The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-08-28


They have no voice in making the
laws; or choosing the officers by whom
they are to be executed. Those in
authority may make oppressive stat
utes against them, or deny TO them
the protection of those already made,
as in Kentucky, and they have no
means of redress. Their natural
rights. may all be struck down, and,
lin themselves, they have no power TO
prevent it, except by force OF arms,
for which they would be punished as
criminals. In a republican form Of
government, the ballot is the only
means short of revolution by which
rights can be asserted, abuses cor
rected, or protection secured, and
whoever is deprived of it. is at the
mercy of his neighbors. LrF ~ sli-1
Mr.. Pendleton lately said that the
white people of Ohio would protect
the colored men in the enjoyment of
| all their rights. But that is the old
argument in favor of slavery, when
it was urged that the good and kind
masters would take care of the slaves
and do better for them than they
could do for themselves If Mr.. Pen
dleton were to be DISTINGUISHED by
the Constitution of Ohio, it is proba-
BILE he would be protected in his
other rights, but this would not re-
pair the wrong or soethe his lacerated
feelings. If the colored men of Ohio
are enfrauchised, their votes will be
sought after with as much avidity as
an equal number of white votes. and
thew will be treated with kindness
and consideration they never before
enjoyed.
No party could propose to enact an
unjust law against them. or fail to
give them protection except under
the penalty of having all their votes
cast against them at the next election;
and we know how effective is the pros
pect of such penalty.
In the rebel States, the late act of
Congress enfranchising the freedmen
has already given them a protection
and consideration which could not be
secured by the whole military power
of the United States. and exhibits con-
clusIvely the influence and power Of
the ballot.
The recognition of the principle
contend for does not conflict with the
right to exclude aliens. minors, insane
persons and criminals from the ballot
box, nor does it necessarily conflict
with that principle of representation
which is more or less recognized in
every elective system, whereby from
the ties of affection, blood, and COM
munity of interest, the husband is
assumed to represent the wife, and the
father his family But this principle
of representation could not without
absurdity be carried so far as to as
sumo that, where one race is separated
from another by color, condition and
prejudice, it could represent the in
terests, feelings and wants of that
other at the ballot box.
l know it is often said that the
right of suffrage is not a natural
right, and may be withheld from any
man, class or race, without a VIOLA
ton of their natural rights. But |
respectfully submit that this makes
the whole theory of natural rights a
mockery For if In a republican
form of government, where suffrage
is the only means of protecting natu-
raj rights. it can be justly withheld
from a whole race, then that race
have natural rights, but have no right
to use the means by which they may
be protected, which is absurd
Not less absurd than to say that the
constitution confers the power upon
Congress to make war, but withholds
the means to execute the power. 1t
is true that no principle ia govern
ment can be carried to all it's conclu-
sions, but must be subject to practi-
cal limitations. la s-e1-a
Every member of society must yield
up some portion of his abstract rights |
for the common good, but this yield
ing should be uniform. 1t would be |
an abuse of the doctrine, if society re-
CURED one race to yield all means of |
self protection. And to say that So
ciety may require one race to submit |
itself absolutely to the government |
of another, is to assert the principle of
slavery pure and simple.
But 1t may be said that the princi |
pie advocate would give the right of |
suffrage to women. This | do rot |
deny, but say broadly and practically |
that there is vast difference between |
denying the right of suffrage to wo- |
men who are represented at the ballot
box by their husbands. fathers and |
brothers, and all the adult males of |
their race, and the denial of 1t to a !
whole race, both males and females, |
which is not represented at the ballot
box by anybody. and thus has no
means in republican Government of |
protecting itself in the enjoyment of |
life, liberty and property.
PENDLEToN's ARGUMENT.
In discussing this subject Mr.. PEN
dleton said: /.