The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1867-12-12

eventuate in the complete destruction
Of that liberty Of which il should be
the most powerful conscryator.
| have, therefore, heretofore urged
upon your attention the great danger
to be apprehended from au untimely
extension Of the elective franchise to
any new class in our country especial
ly when large majority Of that
class, in welding the power thus
placed in their hands, eau not be
expected correctly TO comprehend the
duties aud responsibilities which per.
talnto suffrage.
Yesterday, as it were, four millions
Of persons we're held iu condition
of slavery that had existed for gene
tatlous. To-day they are frcemen,
and are assumed by law to be citizens.
II cannot bo presumed, from their
previous condition Of seryitude, that
as class they are as we'll Informed
as 10 our government as the intelli.
geut foreigner who makes our land
HE home. In the case Of the latter,
neither residence of FIVE years aud
the knowledge Of our institutions
which it gives, nor the attachment to
the principles Of tho Constitution,
are the only conditions upon which
he can be admitted to citizenship
lie must prove, in addition, a good
moral character, and thus give rea.
souable grounds for belief that he
will be faithful to the obligations
which he assumes as a citizen of the
Republic.
When a peoplo--tho source Of all
political power-speak by their suf.
frage, through the instrumentality OF
the ballot box, it must be carefully
guarded against the control Of those
who are corrupt in principle and
enomies Of free institutions; for il
can only become to our political aud
social system a safe conductor OF
healthy popular sentiment when kept
free from demoralizing influences
controlled through frauds and usur-
patton by designing anarchy, ant
despotism must inevitably follow. II
the hands of the patriotic and worthy
our Government will be preserve,
upon the principles of the Constitu
tion inherited from our fathers. L
follows, therefore, that in admitting
to the ballot new class of voters
not qualified for the exercise of tn,
elective franchise, we weaken our sys
tenn of government instead of n idinl
to its strength and durability.
yield to no one in attachment to til,
rule Of general suffrage which dis.
tinguishcs our policy as nation; but
there is limit wisely observed here.
to, which makes the ballot n privilege
and trust, and which requires oI
some classes time suitable for pro.
baton and preparation. To give il
irdiscriminately to new class, wholly
unproparod by previous habits aud
opportunities to perform the trusI
which il demands, is to degrade il
and finally to destroy its power; for il
may be safely assumed that no poll.
teal truth is better established than
that such indiscriminate and all em.
bracing extension Of popular suffrage
must end at last in its overthrow and
destruction.
repeat the expression of my will
liugness to join in any plan Within
the scope of our Constitutional au-
thority, which promises to better th,
condition Of the nogroe of the South
by encouraging them in industry anC
enlightenment, tho Improvement o
their morals, aud giving protection Il
all their just rights as freedmen. But
to transfer our political Inheritance t.
them would, in my opinion, be al
abandonment of a duty which we ow,
alike to the memory Of our fathers
and to the rights of our children.
The plan of putting the Southern
States wholly, aud the Federal Gov.
ernment partially, into the hands oi
the negroes is proposed at time pc.
culiarly unpropitious. The founds.
tons OF society have been broken up
by tho civil war. Industry must b
reorganized, justice re established
public credit maintained, and orde
brought out of confusion. To &C
complish these ends would require al
the wisdom and virtue of the grea
men who framed our institution
originally. 1 confidently believe tina
their descendants will be equal I,
the arduous task before them. Ger
tainly we ought not to ask their as
sistauoe until We despair of our owl
competency.
The great difference between the
two races in physical, mental, aud
moral characteristics will prevent
amalgamation or fusion Of them
together in one homogeneous mass
If the interior obtains the ascend
ency over the other, it will govern
with reference only to its own interest
for it will recognize no commoI
interest, and create such tyranny a
this continent has nsver yet witness
ed.
Already the negroes are influence,
by promises Of condseation and plum
der. They are taught to regard as Al
enemy every white man who has an.
respect FOR the rights of bis own race
If this continues, it must becom
worse aud worse until all order viii
be subyerted, all industry cease, an,
the fertile fields Of the South grow N
into wilderness. or all danger
which our nation has yet encountered
none are equal to those which mus
result from the success of the efor
now making to Africanizo half on
couLtry, 5s-aasla
/ would not put considerations 0
money in competition with justice an'
right, but the expenses incident h
reeonstruction undef the system
adopteA by Congress, aggravRte wha
| regard as tho intrinsic wrong Of th
I