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

races, tho predominant sentiment of the
Northern people is, that mere freedom
and equality do not necessarily carry
along with them the right to vote that
they regard the elective franchise as a
boon to be bestowed by the respective
States, upon those only who, it is believ-
ed, will use it wisely and well. Now, are
the Jegroes Of the South more intelligent
and virtuous than those OF the North 2
No well informed man. who will be can
did, can assert the affirmative. On the
contrary, ! believe that the free negroes
Of the North are more intelligent, and
therefore better qualified 70 use judi
ciously the right Of suffrage. Why are
they excluded from the ballot-box, while
those Of the South are admitted at the
point Of the bayonet? This inconsistent
| cy clearly demonstrate that those in
power are rccreaat TO the principles they
iprofcgs. If they believe the principle
right and sacred, they should make it
universally applicable. If. on the other
hand, they believe, as | am sure the
masses at the North do believe, that the
application Of the principle in the North
crn States is incompatible with good gov
ernment, then they ought not enforce it
in the South for the aim Of the true
statesman is to promote good government
in al the States.
The Congressional scheme Of recon
struction is based upon the assumption
that the ten prescribed states are without
good governmcnt-tha lawlessness pre-
yails-that life and property are insecure !;
and the Republican press and leaders as
fsert that loyal citizens, especially those
from the North, arc abused, prosecuted
| tormented, threatened, and sometimes
murdered. This whole assumption is IN
true. There Is less lawlessness in the
South than in the North, the laws arc as
faithfully executed By our Courts of judi
eatuie, and cven.handed justice is meted
out 10 white and black. We welcome
enterprising good people among US from
any quarter We earnestly wish them TO
come, with their capital, energy and en-
terprise, to aid IL in developing our re-
Isogrces and re-establishing our lost pros
perity.
But they do not come. Nor will
they come until tranquility upon
sound principles Of craftsmanship
/ shall be restored 1t Is a great mis-
take to suppose that the consumma-
tion III the Sherman programme Of re-
construction will induce them TO come.
Il may bring trading politicians Of so
inferior a type that they cannot obtain
Office at home. They will come to
traffic for the black mans vote, in the
hope Of making their salt by the emol-
uments Of Office But the honest,
Woodworking mechanic, the capitalist,
and the manufacturer, will never cast
their destiny and hazard their fortunes
III any State that Is under negro do
minion. Ii seems To be supposed by
] many that If these States be once re-
stored To representation in Congress
all viii be well, and that prosperity
|. viii follow as a matter Of courge.-
! Never was there a more fatal mistake.
There is no certainty of these States
being represented in Congress if we
adopt the plan of rceonstruction-it
. Is not even promised nor will such
admission give good government to
. the several States. The Sherman
scheme will certainly result in bad
/ government, which Congressional rep.
/, resentation has no necessary tendency
{ to cure. And, repeat, there can be
no prosperity for any people cursed
with bad government. Capital, ener.
/ gy and enterprise will shun it.
i | have written much more than ]
INTENDED when / began. But ! have
written in a spirit of the most perfect
frankness and kindness. have much
, more that ] wish to say, but | fear
, may take too much space in your col
umns, if, indeed, you should deem il
proper to publish what have said. !,
! Respectfully,
| Your obedient servant,
HERscHEL V. JOHNSON.