Carolina; and
the appointment of provisional governors
for other States soon followed. Many of
the most eminent men of the country
doubted the wisdom of the Presidents
policy. The President, to allay the doubt
and distrust of the people, declared that
his policy was an experiment; that final
action was reserved to the Government;
and that, if these States were not prop
erly organized, the Executive and Con-
gress could change, correct, or set aside
tho action of the reconstructed States:
but the work went on conventions were
held. the old rebel journals were revived
and began to fire again the Southern heart
and to deceive q people who had once
been SO deluded and deceived as to
plunge into civil war The rebel jour
mails, while praising the President, bitterly
denounced the leading men of the party
of the Administration. Presses in the
North echoed their utteFsnces and male
dictious and oft-bsffied politicians began
to gather about and denounce the Senate
and House of Representatives even be-
fore Congress assembled. The history of