The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1867-09-21

any legitimate sense of that term.
If you could minglc personally with
them doubt not you would be surprised
to learn how little of prejudice against
the negro, on account Of color aud race,
exists in the minds Of almost the entire
mass Of the Southern people. We arc
their friends aad wish them well although
they are taught otherwise by those who
have come among as for the purpose Of
using them for political purposes. They
appeal to their passions aud preiudicos
and are busily engaged in organizing
them in aatagonism TO the white race.
Where on how thia will end VIC should be
in the dark were il not in the bloody
lessons Of history. | confess to gloomy
forebodingB for the future. Heaven
grant that may be wrong in my appre.
hoBsions.
You will ask, "lf you arc tho friend
Of the negro why do you object TO their
being universally enfranchiscd 2" ! re-
ply, not merely because their skin is black
but because believe that they are toe
ignorant TO use such enfranehisemen
rightly and we'll that it will be fatal te
good government. We have probably
sixty thousand colorcd people in Georgia
who will hereafter 70 to the ballot-box
under tho plan Of Congressional recon.
struction-a greater number than that of
the white voting population. And 80 j;
viii be in all the ten prescribed States
The result must be that the several Coy.
ernments Of these States must pass intc
their hands (who are now being taught
by political drill.masters that thsy have
injaries TO avcnec against the whites)
with tho tremendous power Of taxation
contscation, and Of fixing what shall be
the security for the life and liberty Of the
white citizens. Is not this terrific pic.
ture TO contemplate And can the Nor.
thern people wonder that the Congress
sional policy meets strong, earnest and
honest opposition 7 let me suppose a
case, that viii bring the subject home tc
/ the Northern people. Suppose enough
of such ignorant voters should be sud
denly planted in any ten Of the Northerr
States, to overcome the votes Ct their
white citizsus, and control the scyera
governments of those States, how do you
think New York. Massachusetts,, Con
ncoticut. Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana
Illinois. Michigan, New Hampshire and
Maine would like the operation Hov
would they feel under such policy, tha
woaId put ali their interests in the hapdi
OF such power!
But it may be replied that those States
are not disloyal, rebelIious, as are the ter
prescribed Southern States-ihat We de
serve such fate. am not going Il
discuss whether We are. in truth, REBEL
ious States. We should differ on tha
Iqnestion. But admit that we are rebels
or have been, aud therefore deserve 10 b
punished, is this the way to punish us il
view Of enlightened sialcsmAnship? i
ii wise TO punish Us by forcing upon U
bad government, That might possibl,
do if we were the only ones to cndur,
the penalty. But it will extend its bale
ful influences to all the other Saa;es.
will destroy agriculture it will swamI
the national debt and currency; il vii
crush out from the breasts of the peopl
OF the South the last throb Of fraternity
which maguannity and justice and wis
statesmanship would engcuder aud cher
Iish. Let me add, the calamity will fal
upon our postcrity for generations t
come, and, at present, upon thousands o
innocent persons who did not participate
in the rebellion | am, therefore. op
posed to the universal enfranchiscmen
Of The negro, because it will inaugural
bad goyernment-the very worst Of TEN
porai evils Of socieiy-and not mcrel,
Ihecausc their skins are black If tht
! North are determined TO punish tn
South, let them do it. They have tn
power. But let them adopt some methot
besides that of inficting on us bsd gov
ernment For the punishment, in tha
form. viii fall upon themselves and al
our postcrity.
1t would seem to me that we have suf
fered enough to satisfy the most vindic
tive. Our beautiful region has been des
olated, all our capital sunk, cur peopl
impoverished, and our slave property
which was worth to us 81, 500, 900 900 ha
been confscated by the act of emancipa
ton. We could, after long time, re
cover from our prostration, If allowed Oh,
right of self-government. Ought no
statesman to desire our recuperation
They may despisc us as people, but j
it the interest of the Republic that W
should be made paupers and outcasts
You, believe, maintain the natura
equality of the negro with the white race
| am not going to debate this question
with you The difference between us i
Iirreconcilable. do not believe in sucl
equality. But admit, for the sake of ar
gument, that the two races are, by nature
equal. What does the admission amour
to but that they are endowed by the Gre
ator with equal capabilities, intellectual
and moral, and, therefore, under sufi
cient course of training, that the negroe
among us arc susceptible of attaining t
the same state of intelligence, virtue anC
Iciylization which the whites have reach
ed? 1t does not proye'that they are now
in point of fact, the equals of the whit
race in these indispensable qualities 0
good citizenship and wise self-govern
ment, and no candid man will so Insist. Bu
being, as you contend, thus equal by ma
ture, you draw the conclusion that, bein!
free, they have the right to vote. Wo
men are free, and also intelligent and vir
tuous, yet they are not admitted to tn
! ballot. A large majority of foreigner
are highly intelligent and yirtuous, ye
/ they are denied the franchise until fv'
years of resident probation. Thousand
oF hovs 81 16 vaars of aoe are iptellioen