The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1867-12-10

self is evil, as well as the means. The
subjugation of the States to negro
domination would be worse than the mil.
itary despotism under which they are
new suffering. 1t was believed before.
hand that the people would endure any
amount of military oppression, for any
length of time, rather than degrade
themselves by subjection to the negro
race Therefore they have been, left
without a choice. Negro suffrage was
established by act Of Congress, and the
military officers were commanded to su-
perintend the process Of clothing the
negro race with the political privi-
leges torn from white men.
WOULD POWER BE SAFE IN NEGRO HANDsf
The blacks in the South are entitled
to Be we'll and humanity governed, and to
have the protection of just laws for all
their rights Of person and property. II
it were practicable at this time to give
a government exclusively their own. un.
der which they might manage their own
Affairs IN their own way, it would become
q grave question whether we ought to do
Sc, or whether common humanity would
not require us to save them from them
selves. But, under the circumstances,
this is only a speculative point. 1t is
not proposed merely that they shall gov
ern themselves, but that they. shall rule
the white race, make and administer
State laws, elect Presidents and members
of Congress, and shape to greater or
less extent the future destiny of the
whole country. Would such a trust and
power be safe in such hands?
POLITICAL CAPACITY OF THE FREEDMEN.
The peculiar qualities which sho' i char
acterize any people who are fit to decide
upon the management of public affairs
fora great State have seldom been COM
bined. 1t is the glory of white men to
know that they have had these qualities
in. sufficient measure to build upon this
continent great political fabric, and to
preserve its stability for more than nine
ty years, while in every other part of the
world all similar experiments have fail
ed. But if any thing can be proved BY
known faets-if all reasoning upon evi-
dence is not abandoned, it must be ac-
knowledged that in the progress ofnations
negroes have shown less capacity for gov
ernment than any other race of people.
No independent government of any form
has ever been successful in their hands.
On the contrary, wherever they have been
leftto their own devices, they have shown
q constant tendency to relapse into bar
barism In the Sothern States, however,
Congress has undertaken to confer upon
them the privilege of the ballot. just re-
leased from slavery, it may be doubted
whether, as class, they know more than
their ancestors how to organize and regu-
late civil society. Indeed, it is admitted
that the blacks of the South are not only
regardless of the rights of property, but
so utterly ignorant of public affairs that
their voting can consist in nothing more
than carrying a ballot to the place
where .hey are directed to deposit it. Il
need net remind you that the exercise of
the elective franchise is the highest attri-
butte of an American citizen, and that,
when guided by virtue, intelligence, pet
riotism, aud proper appreciation Of our
free institutions, it constitutes the true ba-
sis of democratic form of government, |
in which the sovereign power is lodged
in the body Of the people. A trust arti-
totally created, not for its own sake, but
solely as means of promoting the gen
sral welfare, It's influence for good must
necessarily depend upon the elevated
character and true allegiance ofthe elect
OF. It ought therefore to be reposed in none
except these who are flied morally and
mentally to administer 1t we'll; for if con-
rerred upon personswho do not justly esti-
mate its value and who are Indifferent as
to its results, it will only serve as a means
Of placing power in the hands of the un-
principled and ambitious, and must
eveDtuate in the complete destruction Of
that liberty of which it should be the
most powerful CONSERVATION. y have there
fore heretofore urged upon your atten-
lion the great danger "to be apprehend-I
ID from an untimely extension of the
elective franchise to- any new elassin our
,ountry, especially when the large major
ty Of that class, in welding the power
hus placed in their hands, cannot be ex-
oected correctly to comprehend the du-
les and responsibilities which pertain to
l. f.