The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-01-16


! ii population ii that State Of 1881 ,568 t5sss.
were By the census OF 1850 only $500 perso#~ ~
color and ot ae Egates oFar twenty years Of age 1r
were $90,88G white aud 1902 eoIored b. tie sane
official enaraera5oa taefe we're in the District 81 TO-
labia GU 724 Hhtes 10 I4 BIC persons Of the colsaa
race Sace then, AoHeTef, the population Of the II ~
trict has largely increased and ii is estimated
the present time there nearly hundred tho4ssad
whites thirty thousand negroes. The cause III ill.,
augmented numbers Of tile l.ter class needs na ~
] PLANTATION. Contiguous to Maryland and VifeiUI. ia
district during the became place of refine f. .
those who escaped from serritude, and is VET sh
abiding place of considerable proportion Of Tins.
4 who sought within its limits shelter from BONDAGE
Until then held in Slavery, and denied all oanorers9.:
ties for mental culture, their first knowledge Of ts
Government was acquired when, by cenferroo uf43i
them Freedom, 1t became the benetactor Of their t
The test OF. THEN eapabltity for improvement bepy
when for the first time the career Of free n3nstry
the avenues to intelligence we're opened % them I4
| sessing these advantages bet limited ~tiine tE
greater number perhaps having entered the Dstriet IT
Columbia during the later years Of the war, or Sit 9
its termination, may well pause to inquire whetl
er, after brief probation they a class carH
bic Of an intelligent exercise Of the right of sutra
and qualified to discharge the duties Of Official pos
| ton.
The people, who are ddily witnesses of their MOD
of living and who have become familiar with tte5r
habits Of thought have expressed the conviction t5s
they not yet competent to electors, al
thus become eligible for Office i'll the local govern
nents under which they live Clothed with the eIee-
tive franchise, their numbers, already largely in
cess Of the demand for labor would be soon increa
by an iaaux from the adjoining States. Drawn fro.
fields where employment is abundant, they would
vain seek it here, and add to the embarrassment
already experienced from the large class of idle pc
sons congregated in the District Hardly yet capabIg
OF forming correct judgments upon the importalt
questions that often make the issues OF political con
test they could readily be made subservient to tn
purposes OF designing persons. While in MasSachu-
sets under the census OF 1860 the proportion Of white
to cOlOred males over twenty years Of age hun
dred and thirty to one here the black constitute
nearly one-third Of the entire population whilst the
class surrounds the District all sides ready to
change their residence at moments notice and with
all the facility of a nomadic people, in order to- enjoy
here, after short residence, privileges they fad
where else. 1t IS within their power in year to
come into the District in such numbers as to have the
supreme control of the white race and to govern
them by their officers and by the exercise of all
the municipal authority among the rest of the power
or taxation over property il which they have no irf
tere5t In Massachusetts where they have enjoyed he
benefits OF thorough educational system a qualiGea
ton OF intelligence is required, while here suffrage is
extended to ALL without discrimination as well to the
most incapable who can prove residence in the Dis
tF!ct OF one year, as to those persons OF color who
comparatively few in number permanent inhabi-
tHnts, and having given evidence of merit and quai-
cation are recognised usefu! and responsible
bcrs OF the community. Imposed upon an unwilling
people placed by the Constitution under the exclusive
legislation Of Congress- it would be viewed as an arbi-
t:aTY exercise ct power and indication BY the
country OF the purpose Of Congress to compel the
ceptance Of negro suffrage by the States. 1t would
engender feeling Of opposition and hatred between
the two races whlch, becoming deep rooted and inc
would prevent them from living together in
state of mutual trieAdlineSs. Carefully avoiding eY-
cry measure that might tend produce such q result
and following the cear.und well ascertaiued popular
viii we should a5sdNousy endaavorto promote kindly
relations between them, and thus when thepopuiar
Nl leads the way, prepare for the gradual aud har-
monous Introduction of this clement into the po-
tcal power OF the country. 1t cannot be urged that
lie proposed extension Of suffrage in the District Of
Columbia is necessary enable persons Of color to
protect either their interests Or their rights They
stand here precisely as they stand in Pennsylvania,
Ohio and Indiana
Here, as elsewhere in all that pertains to civil
lights, there1s nothing to distinguish this class OF
persons from citizens Of the United States; for they
possess the lul and equal benefit of all laws and pro-
eedlngs for the security Of person and property
Joyed by white citizens and are made subject to
lie punishment, pains and penalties, and nona
heT, any law, statute, ordinance, regulation Gus
ON to the contrary Notwithstanding" Nor, as has
'een assumed, their s1ffrages necessary to all
cyal sentiment here, for local governments ars@-f-
x!st OF undou6ted fea!ty to the Government, a
ASHAMED by communities which were among ST.. l-s.
