South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1867-11-01
NEGRO SUFFRAGE.


paper "The Baltimore Ga<efte." Tie con
.fsrriag right OF Sagea9e does not secure
It's ii..eliiymtererrise They who think SO,
'IcJ &c question:" the truth, unfortunately
being the very contrary. Is not the state
of things quite bad enough, without super
adding Negro incapacity to the voting pow
er Of the country?
General Wade Hampton has written an
other letter an which he reiterates his 'per-
feet willingness" to see negro suffrage es-
tablished in the South. With all cur re-
speet for General Hampton's intelligence,
we are unable to see any force in the ar
gumenis by which he has reached his con-
cius ions. He deals, it seems to Us, with
words rather than with things. He says /:
eve have recognized the freedom Of the
"blaeks, and nave placed this fact beyond
sail probability OF doubt, denial or recall.
''Lct us rec ,gnize in the same frank man
"ner, aud as fully, their political rights"
Now this is the best, if not the only reason,
lie is aoie to give far clothing the bucks
with the right of suffrage How the right
to participate in the Government iueyita-
bly, follows liberation from slavery is not
stated, and it would puzzle General Hamp-
ton to make it out, On this theory the In
dian is entitled 10 be voter also Il will
not do to deal in this loose generalization
IN settling tho grave questions now before
tho country. The voters who have hereto
fore controlled the latter have assumed to
be capable of governing it we'll and wisely.
They belong unquestionably TO the most
III md 80. af in s
the GARTH and arc possessed, "a n people.
Of about as much Intelligence and education
as are TO be found among the mass Of the
population Of any other nation. But some
how or other under their auspices the coun-
try has been almost ruined. An enormous
debt has been incurred. Large districts
have been devastated. Thousands upon
thousands Of people have been siaughe cd.
The laws have been deied, and a military
desPotism established. Tue white people
OF The country having brought matters TO
this pass il is proposed to remedy our evils
by inviting to participation in the Gov-
eminent class Of voters Of different race.
who arc also confesiedly more ignorant,
less intellectual aul more thriftlrss thar
those whom they are expected to assis. il.
saving the State. This is 4 practical bust
ness, and wc shouli Ike ihos: who advocate
me measure to give us Som. substantial ar
gunent ia support Of it. 81 usticc TO ali'
and Impartial suffrage may be pretty G.
nough as mere phrases. They mag b. ex-
tremcly useful TO tho manufacturers Of
transparcncies. They may be en!iaen,ly
satisfactory to the mind of Mr. Horace
Greeley. Ba. the thukias people Of the
Land Will surely rc1uirc something more to
satisfy them that the Constitution will tc
come inpcrishable, and the Government be
better administered III the future pio.iied
the list ofvotersi "a Increased BY aiding the
blacks to il.
There are other reasons also Why Cencr-
al Hampton might just IS we'll have l;it Ls |
letter unwrttcn. lie cannot by any pcs
sibility accomplish what he aims at lie
can produce 10 coed result whatever Ne
thinks Congress has no authority TO utter |
terc, bu. that the States should B.. lo.s T.
regulate negro suffrage, and that they should !
confcr the "e.cc;iyc franchise on The negro |
''on precisely the same terms as Il j.. to b. !
Exercised by the white man" These prop /
os;tions, IN view Of the real issues before I
US, II is time wasted 10 Giscuss If Con. !
grcs9 really had any respect for laws or the /
Constitution, or honest regard for the vel /
fare of the blacks, it might be timely e. |
consider their political niranchiscmcit and /
the best way Of bringing it about. But I
that body is thinking OF nothing, exert .
how to bring to Washington from eseb .
southern State delegation in full politi- |,
cll sympathy with Wade and Sumner
This - the sole motive which anima.cs l.. |
and It's every measure is directed toward, |
that end. ltcan only succeed in its base
and ruinous designs through negro votes.
Any acceptance, therefore, qualified or ur-
qaalihed, Of rs negro suffrage schcnc1 by
leading Southern men only distracts tho /
South and facilitates tho OPERATIONS Of tie
radical extremists"