The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1867-08-30
PENNSYLVANIA 20 BE RECONSTRUC-
TED!
How tie thing is TO be done!


The Word white 10 be Stricken from,
| the Constitution!
! Negro Suffrage 10 be FORCED Tnon Our
People, without their COnsentI
The Harrisburg Telegraph, OF a re-
cent date, has the following significant
and startling editorial:
! "A GENERAL ACT OF CONGRESS ON THE
SUFFRAGE QUESTION.
"The opinion of thinking men, of
statesmen and philanthropists, is fast
closing strongly on the subject of Sc
| curing the passage Of q general LdlC OF
| Congress, regulating the suffrage question
IN aH the States Of the Union. Congress
! fixes the status of citiZenship-the
period at which a native born arrives
at the rights of fcitizenship-the period
! for naturalizatiOn-and Congress IN
QuestiOnd6Ly, is tie proper polCer for de-
lining the rights Of the black man, to the
| eiectiUe franchise IN the SeUerdL iStates.-
Congress, in order to promote harmony
of action in political contests, and do
away with the unjust determinations,
which are practised by the States on
this subject, should at its meet session
act upon its l01qtteStiORd6ie Constitution
nat authority 6y 0ojuStiIlg this UeTed Ques-
ton throughout the nation, 6y doing jus
tice to men who add to the productive
wealth of the country in periods of
peace, and who i'll time of war have
shown their ability and willingness to
peril their lives in the defense of the
Government.
"At the session of Congress last
Spring, Mr.. Sumner introduced bill
in the Senate providing for the adjust
ment of the franchise question in sever
al States. There is no doubt lChdtereJ'
that Congress, lCteR IL meets ne.rt NOreH1-
Der, lCW pass at an early day q general act
applying to the lChOie country, and eSt06-
fishing throughout the nation tie right Of
all An1eTicdR citizens TO UOte, lCHhOW 07lY
exclusion on account of cOmpieriOR.-
This will be most potent and prompt
remedy for the difficulties in all North
ern States. In several the Republi-
cans hesitate to raise the issue in behalf
of cOlOred suffrage. 1t is a question
which, ifdebated, State by State, must
arouse all the old and buried prejudices
of the vulgar and ignorant. To achieve
justice for all their citizens, by GOc0t dc-
ton, mpst be SiOlC, tedious and uncertain:
But when Congress exercises its pow
er, the effect is prompt and unimpeded.
A general LdlU lCW cm the GOrdidn inOt
and settle the issue fndlly."
The telegraph is the central organ
of the Radical party in this State, and,
therefore, must be taken as the mouth
piece of that organization. Hence, we
learn from the above quoted article,
that it is the purpose of the Radical
leaders, to FORCE Negro Suffrage and
the Political Eq,talHy Of Whites and
Blacks, upon the people of Pennsylva-
mia, WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT. |
The editor of the Telegraph knows, as
we'll as he knows that he lives and |
breathes, that Congress has no right |
whatever to do this, and yet he talks
of the "unquestionable Constitutional |
authority" Of that body in the premi-
ses Are the people so blind and be-
sotted that they will hearken unto so
deliberate and shameless a falsehOOd? |
For, it is not merely perversion Ofthe
meaning and intent of the Federal
Constitution, but wiIful and cOld-blood-
ed misrepresentation of the language
and spirit of that instrument. viii
the people, then, vote for HENRY
w. WILLIAMS, ac1o is pledged By his
party platform, to decide in favor of
the Congressional usurpation which is
to force Negro Suffrage upon our Com
mOnWealth To be fore warned is to
be fore-armed! Let every man who is
opposed to the political equality of
Whites and Backs, who would not
stand by the side of Negroes at the
Polls or sit with them in the Jury Box,
cast his ballot against the candidate of
the Radical party.