The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1867-12-28

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Of bringing it about The morality is
always false which excuses wrong be-
cause it proposes to accomplish desirable
end. We arc not permitted to do evil
that good may come about. In this case
the end itself is evil as we'll as the means.
The subjugatIon Of the States to negro ]
dominion would be worse than the mill
tary dcspotism under which they arc now
suffering. 1t was believed beforehand
that the people would endure any amount
Of military oppression, for any length Of
time, rather than degrade themselves by
subjection to the negro race; therefore,
they have been left without a choice.
Negro suffrage was established by Act Of
Congress, and the military officers were
commanded to supcrintcnd the process Of
clothing the negro race with the political
privileges torn from white men. The
blacks in the South are entitled TO be
well and humanely governed, and to have
the protection Of just laws for all their
rights Of person and property. Ifit were
practicable at this time to give them
Government exclusively their own, under
in their own way, it would become grave
question whether we ought TO do so or
whether common humanity would not re-
quire Us to save them from themselves.
But under the circumstances, this is only
a speculative point. II is not proposed
that they should govern themselves, but
that they shall rule the white race and
adt tnsu faaa La al sIax
aud members Of Congress, and shape, to
greater or less extent, the future destiny
of the whole country. Would such a
trust and power be safe in such hands !?
The peculiar qualities which should char
acterize any people who are fit % decide upon
the management Of public affairs for a great
State have been seldom combined. II is the
glory Of white men ~ know that they have
these qualities in sufficient measure to build
on this continent great political fabric and
10 preserve its stability for more than ninety
ears, while in every other part Of the world
all similar experiments have failed. But If
anything can be proved by known facts, If
all reasoning upon evidence Is not abandon
cd, il must be acknowledged that in the pro-
gress Of nations negroes have shown less ca
pacity for government than any other race Of
people. No independent government of any
form has been successful in their hands On
the contrary, wherever they have been left TO
their own devices they have shown constant
tendency 10 lapse into barbarism. In the
Southern States, however, Congress has un-
dertaken to confer upon them the privilege
of the ballot. just released from slavery,
| il may be doubted whether, Is a class, they
know more than their ancestors how TO or.
Il ,tase l. =
is admitted that the blacks of the South are
not only regardless Of the rights Of property,
but SO utterly ignorant af public affairs that
their voting can consist in nothing more than
carrying ballot TO the place where they are
directed TO deposit it. need not replind
You that the exersise of the elective franchise
is the highest attribute of the American citi.
zen, and that when guided BIZ virtue, patriot.
ism and free institutions, it constitutes the
true basis of democratic form of govern
ment. in which the sovereign power is lodg-
cd in the body Of the people. 4 trust, arti-
ficially created, not for its own sake, but
solely as a means of promoting the general
welfare, its influence for good must necessa-
rily depend upon the elevated character and
true allegiance of the elector. 1t ought,
therefore, TO be reposed in none except those
who are fitted morally and mentally to ad-
minister it well. for if conferred upoa per-
sons who do not justly estimate Its value, and
who are indifferent as to its results. it will
only serve as a means of placing power in
the hands of the unprincipled and ambiti.
GUS, and must eyentuate in the destruction of
that liberty of which it should be the most
powerful conseryator. | have, therefore,
heretofore urged upon your attention the
great danger to be apprehended from an un.
timely extension of the elective franchise to
eny new class in our country, especially
when a majority of that class, in welding
the power thus placed in their hands, cannot
be expected correctly to comprehend the du-
ties and responsibilities which pertain to suf-
frage.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE NEGRO AND THE
FOREIGN VOTER.
Yesterday, as il were, four millions of per.
sons were held in condition of slavery that
had been in actual existence for generations;
to day they are free men, and are assumed
by law to be citizens. 1t cannot be presum-
ed from their previous condition of servitude
that, as q class, they are as well informed as
to the nature of our Government as the in:
telligent foreigner who makes our land the
home of his choice. In the case of the latter
o residence of five years, and the knowledge
Of our institutions which it gives, and attach
ment to the principles of the Constitution,
are not the only conditions upon which he
can be admitted to citizenship. lie must
prove, in addition, good moral character,
and thus give reasonable ground for the be,
lief that he will be faithful to the obligations
which he assumes as citizen of the republic.
Where people, the source of all political
power, speak by their suffrage through the
instrumentality of the ballot.box, it must be
carefully gnarded against the control of those
who are corrupt in principle and the enemies
of free institutions, for it can only become to
our political and social systems so far condu-
Give of healthy popular sentiment when kept
free from mdemoralizing influences. Controlled
through fraud and usurpation by the design
ing, anarchy and despotism must surely fol-
low. In the hands of the patriotic and wor-
thy, our Government will be preserved upon
the principles of the Constitution inherited
from our forefathers. 1t follows, therefore,
that in admitting to the ballot-box new
class of voters not qualified for the exercise
of the elective franchise, we weaken our Gov
ernment instead of adding to It's strength
and durability. yield to no one in attach:
ment to that rule of general suffrage which
distinguishes our policy as a nation but
there is limit, observed hitherto, which
makes the ballot privilege and a trust, and
which requires for some classes time for
probation and preparation. To give it in
discriminatory to new class who may not
comprehend by previous habits and opportu
mites how to perform the trust which it de-
mands, is to degrade it and finally destroy
its power; for il may be assumed thatno po-
| litical truth is better established than that
cr,ch IN III cori RI nd nna hya ~ n ~ ov