Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-04-23
who Will Answer?


The movement on the part of leading
Southern men who were prominent and
influential in the Rebellion, to make fair
terms with the Blacks, and allow them a
voice in the Government, is not
voluntary, and cannot, therefore, be
quoted as a. guide to our action.
The Republican leaders, through Con-
gressional enactment have provided for the
enfranchising of the Blacks in the South
for the purpose of, through them and few
Whites, creating predominant Republican
party. They were not moved thereto by a
love of the Black man, or through abelief
that he was in any essential qualified to
perform the high and weighty office OF vot-
ing with the understanding with which it
should be exercised. Although they have
prated about the down-trodden Black, and
have eulogised his patriotism, they will
change the tone and character of their talk
South become the exponent of the Repub-
lican party politics.
Seeing no other alternative, the Southern
WITHSTAND in speaking of the Southern
Whites we mean those men who hitherto
gave direction and tone to political matters
have resolved upon inducing the Negroes
to give their support to such measures and
views as they shall indicate, and to succeed
in this they will cut under the Radicals in
the way OF giving recognition to the Blacks.
They will not only profess a willingness
that the Negro should vote, but they will
put him on their tickets and elect him to
office. In this way they are likely to con-
troll him. They will say to him: " You are
now free, and are called upon to discharge
the highest Office of freeman-the Office
of participating in the Government. Your
What is for our advantage is for your ad-
vantage. High tariffs and high taxes will op-
press alike you and us. That which i'm
poverishes US will impoverish you" And
then they will show, that the measures of
the Radicals will oppress and impoverish
both. These views, substantially, are
now being addressed to the Blacks by
Southern leading men. Who can doubt
their effectiveness? Who can doubt that
the Radicals will be defeated, to great ex-
tent, in their purpose of consolidating the
Blacks into the support of their political
views? Should they be thus defeated, and
should they assist in eIecting men to Con-
gress who figured conspicuously in the Re-
bellion, and who look with adherence up
on the politics of the Radicals, will they be
admitted to their seats in Congress with
out further ado?
This is pertinent question, for the rea-
son that the Southern people acquiesced in
the Provisional Governments appointed by
President JOHNSON, and solemnly repudi
ated secession, ratified the abolition of
slavery, and obligated themselves not to.
pay the Rebel debt, upon the assurance
that by complying with these requirements
they would be permitted to resume their
co-equality in the Union. The Pres
ident undertook to keep faith with the
South; but the Republican party-his
party-have refused utterly and insolently
to pay any respect whatever to the agree
ment. It is, therefore, beftting to ask
whether the Republican party will allow
such Senators and Representatives to take
their seats in Congress who may be sent up
by Whites and Negroes, if those Senators
and Representatives shall not be the ex-
ponents Of Republican partisan politics.
What Republican editor will answer?