Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1867-04-04
Negro Suffrage in the South.

opinion whlcn are oaiiy reaoning US
from that section, rerder it certain
that the late rebel States will speedi-
ly reorganize under the law of recon
struction lately established by Con-
gress. Reconstruction upon that
basis establishes universal negro
suffrage at the South, and we shall
soon be called upon to witness the
practical workings of this great ex-
pertinent in government. Whatever
may be the result, one fact has al
ready become evident, the South is
determined to use all the means
within her power to gain control of
the negro vote in her midst and weld
its vast power for the advancement
of her own political views and in
terest. The South in politics at least
has always been eminently practical,
and although she has always strong
ly opposed any and adj attempts to
confer political powers upon the
black msn. yet now that the power
Of the ballot has been given him, she
will be found to be the first to change
her base and court the influence Of
his votes. Southern politicians will
not hesitate moment to get back
into power upon negro votes. If
the black man must vote, they have
at least one resource left, and that
is to see that he votes their ticket
and supports their measures. They
are far too clear sighted to fail to
see, that with the negro vote under
their control, their political power is
increased rather than lessened by
the results of the war.
We shall not be surprised there
fore to see the Democratic party
both North and South eargerly court
ing the voter of that despised race
whom they have hitherto persistenly
denounced and oppressed. Such in
consistency is nothing new in Demo
cratic philosophy and practice. The
negro without vote and the negro
with a vote, in Democratic eyes, will
be two very different individuals. In
fact the initiatory steps in this meve-
ment have already commenced at the
South. Freedmen's meetings are
being held at various points under
the auspices of leading Southern
men, who take good care to impress
upon them that their late masters are
their best friends and that their in
terests are identical. The telegraph
informs us that last week such
meeting was held at Macon, Ca, and
addressed by prominent white citl-
zens Of that place. Speeches were
made and resolutions passed highly
conservative in their nature The
freedmen, while returning thanks to
Congress for emancipation and suf-
frage, at the same time declared that
they cherish ne bitter feelings to-
wards their late masters, but are re-
spectful and faithful in the discharge
of their duties. as ever. The con-
servatives of Tennessee are likewise
awake to the Importance of securing
the colered vote of that State. They
have invited the colored voters to
participate in their political meetings
and to send delegates to their State
Convention to be held next month.
Fire eating South Carolina is not be-
hind. At a mass meeting of blacks
and whites held few days since at
Columbia in that State and addressed
by Wade Hampton and other speak
ers both black and white, the gen
eral tone of the speeches and reso-
lutions was decidedly in favor of
casting the negro vote of the South
for the late rebels and against the
Republican party of the North.
These are but few instances of a
general movement inaugurated at the
South by the late rebels TO secure
control of the negro vote. That
their efforts in this direction will be
untiring and persisted, we have every
reason to anticipate. Whether they
will be successful or net, yet remains
to be seen. 1t is true that they have
one strong argument in the fact, that
while Congress has imposed negro
suffrage upon the South, the Nsrth-
ern States have as yet refused to
adopt it at home. They therefore
argue land it must be admitted with
considerable show Of reason) that
Congress has decreed uegre suffrage
at the South not through any love
for the legal blacks, but through ha
tired of the disloyal whites. Yet on
the other hand, the black men of the
South cannot fail to be impressed
and influenced by the plain fact, that
these Southern men who are now SO
loud in professions of friendship for
their race, are the same men who for
four long and bloody years fought
to keep them in bondage, opposed to
the last moment their emancipation
and enfranchisement, and now &C.
cept negro suffrage only as matter
of hard necessity, and not because
+bax aonro-ad of II Tn Wow Of