The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-12-12
LANCASTER. OHIO, DEC. l2, 1867.

jSonthern States, however Con.
s,ress has undertaken 10 confer up.
oh them the privilege Of The ballot.
! Just released from slavery, il may
/ be doubted whether, as a class,
they know more than their ances-
tors how 10 organize and regulate
civil society. indeed, il IL admit.
ted that the blacks Of tie South
are not only yregardIess Of tberights
!, Of property, but their voting can
consist IN nothing moro than car.
Iryinga a ballot to the place where
they are directed TO deposit it.
4 / need not remind you that the
exercise Of the elective franchise is
/ the highest privilege Of an Ameri.
can citizen, and that when guided
] lbySirtue, intelligence, patriotism
and properappreciation Of our free
institutions, il constitutes the true
basis Of a Democratic form Of gov
ernment, in which the sovereign
-fpower is lodged in the body ofthe
people. A trust artifcially crea-
ted, not for It's own sake, but sole.
4 ly as a means Of the general vel.
fare, its influence for good must
necessarily depend upon the eleva.
ted character and true intelligence
of The electors. 1t ought, there
fore, to be imposed on none except
those who are fitted, morally and
mentally, to administer it we'll;
A for, if conferred upon persons who
do net Justly estimate its value,
and who are indifferent as to its
results, it will only serve as a means
of placing power in the hands Of
the unprincipled and ambitious;
and must eventuate in the complete
destructNn Of that liberty OF which
it Should be the most powerful
.conservator.
l have, therefore, heretofore
urged upon your attention the
great danger TO be apprehended
from an untimely extension of the
elective franchise to any new class
in our country, especially when a
large majority Of that class, in
welding the power thus placed in
their hands, can not be expected
correctly 10 comprehend the duties
" and responsibilities which pertain
10 suffrage.
Yesterday, as it were, four mil
lions Of persons were held in con-
dition OF slavery that had existed
for generations. To day they are
frcemen, and are assumed by law
TO BE- citizens. 1t cannot be pre-
sumed, from their previous condi-
ton OF servilude, that as u class
they arc as well informed as t. cur
I government as the intelligent for
eigner who makes our land his
home. In tie case of the latter,
neither residence of five years
aud a knowledge of our institutions
gives, nor the attachment TO the
principles Of the Constitution, are
lhe only conditions upon which he
can be admitted to citizenship
lie must prove, in addition. good
moral character, and thus give
reasonable ground for belief that
he will be faithful to the obiiga-
tions which he assumes as citizen
, OF the Republic.
Whom the people, the source of
all political power, speak by their
, suffrage, through the instrumen-
tality Of the ballot box. it must be
carefully guarded against the con-
troll of those who are corrupt in
principle and enemies of free iusti-
, tutions; for it can only become to
, our political and social system a
safe conductor of healthy and pop
. uIar sentiment when kept free from
neutrality-suspicious.; controlled
I through frauds and usurpation by
!. designing anarchy, and despotism
i, must inevitably follow. In the
I hands oil the patriotic and worthy
a our Government will be preserved
upon the principles Of the Constitu'
ton inherited from our fathers. Ii
follows, therefore, that in admitting
h to the ballot a new class Of voters
! not qualified for the exercise of the
elective franchise, we weaken oul
system Of government instead Of
adding TO its strength and durabil'
!. ity. ] yield to no one in attach
s ment to the rule of general suffrage
q which distinguishes our policy as 0
q nation; but there is limit, wisely
. observed hitherto, which makes the
! ballot a privilege and trust, anc
r which requires OF some classes 6
4 time suitable for probation ant
- preparation. To give it lndiscrim
y inately to q new class, wholly un
y prepared by previous habits anc
a opportunities TO perform the trus'
:, which it demands, 3 to de- brade il
a and finally to destroy it's power
n for it MAY be safely assumed tha
n no political truth is better establish
/ ed thanthatsuchin indiscriminate anc
!. all-embracing extension Of popular
suffrage must end at last in it,
: overthrow and destruction.
q repeat the expression of my
a willingness to join in any plaT
b within the scope of our constitu
s tional authority which promises t.
y better the condition of the negroe
e of the South, by encouraging then
a in industry and enlightenment, th'
!. improvement Of their morals, ant
Q giving protection to all their JUS
d rights as freedmen. But, 10 trans
). fer ourpolitic4l inheritance tothen
a would,;in my opinion, be an aban
J. do sment Of u duty which we ow
n alike 10 the memory of our father
RI and to the rights of our children.
aa . i d .