Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-09-25
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4 False Alarm

We are told in certain quarters that the inevitable
result of the Reconstruction policy Of Congress will
| be the establishment of negro supremacy in the
South and such supremacy, we are gravely assured
is pregnant with disaster to the whole Union But
do those who assume this position themselves believe
IN the probability Of such q state of things being
brought about by means Of that policy7 We are
persuaded they do not, and that this bugbear is
simply employed by them in the hope of diverting
attention from the real issues involved in the strug-
gle between the President and Congress At any
rate if they do believe in it. that fact stamps them
as utterly unfit to be trusted respected as guides
of public opinion. The thing is monstrously alb
surd, and would be hardly worthy of serious atten-
ton were 1t not so manifesty mischevous in inten-
ton and tendency 1t true that the blacks of the
South, as class, are heart and soul with the Radi-
Gals, a fact which does them INFINITE credit For
why, let us ask, have they allied themselves with
the Radical party? Because, we answer, they have
sense enough to know who are their true friends
and heart enough 10 be sincerely grateful to those
through whose instrumentality the great boon of
emancipation was conferred upon them. They I'M
derstand very much better than many of their de-
tractors what the late war meant and they have
wisely resolved to stand by the men who are deter
mined that the long and bloody conflict shall not
have been waged in vain. They are with the Rad
lea party solely the ground that it is the party
OF freedom 1t is the grand question Of liberty-of
the full enjoy ment, under irreversbe guarantees of
civil and political rights--upon which their atten-
ton is now fixed, to the exclusion from their
thoughts of the collateral issues of the political feht
between Democrats and Republicans. Let the two
great parties in the Union change sides-if that
we're possible-to-morrow; let the Democrats be-
come the champions of American citizenship on
the broad ground now occupied by the Republicans
and let the Republicans ignore the principle of !
equal rights for ALL and the colOred people both Of
the North and the South, we are sure, would mme-
dlatey change sides too Politics is not question
and fbna oroIv, =
more OF Radical or Conservative, as the case NAV
be, than the white man. Circumstances may make |
him Radical; bat circumstances NAV be equally |
potent IN making him Conservative. Do him /
lustcei let him have all his rights as citizen and
ne VIII no more vote by race, SO to speak, than the
white man. The blacks in the South are a unit /
now, because they instinctvely spprehend that the
work to be done there in their interests imperative
~ demands that they should act together as one
man. When Reconstruction shall have been han
ply accomplished, on q solid basis of Justice we
may expect to find the particular bond which now
lnites them for special object loosened and To nd
mem ranging themselves, precisely as their white
ellow-cltlzens, different sides in the peaceful
conflicts which the development of new issues on
questions OF national Importance will bring about.
II we look to those countries in which the blacks
ave Ior many years enjoyed political rights we
man ma nothing whatever giving countenanee 4, I
ne peculiar views of the alarmsts On the con-
rary 1T is notorious that in Jamaica and other
"esI 1uola colonies, the freedmen have re-
eStea!y gwen their suffrage to white candidates
Or Legislative and municipal honOrs, in preference
olack candidates, on the ground both of identity
political views and of the superior fitness of the
primer for the responsible duties of public life
hey know but little of the black man who inag-
lie that ne can be easily made dupe of by dema-
ogues. His aptitude in reading character is some
ing extraordinary-as all must know who have
I'd dealings with him; and where the rights of
7operty are eoncerned-where protection of life
Id property is in question-where the maintenance
lawful authority is at issue-he is as Conserva-
Ve In his sentiment the most violent Tory wEo
er shouted for King and Constitution. The cry
negro supremacy in the South is an artful ruse r
t it is at the same time piece of arrant nonsense