The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1867-12-06

tOuiuS epOu cftucuCC 40 uOI auoauOH
ed, it must be acknowledged that il
the progress of nations the negroe.
have shown less capacity for Govern
ment than any other race of people
No Independent Government of any
form has ever been successful il
their hands,. On the contrary, wher
ever they have been left to their owr
devices they have shown q constan
tendency to relapse into barbaris m
In the Southern States, however
Congress has undertaken to confer
upon them the privilege of the ballot
just released from slavery, it may bt
doubted whether, as a class, they
know more than their ancestors how
to regulate civil society. Indeed, ii
is admitted that the blacks Of the
South are not only regardless OF
rights of property, but their voting
can consist in nothing more than car
ryIng ballot to the place where they
are directed to deposit it. ! need
not remind you that the exercise of
the elective franchise is the highest
attribute of an American citizen, and
that when guided by virtue, intehi-
gence, patriotism, and. proper appre-
citation Of our free institutions, it
constitutes the true basis of ademo-
cratic form of government, (which
the SOVEREIGN power is, lodged in the
body of the people. A trust artiiici-
ally created, not for its own sake,
but solely as means Of promoting
the general welfare, its influence for
good must necessarily depend upon
the elevated character and true alle-
glance of the eleetor. 1t ought there
fore to be reposed in none. except
those who are fitted morally and
mentally to administer it well. For
Il conferred upon persons who do not
Justly estimate its value, and who arc
Indifferent to its results, it will only
serve as means of placing power
in the hands of the unprincipled and
ambitious, anu must eyentuate III the
complete destruction of that liberty
of which it should be the most pow
erful conservator. l..
1 have therefore heretofore urged
upon your attention the great dan
ger to be apprehended from an un-
timely extension of the elective fran
chise to any new class in our country,
especially when majority of that
class, In welding the powers thus
placed in their hands, cannot be ex
pected correctly to comprehend the
duties and responsibilities which per-
tain to suffrage. Yesterday, as it
we're. four millions of persons were
held in a condition of slavery that
had existed for generations. To day
they are freeDen, and are assumed
by law to be citizens. 1t cannot be
presumed from the previous condi-
ton Of servitude, that as class they
are as well informed as to our Gov
ernment as intelligent foreigners who
make our land the home of his choice.
In case of the latter, neither resi-
dence of five years, and the knowl-
edge Of our institutions which it
gives, nor attachment in the princi-
Piles Of the Constitution, are the only
conditions upon which he can be ad-
mitted to citizenship. He must prove
in addition good moral character,
and thus give reasonable ground for
a belief that he will be faithful to the
obligations which he assumes as a
citizen of republic, where the peo-
pie, the source OF all political power,
speak by their saffrages through in
Of the ballot box. It
must be carefully guarded against
the control of those whose who are
corrupt in principle and enemies of
free institutions, for it can only be-
come to our political and social sys
tenn a safe conductor of healthy pop
ular sentiment, when kept free from
demoralizing influences controlled
fraud.
Usurpation, by designing anarchy
and despotism, must inevitably fol-
low. In the hands of patriotic and
worthy citizens our Government will
be preserved upon the principles of
the Constitution inherited from our
It follows, therefore, that
in admitting to the ballot new class
Of voters not qualified tor the eXer
else of the elective franchise, we
weaken our system of government in
stead Of adding to its strengt and du-
rability.. Iyield-to no one in attach |
ment to the rule of general suffrage
which distinguishes our policy as . |
nation, but there is lilnit. wisely |
hitherto, w,l;ch makes the |
ballot a privilege and trust, and
which requires of some classes time
suitable for probation and prepara I
lion. To give 1T indiscriminately to
\ new class wholly unprepared by
previous habits and opportunities to
perform the trust which it demands,
Is to degrade it, and finally to destroy
It's power. For it may be safely
assumed, that no political truth is
better established than thatindiscrim |
nate and all embracing extension of
popular suffrage must end at last in
is overthrow and destruction. re.
peat the expression of my willingness
o join in any plan within the scope
If our constitutional authority, which
promises to better the condition of
he negroes in the South, by encour-
'ging them in industry and enlight-
the Improvement Of their
morals and giving protection to all
heir just rights as freedmen /; but to
ransfer our political inheritance to
hem would in my opinion be an
abandonment of duty, which we
I'VE alike to the memory of our fa-
hers and the rights of our children
The plan of putting the Southern
'tates wholly, aud the Federal Gov
partially, into the hands of
Is proposed at q time pecu
iarly unpropitious. The founda-
ions of society have been broken up
" civil war. Industry must be re-
justice re- established, pub
ic credit maintained, and order bro't
'ut of confusion. To accomplish
hese ends would require all the wis
lom and virtue of the great men who
ramed our institutions originally.-ti
confidently believe that their de- l.
pendants will be equal to the ardu-
'us task before them; but it is worse I
han madness to expect that negroes {
Fill perform it for US. Certainly we 6
'ught not to ask their assistance un- i
il we despair of our own competen-