, 1867-12-20

bearing arms were IOfeeQ INTO tue IoOeluOu
against their will, aud OF those who are guilty
with their own consent, Sc degrees Of gull, are
as various As the shades Of character and temper.
But these acts Of Congress sonfound them Altot
gether In one common doom.
Indiscriminats vengeance upon classes, seets
aud parties or upon whole communities for Of
fences committed by a portion Of them against
the goyernment TO which they owe obedience
was common 10 the bSrberous ages Of The world.
But Christianity and civilization have made
such progress, that recourse TO punisbmept 90
orIel aud unjust would meet with the condem.
Iktion of all unprejudiced aud right minded
men, The primitive justice Of this age, especi-
ally of this country, does not consist 10 strip
ping whole States of their liberties, and reducing
all their people without distinction 10 the eou'
dition Of slavery. 1t deals separately with each
Individual, confines itself to the forms Of law,
and vindicAtes its own purity by an impartial
examination Of every case before competent
Judicial tribunal. If this does not satisfy all
our desires with regard to southern rebels, let
us console ourselves by rejecting thAta free COO.
stitution, Triumphant 10 war aud uubtoken 10
peace, is worth far more to US aud our children
than the qualification Of any present feeling
am aware it is assumed that this system OF
government for the Southern States is not to be
perpetual. 1t is true this military government
is TO be only provisional, but it is through this
temporary evil that greater evil is 10 be made
perpetual. If the guarantee of the constitution
can be broken Professionally 10 serve a tempora-
ry purpose apd 10 a part ouly of the country,
we can destroy them everywhere and for all time.
Arbitrary measures often change, but they gen
orally change for the worse. 1t is the curse Of
despotism that it has no battling place. The nS
termitted exercise of its power brings no sense OF
security to its subjects, for they Can never know
what more they will ue called to endure when
its red right hand is armed to plague them
again.
Nor is it possible to conjecture how or where
pOwer unrestraiued by law may seek its next VIC
Tins. The States that are still free may be en-
shaved at any moment, for if the constitution
does not protect all, it protects none. 1t is man'
ifestly and avoweuly the object of these laws to
confer upon negroes the right OF voting and TO
disfrHnchise such a nnmber of white citizeus as
will give the former a clear majority at all elec-
tons in the Southern States. THIS, to the minds
of some persons, is so important that violation
of the constitution is justified as means of
bringing it about.
The morality is always false which excuses
wrong, because it proposes to accomplish de-
sirable end. We not permitted TO do evil
that good may come about, in this case the end
itself is evil, as well as the means. The subju>
cation of the States to negro dominion would be
worse than the military despotism under which
they are now suffering. 1t was believed before
hand that the people would endure aDy amount
of military oppression, for any length OF time,
rather than degrade themselves by subsection to
the negro race. Therefore they have been LETT
without choice.
Negro suffrage was established by act OF Con
gress and the military officers were commanded
to superiutend the process of cotbiuk the negro
race with the political privileges torn from white
men. The blacks are entitled to be well and hu'
namely governed, and TO have the protection OF
just laws for all their rights Of person aud prop
erty. If it were practicable at this time to give
them government exclusively their own, uuder
which they might manage their own affairs 10
their own way, it would become grave ques>
tion, whether we ought to do so or whether COM
mon humanity would not require us to save them
from themselves but, under the circumstances
this is only speculative point
1t is not proposed that they should govern
themselves, but that they shall rule the white
race and administer state laws elect presidents
and members of Congress aud shape to greater |
or less exten: the future destiny of the whole |
country. Would such trust and power be safe |
in such hands2 The peculiar qualities which |
should characterize any people who are hi to de- |
eide upon the management OF public AFFAIRS :or |
great state have seldom been combined.
1t is the glory OF white men to know that they
have bad these qualities in sufficient measure TO
build upon this continent great political FAB
ric and to preserve its stability for more than
world all similar experiments have tailed. But
if anything can be proved by known facts, II all
reasoning upon evidence is not abandoned, II |
must be acknowledged that, in the progress OF
nations, negroes have shown less capacity Tor
government than any other race or people NO
independent government OF any form mas ever
been successful 10 their hands. On the contrary |
wherever they have been left to their own de-
vices. they have shown a constant tendency to |
relADse into barbariaus.
In the Southern States, however, Congress has
undertaken to confer upon them the privilege Of
the ballot Just released from slavery, 1t may oe
doubted whether, as class, they know more
than their ancestors how to organize aud regulate
civil society. Indeed it is Admitted that the
blacks of the South are not only regardless OF
the rights of property, but so utterly ignorant Of
public affairs that their voting can consist III
nothing more than carrying ballot to the place
where they are directed to deposit it, Geed not
remind you that the exercise of the elective
franchise is the highest attribute OF an Amerl-
can citizen, and that when guided by virtue,
Intelligence, patriotism aud fee institutions II
constitutes the true basis Of democratic form
of government, in which the sovereign power Is
lodged in the body of the people.
A trust arti6ciAlly created, not for its own
sake but solely as a means OF promotlng the
general welfare, it's influence for good must ue>
cessarily depend upon the elevated character
and true allegiance Of the elector. IL ougoI
therefore to be reposed 10 none except those who
are fitted morally and mentally to administer 1t
we'll, for If conferred upon persons who DO lot
Justly estimate Its value aud who are indifferent
as to its results, it will only serve as means OF
pIaciug power in the hands Of the unprincipled
and an bilious and must eveutuate in the conn
plete destruction Of that liberty OF which It
should be the most powerful conservative.
have therefore, heretofore urged upon your at
teutiou the great danger TO be aPprebended
from an uutimely extension Of the elective fran>
chise TO any new class in our country, espe'
cIally when the large majority Of that class, 10
welding the power thus placed in their bands
cannot be expected CORRECTLY to comprehend the
duties and responsibilities which pertain TO sur
frage.
Yesterday, as it we're, four millions Of persons
were held in a condition of slavery, that nAd
existed for generations To day they are "eg
men and are ASSUMED by law 10 be citiSens. II
cannot be presumed from their previous cono.
ton of servitude that as class, tney arc
we'll informed as TO the nature OF our 1o'eIo
ment as TO the intelligent foreigner, who makes
our land the bone Of his choice In lne e.s
Of the 4ntter. either residences OF hVe years.
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