Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-12-04

'"ni aye was esCaDiisneu Dy act OF COn-
gress, and military officers were command
hd to superintend the process of clothing
the negro race with the political privileges
wrested from white men.
The blacks in the South are entitled to
oe well and humanely governed, and IT,
have the protection of just laws for all
Their rights of person and property. If il
were practicable at this time 20 give them
a government, exclusively their own, un
Ter which they might manage their own
affairs in their own way, it would become
a grand question whether we ought to do
so, or rwbethercommon humanity would not
require them to save them from themselves.
Bnt under the circumstances this is only Il
speculative point. 1t is not proposed mere
ly that they shall govern Themselves, but
that they shall rule the white race.
make aud minister State laws. elect
PRESIDENTS and members of Congress,
and shape, to greater or less
extent, the future destiny OF the whole
country. Would such trust and power
oe safe in such hands? The peculiar quail
lties which should characterize any people.
VINO are fit to decide Tpon the manage
tnent of public affairs for a great State,
nave seldom been combined. tits the glory
OF white men TO know that they have had
these qualities in sufficient measure to bnild
upon this continent a great political fabric.
ninety years, while in every other part of
the world all similar experiments have
failed.
But if anything can be proved by known
facts-if all reasoning upon evidence is not
abandoned-i5m must be acknowledged that,
IN the progress OF nations. negroes have
shown less capacity for government than
any other race of people. No Independent
government of any form has ever been sue
cessful in their hands. On the contrary,
wherever they have been lett to their own
devices they have shown a constant ten
dency to relapse into barbarism. In the
Southern States, however, Congress has
to confer upon them the privil
cge of the ballot. Just released from slave
ry, it may be doubted whether, as class,
they know more than their ancestors how
to organize and regulate civil so iety. In-
deed, it is admitted that the blacks of the
South are not only regardless of the rights
of property, but their voting can consist in
nothing more than carrying ballot to the
place where they are directed to deposit it..
need not to remind you that the eXer-
else of the elective franchise is the highest
privilege of an American citizen. and that
when guided by virtue, intelligence, pat
riotism and proper appreciation of our tree
institutions, it constitutes the true basis of
a Democratic form of Government, in
which the sovereign power is lodged in the
body of the people. A trust artiticially
created, not for its own sake. but solely as
a means of promoting the general welfare,
its influence for good must necessarily de-
pend upon the elevated character and true
intelligence of the electors. 1t ought,
therefore, to be imposed on none except
those who are fitted, morally and men'ally,
to administer it well !; for, if conferred upon
persons who do not justly estimate its val
ue. and who are Indifferent as to its results.
it will only serve as means of placing
power in the hands OF the unpIincipled aud
ambitious. and must eventuate in the COM
plete destruction of that liberty of which
it >hOuld be the most powerful cOnservator.
l have, therefore, heretofore urged upon
your attention the great danger 10 be ap-
pretended from an untimely extension of
the elective franchise to any new class i'm
our country, especially when.a large major
ity of that class, in welding the power
thus placed in their hands, cannot be eX-
pected correctly to comprehend the duties
and responsibilities which pertain to suf-
frage.
Yesterday, as it were, fonr millions of per-
SONS were held in condition of slavery
that had existed for generations. To-day
they are freemen, and are assumed by law
to be citizens. 1t cannot be presumed, from
their previous condition of servitude, that
as a class they are as well informed AS to
cur government as the intelligent foreign
er who makes our land his home. In the
case of the latter, neither a residence'of five
years and the knowledge of our institutions
which it gives, nor the attachment to the
principles of the Constitution. are the only
upon which he can he admitted
to citizenship. He must prove, in addition,
a good moral character, and thus give rea-
ground for belief that he will be
faithful to the obligations which he assumes
as citizen of the Republic.
When people, the source of all political
power, speak by their suffrage, through
the instrumentality of the ballot box, it
must be carefully guarded against the con-
troll of those who are corrupt in principle
and enemies of free Institutions; for it can
only become to our political and social sys-
tenn safe conductor ofhealthy popular SEN
timent when kept free from demoraliZing
influences, controlled through frauds and
by designing anarchy, and des-
potism must inevitably follow. In the
hands of the patriotic and worthy our Gov
will be preserved upon the prin-
ciples of the Constitution inherited from
our fathers. 1t follows, therefore, that in
to the ballot new class of
voters, not qualified for the exercise of the
elective franchise, we weaken our system
of government instead of adding TO its
strength AMI durability. yield TO no one
in attachment to the rule OF general suf-
frage which distinguishes our policy as Il
nation; but there is limit wisely OBJ
served hitherto, which makes the ballot a
privilege and trust, and which requires of
some classes time suitable for probation
and preparation. To give it indiscrimin-
ltely 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 its power;
for it may be safely assumed that no polit-
cal truth is better established than thai
such indiscriminate and all-emhraciny
of popular suffrage must end
1t last in its overthrow and destruction.
L repeat the expression of my willing
ness to join in any plan within the scope OF
our constitutional authority which prom
ses to better the condition of the negroes
IF the South, by encouraging them in in
lustry and enlightenment, the improve
nent of their morals, AMI giving protec
ton to all their just rights as freedmen.
But, to transfer our political inheritance to
Them would, in my opinion, be an aban-
1onment of duty which we owe alike to,
the memory OF our fathers and to the
rights of our children.
The plan of putting the Southern States
wholly, and the Federal Government par
TALLY, into the hands ofthe negroes is pro-
posed at time peculiarly unpropitious
ne louuuaGioiis OF society nave Deen bro
ken up by the civil war. Industry must b.
justice established, pubic C
credit maintained, and order brought ouI
Of confusion. To accomplish these ends
would require all the wisdom and virtue
Of the great men who framed our institu-
ions originally. confidently believe that
heir descendants will be equal TO the ar
luOus task before them. But it is worsp
han madness to expect tnat negroes will
perform it for us. Certainly we ought not
20 ask their assistance until we despair OF
)ur own competency.
The great difference between the two
'aces in physical, mental and moral char
icteristics will prevent amalgamation or
usion of them together in one homogene-
,us mass. 1t the interior obtains the as
over the other, it will govern