The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1867-03-02
Negroes as voters.


gro suffrage storm that has been sweeping
over the North, advises the Democratic
party to strike its flag and surrender to
the fanaticism that controls every North
ern State, and go in fol putting the blacks
on u civil and political equality with the
whites. That our cotemparary may learn
the true character of the class he wants
tho Democracy TO assist in making voters
We reproduce the following portion of a
letter written October 10, 1865, by Brew
ct Brigadier General Jonathan Tarbell,
from Forest, Scott county, Mississippi.
That the Times may know the character
Of the writer, VIC subjoin the following
from the Governor Of New York;
estate OF NEW YORK;
"ExgcUTtvE DEPARTMENT,
"ALBANY, October %, 1865.
"Brevet BrigadIer General Jonathan
Tarbell, late Colonel of the Ninety-frst
New York Volunteers, is known to me as
a highly intelligent, patriotic and relia-
BILE gentleman. As an officer he was gal
liant and distinguished. His command
was thoroughly organized and disciplined,
and served with credit. | take pleasure
in commanding General Tarbell in the
confidence and kind consideration Of all
with whom he may eopnect himself in
future business relations.
ar. Il. FENToN."
With thus preliminary, we let General
Tarbell give his views Of the capacity Of
the blacks for governmental functions
lie says:
"Negro suffrage il . measure Of the
most stupendous wildness and humbug Of
this or any other age. Mormonism j sftly
compared with the dcprayity ofthe blacks,
but to these vices, add universal thieving
and lying, ignorance ~incapacity, and a to-
tai want Of moral or binding Obligation
VII the talk Of politicians about the koyal
| blacks, and the JrdDe c0lored soldier, il
an insult 10 truth. The blacks we're loyal
to the South, and il is not true that all
the colored troops fought brayely any
arhere, or on any occasion. There was no
rising on the part Of the South, though in
whole counties or districts, Tor hundreds
of miles there were 40 males ut home in
fact they were kept in subsection, aud at
work, by the ,consen! They nowhere in
the South voluntarily enlisted, but we're
seized and enrolled with or without con-
sent. They showed signs Of welcome to
our troops-but they were no less demon
stratiye to the rebel armies.
II served by the side of the eolored
troops before Port Hudson. and know
their conduct was a poor burlcsque on
soldering, as was General Banks com
plimentary on their bravery aud good
conduct. All the speeches in Congress
advocating equality between white and
black soldiers were keeply resented BY
every officer aud soldier in the army; but
none dared speak out. No matter what
interested officers, partisans, politicians
aud demogogues may say, the black sol
diers did not earn their ~ratioDs. The
Union owes them nothing to its support
AS soldiers. They owe a debt of graft
tudc TO the Government Tor maintaining
them from idlencss aud Btarvatica.
"They have not the integrity, capacity
or education for voters, aud will not have
for generations. is allies for the Radi-
Gals they would prove worse than useless;
for they do not possess the faculty or in
stinct of combination, and they would dis
close all party secrets to their secession
owners
"Werc Henry Ward Beeeher to come
down here and " a plantation in person,
we can imagine, what, from his well.
known piety and goodness, he would do
for the blacks, both spiritually and pecu-
niarily; yet after all he would do, they
would study in a religious meeting, OF
which they are excessively fond, and in
which they are inordinately enthusiastic
how to steal his last crumb and his last
dime.
nGiye the blacks tho best State in the
Union, With teams, seed, grain, farming
tools, a years. supply of things, aud five
hundred dollars in money each, with a
government of their own, and they would
starvc to death tho second year, and re.
lapse into barbarism in half a century.
"This is no exaggcration. | speak but
the simple truth, as an impartial man may
see it for himself. l am a true friend to
the negroes and to progress. They leed
most education, both secular and religion,
for years aud observation-disclosures and
fair dealing and justice from the whites
but not the ballot, which would prove q
curse. -. TARBELL.,"