Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1867-09-12

family. But this principle OF representa-
lion could not without absurdity, be car
ried so lar as TO assume that where one
race Is separated from another by color
condition and prejudice, it could represent
the interests, feelings and wants OF that
other ~ the ballot box.
/ know il is often said that the right oi
suffrage is not natural right, and may be
Withheld from any man, class or racs, with
out violation OF their natural rights But
respectfully submit that this makes the
theory Of natural rights a mockery For
if in a republican form of government,
where suffrage i. the only means Of pro-
tecting natural rights, Il can be Justly with
held from . whole race, then that race
have natural rights, but have no right 10
use the means hy which they may be pro-
tectcd, which is absurd
Not less absurd than TO say that the Con-
ssitution confers the power upon Congress
to make war, but withholds the means TO
execute the power. II is true that no prin-
ciple in government can be carried to all
lis conclusions, but must be subject to
practical limitations.
! Every m-mbcr Of society must yield up
some portion Of his abstract rights for the
common good, but this yielding should be
uniform. 1t would be an abuse Cf the doc
irins, ii society required one race 10 yiold
all means orself protection. Aud to say
that society may require one race TO sub
nit itself absolutely 10 the government OF
another. il 10 ass0rt tie principle Ofslayery
pure and simple.
But il Eiay be said the principle I adyo-
cate would give the right or suffrage 10
women. Tais | 90 not deny, hut say
broadly AID practically that there is vast
difference between denying Tie right of suf
irags 70 woman who are represented at the
ballot box by thsir husbands, fathers and
UrOthsTs. and al the adult males OF their
race, and the denial of il 10 a whole race,
both males an! females, which is rot rep
resented at the l,allot-box by anybody, and
thus has TO means in republican govern
ment of protecting Itself in The enjoyment
Of life, liberty and property.
rf.NDLETON's ARGUMENT.
IT. discussing the subject Mr.. Pendleton
said: "But | would not Give them poli.i-
cal power. Thsy belong To different race.
They have different blood and body and
Organization. They have different tastes
and habits, and capacities. II is not mere
y difference OF climate or sun, or Birth.
or education. or color. Il is an inherent
ard radical difference Of race, Of blood, OF
nature. Of intellect Of capacity. which no
training can eiface; no associations. or hsb-
its or discipline can eXiinguish. God made
them different, man cannot make the same
or equal
Now, here is statement, which if ad-
Tit!ed to BE true. proves nothing in favor
of his policy of disfranchiscment, Does
il afford any reason why this race, 50
widely separated from The other, should
be distrsnchissd and governed absolutely
By the other.
Does is not on the contrary prove that
the white race, separated hy go great di-
Tersity FROM the colored. cannot represent
their interests aud wants al the bal.ot-box.
and that the colored should have the Yfeht
to vote fer their cwn protection.
Ii Slr. PendletOn means TO ray that, in
consequence OF this difference in race, the
coioreI has no right 10 life, liberty and
property, ~ righ; that a white man is
bound io respect. then We eau understand
hml: Dul IL &c stops short OF that there is
nothing in his argument.
Again MIR. PenGeton says:
And al the teaching Of history. and all
the ObserysiiOa o. our experience is that
the commingling Of the blood OF the white
and The black races Injuries both. Go in
10 the Southern States, where circumstances
have been favorable 10 this amalgamatiOn:
so into our cities, where affection las
sCugh, to establish the happiness Of the
hybrid offspring. and you will So that
every animal is more developed, every
moral quality more depressed, every ply
sical III trinity more exaggerated than either
OF the pure races
The argument Mr.. Pcndleton intends 10
make by th:s is that the entranchisemen:
of the colOred race would contribute to
smalgamation and the comminging of
blood. He says circumstances have been
favorable to this amalgamation in The
Southern States Why does he phrase it
so deiicatsly: Why does he not say that
SiorcTy was favorable TO amslgsmation?
Why does lie not say that wherever sla-
very existed; wherever the negro was de-
graded and helpless; denied all rights that
white man was bound to respect, anal
gamation existed and hourished on large
scale? and why does he not say that, in the
Northern States where the negfo is project
ell in the marriage relation and treated as
q man, anlalgamstion Is almost wholly un
known.
In Massachusetts where the colorcd man
has enjoyed every political right for more
than thirty years, il is said Il case has not
occurred for many years. And in this great
State of Ohio, | will venture the opinion
that the cases are extremely rare. II you
would prevent the evils of amalcamation.
educate elevate and eniranch e., coiored
race. Give them selfrespect, make them
feel thai they are men and women, before
the law and before the world, and you will
thus have almost perfect security against
tie evils Of ofamalgamation.
To withhold suffrage from the colored
race is to vi-late other fundamental prin
ciples Of our Government. We say that
the Government exists only by consent of
the governed" and here is race that is
governed, but has never consented, and has
no means to consent or dissent.
We say that taxation and representa-
ton should go together, and here is race
that is taxed but not represented
But more than all this, the colored man
has helped to fight your battles, and has
mingled his blood with yours on many
field: he has been patriotic and loyal. while
thousands ofvhites in your midst have
been disloyal; he has paid taxes and help
ed to bear all the burdens OF the State; he
has shown intellect and capacity; he has
displayed enterprise and yalor; and why
should he not vote? The answer is preju-
dice, prejudice which is ever strongest in
the weakest breast.
To that unfortunate class Of people who
have no politics but hatred 10 the negro,
and who live in deadly fear of amalgama-
ton, and that if he has equal rights gwen
10 him hs will become their superior soci-
ally, intellectually and politically, / tender
my profound sympathies. Their case is
beyond tho reach Of human aid, and all
that we can do is to smooth their passage
to that bourne where they are not married
or given in marriage, and where they will
be safe from the social dangers to which
they are exposed here.
RECONSTRUCTION.
When the war ended in the spring, of
1865 nine ofthe rebel States were left with
out governments of any kind. The officers
composing the rebel State Governments