Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1866-02-15
The President and the Negro
Suffrage Bill.

vote, striking out the word white from the law de-
ining the qualifications of voters in the District
OF Columbia, without distinction Of color The
President had already in previous speeches as
serted that as citizen of Tennessee he would "a
vor law giving the ballot to the intelligent blacks
and TO those who Rad served in the army; and his
opposition to black Suffrage in the Distrie, of Co
nubia now IS founded more upon the almost.
Unanimous remonstrance Of the present white 70
tiers than upon any hostility to the thing itself.
The people of the District have recently voted
spon the question, and voted against the prop sed
change. The people of Connecticut and WiseoD.
sin have done the SAME thinn; and we suppose
that in a majority of the States. were such vote
taken, the result would be the same; and while
these decisions by the people of the several States
do rot in any way make wrong right, they are
nevertheless the legal expressions Of the public
will wherever made, and authortativsly determine
for the tine tina; negro suffrage shall not be per-
mitted IN those parts Of the Union.
The President, so far understand him. &C
cepts these decisions Of the people as entitled TO
outweigh al his personal feelings in the matter
lie goes so far in this particular to respect the
wishes o.. the people Of the District of Columbia
in which we sure ho is doing violence to a long
line Of precedents. Congress abolished slavery
in the District Of Columbia. and the President, as
Senator, voted for the bill, when, if the wishes
Of the people of the District had been consulted,
10 such measure could have passed. His Score
tary of State has lately proclaimed the adoption Of
the amendment abolishing slavery in the United
States, knowing that the people of Kentucky had
mos, decidedly demonstrated against being de-
privej of their property by the votes of people re-
: siding in other States. Congress is the Legisla-
ture of the District, and the will of the inhabitants
Of that District upon the Slavery question
made 10 yield 20 the will of the representatives Of
tile whole people; and why should it not now
when the whole people demand that lesser
wrong should be abolished The rresiden, does
not commit TIE indeccrrrn OF wing expressly that
be will ve.o tie hill il il should pass both Hou.es:
he confines himself % ger.ral statement OF his
opposition to the measure. !. is accordingly not
yet certain that he will veto til. measure; bu.
even If he does, We 90 understand that such
an act on his par; necessarily "Opens any rreparabe
breach between him and the great party that ell
eeted him 10 Office.
Ii is true that the President obtained his nomi.
n.,"r ana hi. election upon the popular faith tha;
he was BIZ. "r Union man, a bitter euemy'ot slave
rv and vis.r and bitter friend of the emancips-
ted race than even many Northtrn nsn who had
been perhaps less demonstrate than &c. The
solemn pledge cannot be forgotten While, he made
at Nashville, when he promised TO be the Mos
ofthc colored race, and when he declared that
happen What might. and speaking as one who felt
the world to be Lis couo;ry, he would never fsltcr
nor hesitate Until "loval men, whether white or
black" should alone control the destiny of the
Union. and until the strife being over, honest Ia
Dor should reap the fruit of its own industry, and
every man, white or black, have a fair chance N
the race of life The President now, however,
thinks this fair chance of life had better be post
poned. He changes the policy Of the first Moses,
and advises his people not TO look forward to sny
land Of PROMISE but to remain in the land OF bon
dage, and seek happiness by appeals to the mercy
OF Pharaoh and the rulers. The American people,
and particularly the emancipated race, will fail to
discover the justice, perhaps the honesty. Of this
aew Mosaic policy; and whatever faith the Presi
dent may have that the heart Of Pharaoh will
eventually soften, the people do not share it
They will therefore regard him having to a dc :
plor,b!e ten, abandoned the negro race to its
old taskmasters and oppressors.
The President, in biz reply to III colored men,
suggests that the white men have always been in
power politically in the rebel States, and to the m
as matter OF RICH; belongs exclusively the priv-
lege OF admitting or excluding universal suffrage.
This remark OF his will fall oppressirelv upon
minds in which live, rs such things viii live that
outburs. Of Indignation at Nashville when, spesk-
ing of these white men of the South, he said: The
representatives of this corrupt land if you will per
NIT me to almost swear lite, This damnable ar
istocracy tsunt US with orr desire to see Justice
done, and charge US with favoring negro equality.
OF all living they should be the last to mouth
that phrase; and even when uttered in their hear
ing il should cause their cheeks to tinge and burn
with shame. Negro equality, indeed, Why, pass
any day along the sidewalks Of the stree. where
these aristocrsts more particularly dwell-these
arstocrstS whose sons are now in the bands OF
guerrillas and CIT -,hrca,hs who prowl. and rob
and murder--pass by their dwellings, sty, and
vou will see as many mu.tto as negro children,
che former bearing an unmistakable resemblance
to their aris;ocrstic owners" We are confident
ths. the American people who elected the author
OF that scathing declaration, conte mplated
that the same person would officially recommend
that the oppressed and outraged victims should
forego all hope OF political freedom. and should
quietly, submssive.y, politely, and gratefully ac-
ccpt such condition as these '.damuable aris;o.
Gratis may choose 20 grant them.
The establishment of negro suffrage in the Dis
.rict OF Columbia is but partial, and very ncom-
plete application of the great principle that po.
litcal rights necessary incident to freedom
What is wanted to give that principle a nationa
recognition is not the population of negro suffrage
in some States. and its enactment in the District
of Columbia, but the adoption of such amend
ment 20 the Constitution as will secure ultimately
that grand result. Let the amendment now pend
ing before Congress, the principle of which the
President approves, be adopted, and thencefortt
freedom and political rights will be in,matel,
dependent on each other, that no blow can be
struck at the one that vii not be equally an as
sault upon the other. When the ends of tha
amendment shall be fully accomplished. then per