Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1867-08-22

The action of the Rump Congress
,he other day, in extra session, ough
10 convince every one that the Radica
marty have no intention of restoring
Inc Union until the Southern States
are thoroughly Radicalizcd and will
Elect Senators and members of tn,
House of that party. The Kentucky
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS in number anC
r. an Democrats-have been denied theii
seats in Congress, simply because they
were not Black Republicans. If the
Southern States, under the recon.
struotion policy Of President johnson
had elected Radicals, and given any
assurance of then adhesion to that
party, no one can suppose that THEN
"A Representatives would have been ex-
cluded from Congress. In the fall OF
1868, one of the first acts done by
Congress was to purge the Senate,
and exclude Democrats enough from
that body 10 give them two.thirds
majority.
The question will be for the people
of the Southern States to decide, in the
coming elections, whether they prefer
to remain as they are, or, by calling
conventions, adopting negro suffrage
and electing Radicals, 90 back into
the Union. What advantage TO the
South will it be to increase the Black
Republican majority in Congress
How can we be benefited by strength
ening the hands of our oppressors !
What interest can VIC possibly have in
heing represented in Congress by trai-
tors to the South--men whom we must
soorn and despise as Judas lscariot in
politics. 1t is n sad and melancholy
reflection on human nature, to see men
who inaugurated the war, and were
going TO die in the last ditch, now
seeking TO 90 back into the Union,
stripped of every principle and right
which they vowed to defend, with
Black Republican collars around their
necks How disgusting to see base,
unprincipled white men seeking Office
and position by hypocritically pander-
ing to the ignorant, criminal and ruin
Gus prejudices aud aspirations Of the
negro! Iwould greatly prefer seeing
overy Office in the State filed by the
honest, intelligent negroes, than by
such unprinciplcd and shameless men.
once said to President johnson, in
reply to dispatch sent me, about
Union men being excluded from eilice
under the Provisional Government,
that / had made it a rule through life
to confide in the politics of no one who
was not morally honest and trust.
worthy in private life, and that my
experience had taught me the fact that
man who had no moral principle
could have no political principle.
Hence II is that we see those who were
foremost in secession, whilst secession
was in the ascendant and tho road TO
honor and distinction, power and po-
position, was open, now fawning at
the feet of the opprcssor, whilst ty-
ranny and oppression are all power
ful. They care no. whom they serve,
or what principles they advocate, pro
vided they can promote their own
selfish views, But they would even
have us believe that the great interests
of the country were foremost in their
thoughts.
Immediately after it was known
that slavery would have to be abol.
ished, | expressed the opinion that il
would be wise and prudent to permit
negroes, who had acquired property
and educational qualification, to vote
in all the Southern States. i Thought
this would be safety-valve for politi-
cal society. 1t would crafty and ap-
pease the intelligent and most influ-
ential of that class, and make them
good citizens, instead of being dis
turbers Of the peace. 1t would hold
out an inducement to all who had any
disposition or wish to rise above the
common herd. And no evil could re
suit from it, as | supposed very few,
comparatively, would ever be able TO
attain the privilege, and when they
did, they would always vote with the
higher and better educated class of
whites. Iexpressed a similar opinion
many years ago, in regard TO recap
turing fugitive slaves. ] thought it
we'll for society that when slave bad
acquired such a love for freedom as to
prompt him to flee for the Northern
States, and possessed intelligence sui-
ficient to make bis escape, be ought
not to be brought back. In this way
the bold, daring and reckless-they
who we're most likely to disturb the
public poace-would be out of the
country, and there would be greater
safety for those left behind.
But my opinion thus expressed was
denounced by those who are now
urgirg universal suffrage for the ne
gro, or at least advocating the call OF
a convention, by which universal ne
gro suffrage is TO be established. J
likewise advocated, at tho same time,
the proprieiy of permitting negroes
to give testimony in all cases in our
courts of Justice This, too, was sternly
resisted by those who are now willing
70 confer on the negro tho right Of
holding Office, 10 get back into the
aglorious Union" which they once
hated and despiscd so cordially
In one of my previous communica-
tions, / stated that Professor Agassiz
had proven conclusively that the ne
gro was of an inferior race TO that OF
the white man, and had a different
origin. In saying this, did not in
tend to insinuate, as some of the ne
proes seemed to think l did, that God
q, -. ,Lo;r nfathar" as well as the