The Greene County Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 185?-1867, 1867-01-16
WAYNESBURG, Pa. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16 1867

became place OF refuge for those " ho
escaped from serviiude and 1t is yet the
abiding place ofa considerable proper.
tlon of those who sought within its lin.
its shelter from bondage. Until then
held in slavery, and denied all opportu-
mites for mental culture, their first
knowledge of the Government was ac>
quired when, by ccnferring upon them
freedom, 1t became the benefactor of
their race the test OF their capability
for improvement began, when, for the
first time, the career of free industry and
and the avenues to intelligence were
opened to them. Possessing these adj
vantages but limited time-lhe great
er number perhaps having entered tie
District Of G lumbla during the later
years of the war or since ITS termination
we may well pause to inquire wheth-
er, after so briet probation, they are as
a class capable OF an intellig mt exercise
of the right Of suffrage, and qualified to
discharge the duties Of Official position.
The people who are daily witnesses of
their mode of living, and who have be-
come familiar with their habits of tho't,
have expressed the conviction that they
are not yet competent to serve as elec,
tors, and thus become eligible for office
in The local governments under which
they live. Clothed with the elective
franchise, their numbers, already large
ly in excess Of the demand for labor,
would be soon increased by an influx
from the adjoining States. Drawn
from fields where employment is abund>
ant, they would in vain seek it here, aud
so add to tie embarrassments already
experienced from the large class OF idle
persons congrega,ed in the District
Hardly yet capable Of forming correct
Judgments upon the important questions
that often make the issues Of political
contest, they could readily be made
subservient TO the purposes OF design.
ing persons While in Massachusetts,
under the census Of 1860, the propor-
ton OF white to colored males over
twenty years Of ag1 was one hundred
and thirty to one, here the black race.
constitutes nearly oue-tblrd Of the en-
tire population, whilst the same class
surrounds the District on all sides, rea-
Gy to change their residence at a mos
mnnts notice, and with all the facility
of nomadie people, in order to enjoy
here alter short residence, a privilege
they find nowhere else. 1t is within
their power, IN one year, to come into
the Dlstriclsin such numbers as to have
the supreme control of the white race,
and to govern them by their own oili-
GERS, and by the exercise Of all the muni,
cipal authority-among the rest, of the
po" er Of taxation over property IN
which they have no interest, In Mas.
sachusetts, where they have enjoyed the
benefits of a thorough educational sys,
TEN, qualification of intelligence is re,
quired, while here suffrage is extended
to all, without discrimination, as well to
the most incapable, who can prove a
residence in the District of one year, as
to those persons of color, who compar-
atively few in lumber, are permanent
inhabitants, and having given evidence
of merit and qualification, are recogniz
ed as useful and responsible members Of
the community. Imposed upon an un-
willing people, placed, by the Constilu-
ton, under the exclusive legislation of
Congress, it would be viewed as an ar
bitrary exercise OF power, and as an IN
dcation by the country Of the purpose
OF Congress to compel the acceptance OF
negro sutfiage by the States, 1t would
engcnder feeling of opposition and hat
red between the two races, which, be>
coming deeprooted and ineradcable,
would prevent them from living togeth.
er in state of mutual friendliness
Carefully avoiding every measure that
might tend to produce such a result, and
following the clear and well ascertained
popular will, we should assiluously en-.
deavor to promote kindly relations be-
tween them, and thus, when that popu>
lar will leads the way. prepare for the
gradual and harmonious introduction of
this new element into the political pow"
err OF the country.
1t cannot be urged that the proposed
extension of suffrage in the District Of
Columbia is necessary to enable persons
of color to protect either their Interests
or their rights. They stand here pre-.
cisely as they stand in Pennsylvania,
Ohio and Indiana. Here. as elsewhere,
III all that pertains to civil rights, there
fis nothing to distinguish this class of
persons from citizens of the United
) States: for they possess the full and
equal benefit OF all laws aad proceedings
for the security OF person and property
as is enjoyed by white citizens and are
made subject to like punishment, pains
and penalties, and to none other, any
law, statute, ordinance, regulation or
custem to theDontrary notwithstanding,
Nor, as has been assumed, are their suf-
frages pecessary to aid loyal sentiment
J here; tor local governments already exis,
. OF undoubttd tealty to the Government,
/ and are sustained by communities which
were among the first to testify their de-
votlon to the Union, and which, during
: thes,ruggle, furnished their full quotaI
: Of men to the military service Of III,