The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1867-10-23

their divisions Of power into legislative.
executive or Judicial departments. and
their Introduction OF the people to partici-
pate in and decide upon the rights and in !
terests Of soclety, as voters and jurors, are
looked for in vain 10 other countries of The
world, and are founded upon The idea of a
Y certain Standard Of virtue and inteIIiSenc
J 10. the constituent body If electors, without
which they cannot be maintained. Who
among Us believes. that the great mass Of the
blacks recently III state Of slavery. come
up 10 this standard OF virtue and intelli;
/ gence, and are fit to bs made self-reIiant
electors Ia their cond itiop as to know
ledge and morally, the extension Of the
right ol suffrage to them indiscriminately,
Instead of. distributing political power
among greater number OF citizens, will in
fact concentrate il in fewer hands, as de-
! signing individuals will but enlarge their
own power by using them to vote, not their
opinions, but those Of the men who control
them. Already we learn tha. they have
been extensively organized into secret So
cieties or leagues, with view 20 be voted
ei, nlasse, and under the influence Of preia-
dice carefully instiled into them, 10 oppo.'
sition 10 the whites, who were formerly
iAnas.ers or may now be owners Of property.
To eject such class TO be permanent so-
/ tiers. as is now proposed TO US. will be to
make revolution tending to anarchy, and
| 10 hazard, In my belief, the long cobtinu-
ance Of any stable government. Foreign
ers are barred out from the right to vote for
five wears after settlement here, by our ma
1 turallzalion laws. in order that they may
become acquainted with our institutions,
and capable Of taking part in their admin
isira,lon, and must prove that during that
time they have behaved as persons OF good
moral character, and well disposed to the
good order and happiness Of the country.
The freedmen, as class, are less informed
than foreigners aud less capable FROM want
Of education and early instruction.
But, il may be said, there is little dis
agreement among ourselves on this ques-
lion. but congress has required it Of US, and
in the event Of noncompliance, the must
difeful consequences may be expected.
This is an argument. which am not dis.
poscdss,to pass by, or to treat lightly.
think some misapprehension prevails 10 re-
gard 20 il. Congress certainly has denounc-
ed no penalty on such delinquency, in any
Of the three acts Of reconstruction. After
providing for the establishment OF military
governments in the ten southern states,
! the FIRST Of these sc;s goes on TO declare
that:
"when the people Of any one OF said re.
bel states shall have formed constitution
Of government in conformity with the con-
stitution of the United Sta'es, in all res
poets, framed BY convention oil delegates,
elected by the male citizens of said state,
twenty -one years old and upwards, ofwhat-
ever race, color or previous condition, who
have been residents in said state for one
year, previously 10 the day oil such eiec-
tion, except such as may be disfranchised J"
and s.
When such constitution shall provide
that the elective franchise shall be enjoyed
by all such persons a. have the qualiiica-
tions herein stated, for electors OF dele
gates;" aud when certain other things
shall occur, Gas further reci.ed ia the 5th
.ectiun,) " said state shall be declared en-.
titled TO representation In congress and Sc.
nators and representatives shall be admitted
,herefrom, on taking the oath prescribed BY
law" e,
This is the only provision touching the
subject matter under consideration. and IFS
only intimation is. that il there is not full
tiIment Of the requirements, the military
government shall continue. There have
been threatening declarations made by IN.
dividual members Of congress, and certain
presses have teemed with fuiminatlons
against all who should hesitate in taking
Immediately. The steps proposed. but con-
eress, as body, has established nopenalty |
and made no threats. The first reflection