Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-12-10


er, ns class, they know more than their ca~
ccstors how to organize and regulate civil So
ciety. Indeed, it is admitted that the blacks
of the South are not only regardless of the
rights of property; but SO utterly ignorant of
public affairs, that their voting can consist Of
nothing moro than carrying ballot to tbs
place where they are directed to deposit it,
1 need not romind you that the exercise c;
the elective franchise is the highest attributs
of an American citizen, and that, when guid-
ed by virtue, intelligence, patriotism, and .
proper appreciation of our free institutions,
it constitutes the true basis of democratic
form of government, in which the sovereign
power is lodged in the body of the people !;
a trust artifeially created, not fer its own
sake, but solely as a means of promoting the
general welfare. Its influence for good must
necessarily depend upon the elevated char
acter and true allegiance of the elector 1t
ought, therefore, to be reposed In none ex~
cept those who are fitted morally and men
tally to administer it we'll for, if conferred
upon persons who do not justly estimate its
value, and are Indifferent US to It's results, it
will only serve as means Of placing power
in the hands of the unprincipled and G.abi-
tiOus, and must evcntuate in the complete
destruction of that liberty of which it should
C.
therefore, heretofore urged upon your at:en-
tiCn the great danger to be apprehended from
an Untimely extension Of the elective fran
Chise to any new class in our country. espe-
cially wheG the large ma ajority of that class,
IN welding the power thus placed in their
hands, cannot be expected correctly 10 COM
preheEd the duties and responsibilities which
pertain to suffrage. Yesterday, us it were,
four millions of persols were held in a con-
d!tinn of slavery, tha. had existed for genera
ions. To-day they are freemcn, aud are as
sumsd by law to be citizens. 1t cannot be
presumed, from their previous condition Of
seryi:Ude, that, Us class, they are as well
informed as to the nature OF our Government
as the intelligent foreigner Who makes our
land the home Of his choice. In the case Of
the latter, neither residence of five years,
aad the knowledge O. our institutions which
it gives, nor attachment 20 the principles Of
the Constitution, are the only conditions upon
which lie can be admitted TO citizenship. He
must prove, II addition, good moral char
ac:er, and thus give reasonable ground for
the belief that he will be faithful 10 the OBJ
legations which ne assumes rs citizen Of the
Republic where people, the source of all
through the bal!Jt-boI. 1t mu8t Io care
fully guarded against the control of those Who
are corrupt Al pcin5ipie aad enemies of free
institutions, Tor 1t can only become to our
political and social system . safe conductor Of
healthy popular sentiment when kept free
from demO.sliGing influences, controlled
through fraud and usurpa,ior, By the de-
signing. Anarchy and Gc3poEism must incy;-
tably follow. In the hands OF Inc patriotic
and worthy our G Government will be preserved
upon the principles Of the Constitution IL,
herited from our fathers. 1t follows, there
fore, that in admitting to the ballot. box q ceg
class of voters not qualified tor the exercise Of
the elective franchise we weaken or system
of government instead Of adding to its
strength and durability. yield to 40 one in
attachment to thar rule ct general suffrage
which distinguishes our policy as nation
But these is limit, wisely observed hitherto,
which makes the ballot a privilege aud a
trust, and which requires Of some classes a
time suitable for probation and preparation.
To give it indiscriminately to a new class,
wholly unprepared by previous habits and op.
portunities to perform the trust which it de-
mands, is to degrade it aud finally to destroy
its power, for it NAY 20 safely assumed that
no political truth is better established than
such indiscrimiaate and all embracing exten-
sion Of popular suffrage, and must end at last
in its overthrow and destruction.
/ repeat the expression CT my willingness
to join in any plan within the scope of our
Authority, which promises to
better the condition CT the negroes in the
South by encouraging them il industry,
their minds, Improving their
morals, and giving protection to all their U.s.
rights as freedmen; but the transfer CT our
political Inheritance to them would, in my
opinion, he an abandonment of duty which
We owe alike to the memory OF our fathers
and the rights OF our children. The plan OF
putting the Southern States wholly, and the
General Government partially, into the hands
OF negroes, Is proposed at time peculiarly
The foundations OF socieiy
have been broken up by civil war; industry
must be reorganized justice reestablisksi;
public credit maintained, and order brought
out OF confusion. To accomplish these cnds
would require all the wisdom and virtue of
the great men who formed our institutions
l confidently believe that their
descendants will be equal to the ar6ucus task
before them, but it is worse than madness TO
expect that the negroes will perform it for US
Certainly we ought not to ask their assistance
until We despair Of oar own conpeteucy.-
The great difference between the two races in
physical, mental and moral characteristics
will prevent an amalgamation or fusion of
them together in one homogeneous r:ass. If
the inferior obtains the ascendency over the
other it will govern with reference only to its
own interests, for it will recognize no common
interest, and create such tyranny rs this con-
tinent has never yet witnessed. Already the
negroes are influenced by promise of coniisea-
tion and plunder;;hey are taught to regardas an
enemy every white man who has any respect
for the rights of his own race. If this con.
tinUes it must become worse and worse, until
all orderwiIl be subyerted, all industry cease.
and the fertile fields of the South grow up
into wilderness. OF all the dangers which
our nation has yet encountered, none are equal
to those which must result from the success
nE akL. 49, 4 e: