The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-07-17
rveib,lity of Negroes to Office.

resolutions Of inquiry offered in ieeisia-
tive bodies usually receive unanimous or
n majority vote asa matter OF course. 1lo
vote upon the resolution offered IN inc
House of Representatives on Monday IN
regard to Kentucky, Maryland, and Della.
ware, may therefore be regarded as an
Indication that, reckless as the Radicals IN
Congress are, and with however much
contempt they may regard constitutional
inhibitions, they are afraid to touch tno
governments of the States which have not
been "engagcd in rebellion" we nave
all along felt confident that such was 'll'
fact, and hence we did not hesitate 70
challenge Congress to declare that negroes
arc eligible to Office. 1t is an unspeaka-
bic grievance that the whites shou'u oe
threatened with negro rnle. Inc COM
manding generals should ask lot speclhc
instructions in regard to the matter; not
from the President, nor from General
GRANT. but from Congress; for it has in
effect resolved that it will respond to all
such inquiries. We receive papers from
all parts of the United States, and we do
not know of half-dozen that plainly and
uneauivocally demand that negroes shall
have O share Of the Offices. The prcju.
dccs Of race are just as strong IN the
northern States as in the southern, and VIC
believe that the Radicals would easily be
routed in any State in which they should
como out boldly in favor of such propo-
sition. In New York State convention
is now engaged in forming new constitu-
ton, and although two-thirds OF the mem
bers are Republicans, the body is seriously
discussing day after day the question
whether negroes not owning $3.50 worth
of property shall be allowed to vote. In
Wisconsin and Minnesota the Democratic
State Conventions have taken ground
against allowing to negroes the right to
vote at all, and it is altogether certain
that the Radicals will not dare to favor
their election to office. In Connecticut
less than two years ago the question of al
lowing negroes to vote mot to hold oflice)
was submitted to the people, and by a
largo majority the voters refused to ex-
tend the right Of suffrage to them. In
Pennsylvania, even now, the Radical party
will not dare to avow itself in favor even
of negro suffrage, much less of negro eli
cibiity to office. Yet in all those States
the negroes are SO few in number that it
would be perfectly safe to allow them both
to vote and hold office. In the southern
States, on the contrary, they are so nu-
mcrous that if allowed they will inevitably
elect many negroes to official positions.
Surely such wrong cannot with impu
nifty be perpetrated upon the superior
race. In Virginia, fortunately, the whites
largely outnumber the blacks, and cannot
well be put under foot but in the cotton
States Authorization must follow if ne
urocs arc allowed to hold office. But the
wrong is none the less here. The whites
arc certainly entitled to be free from negro
associates in legislative bodies and official
positions. And VIC cannot so much as
imagine how any district commander can
so stifle the. instincts which teach him to
stand by, protect, and defend those of bis
own race, as to decide that these ignorant
blacks are eligible to Office.