Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1867-12-12

ia evil M well as the means The
suhiugation Of States 20 negro DOM.
natien would be worse than the mill.
tary despotism under which they are
now suffering. II was believed before.
band that tho people would endure
any amount of military oppression for
any length Of time, rather than de.
grade themselves by subjugation to
the negro race. Therefore they have
been lett without a choice
Negro suffrage was established by
act Of Congress, and the military Off.
GERS were commanded to superintend
the process Of clothing the negro race
with political privileges torn from
white men.
The blacks of the South are entitled
to be well and humanely governed
and TO have the protection Of just
laws for all their rights of person and
property If it were practicable al
this time TO give them government
exclusively their own, under which
they might manage their own affairs
in their own way, it would become 8
grave question whether we ought tC
do so, or whether common humanity
would not require us TO save then
from themselves.
But, under the circumstances, this
is only speculative point. 1t is moi
proposed merely that they shall gov
ern themselves, but that they shal
rule the white race, mako and admin
ister State laws, elect Presidents anC
members of Congress, and shape, TO i
greater or less extent, the future dos
tiny of the whole country Would
such a trust and power be safe in suct
hands? The peculiar qualities wbicl
should characterize any people, wht
are iit to decide upon the management
OF public affairs for great State, hav,
seldom been combined.
IL is the glory Of white men to know
that they have had these qualities il
sufficient measure to build upon thii
continent a great political fabric, and
to preserve its stability for more than
ninety years, while in every othcl
part of the world all similar expert
menls have failed. But if anything
can be proved by known facts if al
reasoning upon evidence is not aban
doned, it must be acknowledged thai
in the progress Of nations negroes
have shown less capacity for govern
ment than any other race OF people
No Independent government Of any
form has ever been successful in thei
hands, On the contrary, whereyei
they have been left to their own devi
ces they have shown a constant ten
dency te relapse into barbarism.
In the Southern States, however
Congress has undertaken TO confel
upon them the privilege Of the ballot
Just released from slavery, it may b,
doubtful whether, as n class, they
know, more than their ancestors, how
10 organize and regulate civil society
Indeed, it is admitted that the black
of the South are not only regardles
Of the rights Of property, but so utter
ly ignorant Of public affairs that incl
voting can consist IN nothing NOR,
than ar.ying n ballot to the plac,
where they are directed TO deposit il
| need not remind you that the OK
ercise Of the elective franchise is lh,
highest attribute of an American citi
zen, and when guided by virtue, in
telligencc and patriotism, and prope
appreciation of our free institutions, i
constitutes the true basis of n demo
cratic form of government, ia whicl
the sovereign power is lodged in tn,
body of the people. A trust artificially
created, not for its own sake, bu
solely as means Of promoting th,
general welfare, its influence for goo,
must necessarily depend upon the ele
waited character and true allegiance 0
the elector; it ought, therefore, to b,
reposed in none except those who ar,
fitted, morally and mentally, to ad
minister il well, for if conferred upor
persons who do not justly estimate il
value, and who are Indifferent rs to III
results, it will only serve as meani
of placing power in the hands of tn,
unprincipled and ambitious, and mus
eventually end in the complete dc
struction OF that liberty which 4
should be the most powerful conserv
ator | have, therefore, heretofor,
urged upon your attention the great
danger TO be apprehendcd from Al
untimely extension Of the elective
franchise TO any now class in oui
country, especially when the larg,
majority Of that class, in welding tn,
power thus placed in their hands. can
not be expected correctly to compre
hend the duties and responsibilities,
which pertain to suffrage. Yester
day, as it were, four millions o.
persons were held in condition o
slavery that had existed for genera
tions Today they are freemcn. and
are assumed by law to be citizens. II
cannot be presumed from their previ.
ous condition Of servitudo that rs a
class they are as well Informed as tc
the nature of our government as the
intelligent foreigner who makes our
land the land Of his choice.
In the case of the latter, neithe,
residence offive years nor the knowl
edge of our institutions which IL gives
nor attachment to the principles OF
the Constitutions are the only condi.
tions upon which he can be admitted
to citizenship. Ho must prove, in ad.
dition, a good moral character, and
thus give reasonable ground for the
belief that he will be faithful to the
4 I