Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1867-10-26

SeffH sHHfHFf,
While ~ snisf anf mafi sllema protest.
srslhsi ihs people NJ lhs Fisis tss'.hr
fhslf ,alts In fatsi N snntsniiah 40 be-
held under me- tfsssnl Radical rforfamms
W. vish N W he distinctly uniefsInol ihsi
II IL tseauss lbo two 6fsi acts N Congress
have been perverted, and because ihs r'o.
pie have not been alloved 10 register ~
was plainly meant they should by iho''
acts n Tho registration had bten fair We
make no doubt hat convention would
have been elected which would have con-
etdcd much to the negro that now the same
class Of men would oppos,, because Of the
manifest determination to subject the State
to negro rule. A convention fairly elected
by the voice Of the people, clearly included
within the elias, recognised as voters by
the acts Of Congress, would PROFESSIONALLY
have placed negroes upon an equality With
white people in regard TO their testimony
in tho courts, aud have applied the same
tests to them as to being jurors, or given
them the right to he tried by jurors Of their
own color, when they could be obtained
and have granted them qualified suffrage,
aud applied the qualification to all classes
alike. As much as We believe this, we just
MS much believe nov that a convention I'M
der present auspices, will grant unrestriet'
ed suffrage to the blacks, and disfranehise
many whites. In word, that the State
will be placed completely under negro rule
and many of her best citizens denied the
right to vote or hold office, And while we
protest against this, we would not be re-
garded or understood as wishing to deny
to the black race any right or privilege
which is really conducive to their welfare,
Nor would we, by any means, be under
stood as advocating any policy that would
breed unfrcndliness between the races
On the contrary, now, and hereafter. we
expect to advocate the cultivation of the
kindest relations between them. We do
not believe the blacks are fitted to set on
juries, to hold office, or to vote. We believe
their testimony should be heard in all cases
under the same rules rs applied to whites.
We believe they should be encouraged and
assisted to educate their children, and eve
nv inducement should be held out 10 them
to become useful citizeus. The constitution
should not prohibit their future enfran-
chisement with the right Of suffrage when.
ever they are capable Of exercising it
properly. The laws should be stringent
for their protection of person and property
Their short -comings and frailties should
be viewed with charitable eye, and every
allow ance be made for their anomalous
condition. No other people were ever SIM
ilarly situated. Their freedom has been
suddenly thrust upon them. They are not
fitted for self government. 1t is danger
Gus doctrine to so teach them, and cannot
fail to produce the most pernicious conse-
ouences. Doubtless in Louisiana, and per-
haps in all the Southern States, the eXper-
iment will be made And while intelligen
men advocate it, they must know that not
only the peace of the country, but its best
and dearest interests are to be endangered
by it, The love of Office and power, nc
other consideration certainly, can induce
sensible men to advocate policy SO dan
gerous. We see in Ohio, where there is
certainly no ill-will to the black race, and
where no harm can possibly result to the
whites, the people have refused to strike
the word WHITE from their constitution
How many ten thousand times stronger are
the reasons for keeping up this distinction
in the Southern States. In Ohio there Is
not, perhaps, one black to every one hundred
of the population. In Louisiana, Alabama
Mississippi, South Carolina and Florida
they are in the majority, and perhaps, of the
registered vote, in the majority in Georgia
and Texas. Does any sane man believe
that in Louisiana, and in the States where
they are greatly in the majority, that they
wi long suffer themselves controlled by
white men? 1t is impossible to believe it
While we earnestly desire restoration, and
would concede much to have it accomplish
ed, yet, we honestly believe the people o.
Texas should bear the ills'they now have
and wait patiently for the dawn of reason
rather than fly to the certain ills that mus
befal them with unrestricted negro suf-
frage.
The question is one of great moment, and
should receive the most serious considers
ton of those who are to determine it. VIZ
know there are thousands Of good men who
are willing that a convention may NEE
and adopt any kind of constitution tha
will insure restoration, under the belief
thai in the future such evils as may be in
flicted can be removed. This is most da.s
gerous ground 10 tread upon. The right Of
negro suffrage and negro supremacy once
engrafted into the organic law, with disa
bilites imposed upon n large class ofwhites
and the work is accomplished. 1t cannot
be recalled. 1t may never be destroyed
1t cannot be without endangering the peace
of the country. The people are allowed
now to say whether they will have con-
vention that is certain to provide it. 1t is
doubtful if every conservative registered
voter should vote against convention
whether there are enough to prevent it
hence their should be unanimity. If the
convention is called by majority of the
registered voters, the tim may never Offer
again when the question can be controlled
BS- The Galveston News notices great
change in the appearance of the streets Of
that city, within day or two. The ehorm'
GUS amount oil debris that INSTRUCTED The
Strand and other streets left there by y the
storm is being removed, and in few days
they will present their usual appearance
al lo lon a.