Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1867-08-29
+UST 20, 1867. New Series--vol T, No 81

stituted their own government. This
Republican party, which to-day reigns
triumphantly over the old Democratic
party-how did 1t happen? Thurman
ought to be philosopher, and look into
things of this kind. / II tell you why IL
happened. 1t is because God Ii just, and
the Republican party travelled according
to the dictates and principles laid down
| by Him. You and your party served the
| Devil, and in the end didn't come out
triumphantly, This may be a harsh ex-
preston, but it is literally true. From
the time the Republican party first Or
| ganized, its numbers have continually
| increased, their principles become more
and more settled, and are now more firm
ly held by the American people than at
any previous time. Why Is it7 Have
the people run mad, and reduced them
selves to despotism from which they
cannot release themselves? Who domi-
neer over them? Am one of the num-
Der, your servant, whom next winter you
can turn out into your streets? Call this
despotism? 1t Is such insanity that those
men spout at their meetings. Such des-
potism does MT hurt US much i'm Ohio
If it hurts anybody, it hurts the people
of the seeded States and their old friends
and associates who during the war look
ed to them for support, for whom Val
landigham went down South, after be-
ing condemned by a just government for
treason, to devise ways and means where
by he might conquer the government
that was so free and liberal as to allow
him to escape with his life, Thurman be-
ing left at home To take care of the rebel
wounded and prisoners. While your
brave boys languished and suffered and
died in Andersonville, Belle Isle and
other prisons, while your wives and
daughters stimulated them with pure
and patriotic motives, and were providing
comforts and delicacies for the poor sol
diers who fell fighting the enemy, where
were Nallandigham and Thurman, who
want your votes to-day? They were min
istering to the rebels at Thurman's house,
the headquarters, where he shed not croc-
odile but real tears over their condition.
He il an enemy to this government, there
is no use Inincing matters. God knows
that the great war through which we
have passed was ordained TO try mems
souls. There was no middle course. AS
Douglas well said, every man was either
patriot, or rebel and traitor. Where
was Thurman? When our nation lost a
battle did he mourn overit? No he gloat-
ed over it with the same exultation that
Jeff. Davis or any other rebel did. When
your armies triumphed his heart sank
within him, because he wished the rebel
cause to prevail. Will he get any of your
votes? Is there a man who spurned Val
landigham when he was a candidate
that will vote for Thurman, rebel of a
lower grade? AS love bold man rather
than a sneak, God knows if / should
make choice between the two would
prefer the bold, convicted traitor rather
than the slimy, miserable tool of traitors
as is the man Thurman.
But those negroes are too ignorant tt
vote. Well, great many that now vote
are more Ignorant than l wish they were
am so myself; and the great number
who come to the polls right from across
the ocean, from under the heels Of des
, potism, with every sentiment ofmauhoot
almost crushed out of them, knowing M
more of our government than the horse
you drive, and yet you give them the
right to vote, and would refuse it to the
colored man who was born among YOU
who has heard discussed from boyhooG
up the great questions involved in oul
gOvernment-whoh has been faithful tC
the dictates of better principles, beyond
any class of equal number l know. II
you will make distinction and make in.
telligence the test, Mr.. Democrat, do SO
and you will, at least, be free from the
charge of partiality and favoritism. But
colored men are as intelligent as our.
selves. Some of them are the most eff.
cient orators, who can discuss with any
man, 1 don't care who, all the complica.
ted affairs of Government with as much
business and ability as the best of us
There are all grades of intelligence
among them as among other men. In
my Judgment they are vastly better quail.
flied to discharge the full duties of citi'
zens of this Government than the great
mass, equal or greater than they in mum.
ber who are permitted to vote. lam not
for striking off any. My principles do
hold that whether we are ignorant, oil
rich, or poor, it is the dictate of Eternal
Justice, if man lives under government
he should have the right to participate
in its privileges as well as duties. / am
glad to know that in order for man
to discharge his duties to his government
right, it is not necessary he should be 6
profound jurist-that he should be an ac-
complished statesman. If it were so, re-
publican government would be absolute
fy impossible. 1t would bring you back
to these pincks of aristOcracy, and in or
der to vote you would have to bring 6
certificate from some learned doctor thai
you had Intelligence enough to vote. No
all that Is necessary in our form of gov
ernment to entitle him to vote is that he
wears in his bosom an honest heart, ant
knows the difference between right anC
wrong. No man who enjoys the right te
vote would part with it. Who would no
brand the man as infamous who would
attempt to deprive him of it? Why?-
Because he knows the existence and pro
lection of our liberties depends upon it
Why is it not so with the colored man
You say he does not know as much. 81
much the more necessity for him to have
the power to defeat your crafty scheme:
against him. You need not sympathist
with the millionaire, because he has al
he wants. 1t is not the intelligent ant
influential that need the protection o
government most, 1t is the humble ant
ignorant. If you want to know whether
government is worthy of support or not
do MT look to those who are high in the
land, but to the weak, ignorant and hum
BILE. If government has thrown around
them the meanso of protecting themselves
you need ask no further questions. It'll
truly democratic government These
men for whom l advocate the right t.
vote as a class, were most faithful wher
our country was in jeopardy. Who evel
heard of colored men betraying the coun
try's cause when she was struggling will
the enemy in the heat of war? Are there
! | aoIl;ata hara thnt xuara In, tho Cont orr