Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-04-26
The Politicians and the Freedmen

The appeals made to the enfranchised
freedmen to dissuade them from voting
with republicans are in some respects
amusing and altogether curiously sugges-
tive. The democratic committee of Wash
ington, who resisted the admission of the
negroes to the suffrage with every means
in their power, have just issued an address
in which they attempt to pull the wool
over negroes in this way -
" To the colored portion of our popula-
ton we say in good faith that we are their
real friends. We have lived together in
the same community and understand each
other better than those who are unused to this
association of interests. That which is for
our good is for yours. That which benefits
us benefits you. The radical party which
is now so earnestly pleading for your votes
and promising 20 much, has no real inter-
est in your welfare. As proof of this we
mention their conduct. They had sufficient
influence TO obtain for you the right TO vote
but they did not give you the right to hold
office and sit as jurors. They have re-
oSA NCN IVA thSAiSSlfCo tuCoC pClcutSy WH!lG
you are TO enable them to obtain them.
Are moi their false professions apparent by
a mere statement of the facts If you are
competent to vote, are you not competent
to hold office? If they were sincere in
their professions of esteem and friendship,
would they have withheld these privileges
from you? They take the meat and give
you the bone."
The democrats in Tennessee are plying
the same style of argument, and evidently
with some success. There, indeed, there is
more truth in the appeal, for the Brownlow
party conceded suffrage to the negroes
with great reluctance and only when they
we're convinced that in no other way could
they hope to retain power I; and they voted
down propositions to throw open the offices
and the jury box to colored citizens. The
opposition are now offering to grant these
equal rights which the Brownlow men
withhold, and if they can persuade the
freedmen to trust them they will win votes
by it, possibly enough to win the State.
The common plea of the southern poll
ticians TO the negroes is: that the republi-
cans gave liberty to them, but as a means
of conquering the South; that they have
shown the incincerity of their professions
by Withholding the ballot from coored men
in nearly all the northern and western
states, where they have long been tax-pay-
ing citizens and that they have now made
them voters in the South as means of
obtaining political powers there rather than
from any superior regard to the negroes.
There is enough truth in these statements
to give them currency, but the freedmen
will also recollect that the rebellion was
undertaken avowedly to strengthen and
perpetuate slavery, that their old masters
Embossed their grasp upon them only by the
compulsion of northern bayonets, that the
party of freedom at the North has for
many years advocated their equal rights
with white men, and that they can better
trust those who believe aud rejoice in the
idea of liberty for all than in those who
merely acquisce in it because they no lon
ger have power to prevent it. To all the
more intelligent negroes the case will be
PLAIN enough, and they will have great in
fuence with those who need TO be led.
Wherever there are enough republicans,
white and black, for proper organization
and effort, there is reason to believe that
the majority of the freedmen will vote the
republican ticket at their first appearance
at the polls.
The republicans of Richmond, Va,