Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-12-11


But, under the circumstances this is speculative
point. 1t Is not proposed merely that thev shaU
D govern themselves, but they shall rule tho white
race, make and administer State laws elect Presi
uents ana members OF Congress, and shape to q
greater or less extent the future DESTINY of the
whole country. Would such trust and power. BE-
safe IN such hands The peculiar qualities which
shonld characterize any people who are fit TO decide
upon tna management of public affairs for great
State have seldom been combined in apv race tt
is the glory Of white men 10 know that thew have
had these qualities in sufficient measure to build
upon this continent great political fabric and
preserve Its stability for more than ninety wears
While IN every other part Of the world all similar
experiments nave failed. But if anything can be
proved by known facts if all reasoning npon xvi
dence is not abaondned, it must be ackuowledyed
tnat IN the progress of nations nerees have shown
less capacity for government than any other race of
people. ''''' u
No independent government of any form has ever
been successful in their hands. On the contrary.
whenever they have been left to their own devices
tney have shown constant tendency TO relapse
INTO barbarism. In the Southern States however.
congress mas Undertaken to confer upon them the
privilege OF the ballot. just released from slavery
IL may be doubted whether as a class they know
more than their ancestors how TO organize and reg
ulate civil society. Indeed it is admitted that the
blacks OF the South not only regardless of the
rights OF property, but SO utterly ignorant Of pub
nc aialrs that their voting can consist of nothing
"a
are directed to deposit it. 1 need not remind YOU
that the exercise of the elective franchise is the
highest attribute of an American citizen and when
guided by virtue intelligence, patriotism, and prop
erappreclatlon OF our free Institutions il constitutes
the true basis Of the Democratic form of govern
ment in which the sovereign power is lodged in the
body OF the people. a trust artifcially created
not Tor Its own sake, but solely as means of pro-
noting the general welfare-its influence for good
must necessarily depend upon the elevated oharac-
ter and true allegiance of the elector. II ought,
therefore, TO be reposed in none except those who
| are fitted morally and mentally to administer it
wellj for If conferred upon persons who do not
justly estimate its value and who Indifferent as
to its results, it will only means of plac-
| ing power in the hands of the unprincpled and
ambitious and must eventuate in the complete de-
struction Of that liberty of which it should be the
most powerful conservator.
| have therefore heretofore urged upon your at
tention the great danger to be apprebended from
any ultimately extension of the elective franchise
TO any new class in our country, especially when
large majority Of that Glass; in welding the power
thus placed in their hands, cannot be expected TO
correctly comprehend the duties and responsibilities
which pertain TO suffrage. Yesterday it were
four million persons held in state of slavery
that existed for generations To-day they are free
men, and are assumed by law TO be citizens It can
not be presumed from their previous condition of /
seIvltude that as class they are as we'll informed
as TO the nature of Government as the intelli-
choice. In the case of the latter neither resi-
dence Of five years and knowledge of our institu-
lions which 1t gives attachment TO the princi-
pies OF the Constitution, the only conditions |
upon which he can be admitted TO citizenship. He |
must prove, In addition, q good moral character,
and thus give reasonable ground for the belief that
he will be faithful to the obligations which be as
sumes citizen of republic.
Where the people, the source of sill political pow
or, speak by their suffrage through the instrument
nf hal fOt ho
ed against the control of those who are corrupt in
principle and enemies of free institutions for it
can only become to our political and social system
safe conductor of healthy and popular sentiment,
when kept free from demoralizng influences.
Controlled through fraud and usurpation by de-
signing men, anarchy and despOtism must inevita-
bly, follow. In the hands of the patriotic and worthy
our Government will be preserved upon the princi-
pies of the Constitution inherited from fathers.
NEGRO SUFFRAGE.
It follows that in admitting TO the ballot box
now class Of voters not qualified for the exercise of
the elective franchise we weaken our system of gov
ernment instead of adding to its strength and du-
rability. pield 20 no one in attachment to that
rule of general suffrage which distinguishes our
policy as nation; but there is limit wisely OBJ
served heretofore, which makes the ballot prvi-
lege and trust and which requires of some classes
time suitable for probation and preparation. To
give it indiscriminately to a new class wholly un-
prepared by previous habits and opportunity to
perform the trust which it demands is to degrade
it and hnallyto destroy its power for it may be
safely assumed that political truth is better es
tablisbed than that such indiscriminate and all
embracing extension of popular suffrage must end
at last in its overthrow and destruction.
repeat the expression Of my willingness TO join
in any plan within the scope of our constitutional
uthority which promises to better the condition of
the negroes in the South, by encouraging them in
industry, the enlightenment and improvement of
their morals, and giving protection to all their just
heritance TO them, would, in my opinion, be an
abandonment Of duty which we owe alike to the
memory of our fathers and to the rights OF our
children.
The plan of putting the Southern States wholly,
and the Federal Government partially, into the
hands of negroes, is proposed at a time peculiarly
unpropitiols. The foundations of society have been
broken up by civil Industry must be recog
nized justice reestablished public credit maintain
ed and order brought out of confusion. To accom-
plish these ends would require all the wisdom and
virtue of the great men who formed our institutions
originally.
/ confidently believe that their descendants will /
be equal TO the arduous task before them but IL Is
worse than madness TO expect that negroes will per-
form it for as Certainly ought not to ask their
assistance until VIC despair of our own competency
The great difference between the two races in phys
ical mental and moral characteristics will prevent
an amalgamation or fusion Of them together in one
homogeneous mass. If the inferior obtains the as
tendency over the other it will govern with refer
ence only 10 its interests for will recognize
no common interest and create such a tyranny as
this continent has never yet witnessed. Already I
negroes are Influenced by promise Of eonhscation /
and plumber. They are taught to regard as an enc
my every white man who has any respect Tor the
rights of his own If this continues 1t must
become worse and until all order will be sub
verted all industry cease, and the fertile fields OF
the South grow up into wilderness. Of all the
dangers which our nation has yet encountered none
are equal TO these which must result from the sue
cess Of the effort making TO Afrcanzc half our
country
THE COST.
I would not put considerations OF money in COM
petition with justice and right but the expenses in
cident TO reconstruction under the system adopted
by Congress aggravate what regard as the intrin-
sic wrongs of the measure itself II has cost IN
counted millions already, and, if persisted in will
add largely to the weight of taxation, already too
oppressive to be borne without just complaint and
NAV finally reduce the treasury of the nation to a
| condition Of bankruptcy. We must not delude our
selves. II will require strong standing army, and
robably more than two hundred millions of dollars
| per aunum to maintain the supremacy of the negro
Governments after they are established The sum
thus thrown away would, if properly used, form
sinking fund large enough to pay the whole nation
Al debt in less than fifteen yesr 1t is vain to hope
that negroes viii maintain their sscendency them
selves Without the military power they are wholly
incapable Of holding in subsection the white people
of the South.
submit to the Judgment of Congress whether
the public credit may not be inuriously affected by
a system Of measures like this. With our debt and
! the vast priyste interests which complicated
with IL we cannot be too cautious Of policy which
might, by possibility, impair the confidence Of the
world in our Government That confidence can
only be retained by carefully intoxicating the prin-
cipies of Justice and honor on the popular mind'
and BY the most scrupulous fidelity to al our en-
Placements of every sort Any serious breach OF
organic law persisted in for a considerable time,
n1not but create fear for the stability of our in
stitutions Habitual violation Of prescribed rules,
=. 1 ,r.bra MN dnmOr-