The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1866-02-09


following terms:
But, sir, in my Judgment, mistak,
was committed; when Sherman ant
Johnston met in North Carolina anC
made the treaty, there l think Tn
trouble began. fold the paper il
my hand containing it. 1t is famil
lar to all. But that treaty re.estab
lished the rebel States in power, and
set In motion the machinery that ex
listed thero all the time upon thei
taking the oath of allegiance; ant
there the trouble began. What wa:
the result |? The conference betweer
Johnston and Sherman terminated on
the 18th of April, 1865, and the alb
stract of the terms agreed upon was
forwarded to Washington MS early ms
possible and Immediately afterward
on the 2lst of april, the President oI
the United States, jnst short time
after the assassination of that great
man who had led us through the
darkest hour, on the reception of that
dispatch called his Cabinet council
together. What was tue result OF
their deliberations2 At that council
the action of General Sherman was
disapprovcd by the President, dis
approved by the Secretary of War,
disapproved by General Grant and
by every momber of the Cabinet.
Who approved that treaty The
whole anti-war party--thc whole
Democratic party--thc whole party
which had been all the time against
the Government OF the United States,
and against forcing rebels and trai
tors 10 submit by our armed power.
And there is where they got their
encouragement. They said to them
selves, "lIcrc is q great party in the
North who desire that we shall be re-
instated, with all our rights and
privileges just as they were before -
They took courage, and it has gone
on increasing. And gentlemen will
excuse me when say that do not
see the difference between the theory
of that treaty between Sherman and
Johnston and the present condition
OF the States us they exist in the
South to-day. | may be wrong but
If / am, / should like to have the diff.
ference pointed out to me by some
distinguished gentleman upon this
floor.
Now, / say that favor this amend
ment as reported from the Committee
because l believe it is tbs 9Gefotates
that wseeafe whether these men in
the South ever allowed the negro to
vote or not. That is not the ques-
ton about which feel any concern
at thus time. Twill, however, say OH
that point, that whenever the negro
develops sufficient capacity for all
the rights of citizens, that he now
has an opportunity TO do, even my
Democratic friends here will not be
opposed to giving them to him. And
will say q word further in reply
to a remark Of my colleague, Mr..
Harding. He said, convince the
Republican party that the negro will
vote the Democratic ticket, and they
will drop this whole measure. ] say,
convince the Democratic party that
the negro will vote their ticket, and
they will crawl on their knees to drag
him up. daughter
In my opinion this amendn ent
leaves that whole question just where
j believe it ought to rest, exactly in
the position where / have always
contended, in my short political ca.
reer, the question of suffrage should
be, in the State itself And since
We cannot change the basis, which
believe we cannot do, let it remain
there. The amendment leaves it
there. And it rests entirely with
them whether they enfranchise one
race or another. On the general
question of the suffrage for the negro
l need no explanation. My views
are on record. / voted against the
bill allowing negro suffrage in the
District Of Columbia. / did not be
licve then, nor do ] believe now, that
this race, coming Immediately out of
bondage, is fit for all the rights OF
citizens. When they develop sufl
cient fitness for that purpose l will
be the last man to withhold the right
Of suffrage from them.
am not afraid of social or politi
cal equality with any race, and | am
sorry--yes, sir, am sorry-that my
learned and distinguished colleague
(Mr. Harding) and the gentlemen
who act with him arc SO fearful on
that score. l was always taught to
believe that IN this country, said to
be free, We had the right to choose
our own associates. do not believe
this amendment, if adopted, will take
away that right. l think it will re.
main and il any gentleman chooses
TO associate with colorcd man, with
a black man, or any man or race OF
men, even the lIindoo or the lIotten
tot, he can do it. believe in every
man having the san show. in this
world for life, and when he develops
all the capacities that fit men for the
highest rights Of citizenship, then
let him have them.
Now, in regard to the proposition
OF the honorable gentleman from
Ohio, MIR. Schenek, / am opposed
to it. l do not believe in basing re-
presentation upon actual votes, and
without debating that question 1 will
give a very short reason for my op.
position to it. 1t will have teu.
dency to lead States to confer suf.
trage upon all, TO eMfranchiso men