Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1867-04-11
Conservative Amalgamation.

Conservative Amalgamation.
In an article in last weeks issue
we referred briefly to the sudden
revolution of public sentiment which
has taken place at the South touch
ing negro suffrage, and to the fact
that the Democracy of the South are
new loud in demonstrations of
friendship for the black man, and
new extend him cordial invitation
to unite with then in political action
against the Radicals Of the North.
Evidences of this revolution are
daily increasing, although these very
men have for years Yillified and de-
nounced every man at the North whs
dared express views favorable to the
political equality of the black man,
yet to-day they stand in advance of
the most radical views of the NEST
radical men at the North, and are at
tempting to effect a political ANAL
gamatien between themselves and
the negro population in their midst,
courting their favor and their votes.
This movement is developing itself
in Tennessee. That State having
conferred the right of suffrage upon
the black man, and thus made him
power in politics, we find that the
Copperheads and rebels of the State
have suddenly conquered their aver
sion for the negro, and by some
strange Transformation have become
his best friends. They invite him to
their political meetings, speak with
him from the same platform, and
promise to receive him into their
State Convention. The real motive
at the bottom OF all this is plain
enough. The Democracy have no
more real love for the negro to day,
than they had before when they ad-
vecated slavery as his true normal
condition. But though despising
the race, yet thev are base enough
to use his vote to elevate themselves
to power. As in Tennessee for in
stance, the real motive underlying
this friendly coalition between the
late rebels and til cir late slaves, in
the hope that by controlling the
black vote of the State they may
drive Brownlow and the Union men
from power and secure control OF the
State Government. A mixed meet
ing of Copperheads and colored men
has lately been held at Nashville, at
which Judge Whitworth white and
Joe Williams (colored) were the
main speakers. 1t was conducted on |
the "mutual admiration" principle,
and while the Judge lauded the ne
groes, Williams declared himself in
favor of universal amnesty and the
immediate restoration of the late
rebels to all their political rig hts and
privileges. The design of sll this is
evident; it is nothing more nor less
than an attempt on the part of De-
mocracy and copperheadism to make
the black mans vote stepping
stone for their own political advance,
ment. The attempt will however
prove failure The black man is
not SO utterly devoid of intelligence
and information as not to know that
these men resisted his emancipation
and enfranchisement SO long as they
had any pewer to resist, and that
their real sentiment on this subject
has undergone no change. This
attempt at Nashville wholly failed,
brought out but slim attendance of
colored men and elected no enthusi-
asm from those who were present.
The 'Press and Times Rsdical
organ thus comments upon the iaf-
fair:
"The managers couldn't go slack
Vice President, but concluded to
conpremise on q black speaker
named Joe Williams. A COED many
OF the simon-pure Cenfederates
hung their heads and glanced furtiVe-
ly at each other, as III to say, This
is a h--l of a way to get our rights
IN the Territories, isn't itp Some I