0 testify their devotion to the Union and VIII .4r-
ng the struggle furnished their full quotas Of au to
y. -
he elective franchise is the highest attribute ae
American citizen, and when guided By virtue, ILL.,
eHce patriotism and proper appreciation Of -srja.
NtutIons constitutes the true basis Of dem Ms
orm Of government in which the sovereign d s,.
edged IN the body Of the people Its inAae5 $50.
0od necessarily depends upon the elevated. oh; ..-
nd PATRIOTISM Of the electOF, 70" if exercised
onS who do not Justly estimate its Taiae and :
Indifferent as to its results, it viii only servs
leans OF placing power in the hands Of the un-
flfI and NH ntuat m in he
iee destruction Of that liberty of which it she III -s
ne most powerful conServa0r Great dangcrS there
ore, 10 be apprehended from an untimeIy ext---5gH
the elective franchise to any new class in oar .sl
Y, especially when the large majority of that 5s
welding the power thus placed in their handi g
OF be expected correctly to comprehend the ...a
ID responsibilities which pertain to suffrage. go,
rday, as 1t were, four millions Of persons were ID
a condition OF slavery that had existed for re
ons; to-day they are freedmen and are assume 81
W to be citizens. 1t cannot be presumed from z
e'iou5 condition OF serVtude that a class
e as well informed as to the nature Of our CD
ent as the intelligent foreigner who makes our at.
nome OF his choice Ii the case of the batter nef
er a residence Of five wears and the kuOwIeGlge-ot
/ institutions which it gives, attachment 10 the
lhclpes OF the Constitutions, are the only conditions
on which he can be admitted to citizenship He
l5t prove in addition good moral character and
IS give reasonable grounds for the belief that lie
l! De faithful to the obligations which he assumes as
;luzel OF the republic. Where people (the source
all political power) speak by their surfaces through
lnstrumcntay Of the ballot box, it must be care
y guarded against the control Of those who are cor
ot III principle and enemies Of free Institutions for
IAN only become to our political and social system
e conductor Of healthy popular sentiment when
pit tree from den1oralisjng influences Controlled
ough fraud and usurpatioa by the designing, an
ny and despotis2l must inevitably follow In the
lds OF the patriotic and worthy, our Governments
be preserved upon the principles of the Constitu
Inherited from our l;;,hels. 1t follows, therefore
It in admitting to tlD ballot box new class OF De-
net qualified foptle exercise Of the elective fran
Sc we weaken oar system OF government instead of
ling to its ,Tength and durability: In returning
bill "a the Senate deeply regret that there
ull BE- any conflict Of opinion. between the egisla-
AID Executive departments of the Government i'll
ard to measures that vitality affect the prosperity
peace OF the country. Sincerely desiring to re-
CHE the States with another and the whole
pie to the Government Of the United States il has
my earnest wish to cooperate with Congress in all
suFes having fer their object proper and com
e adjustment of the questions resulting from our
civil war Harmony between the coordinate
lcaes OF the Government, always necessary for the
Hc welfare, was never more demanded than at the
sent time, and it viii therefore be my constant aim
promote, as far as possible, concert Of action be-
en- them. The differences of opinion that have al