The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-01-09

brief q probation, they are as q cIas'
capable OF an intelligent exercise of thu
right Of suffrage, and qualified TO dis
charge the duties of official position
The people who are daily witnesses o.
their mode of living, and who have be
come familiar with their habits o.
thought. have expressed the conviction
that they are not yet competent 20 serve
as electors, and thus become eligible 1ol
Office in the local governments undel
which they live. Clothed with the
elective franchise, their numbers, a..
ready largely in excess of the demand
for labor, would be soon increased by al
influx from the adjoining States. Drawn
from fields where employment Is abund'
ant, they would in vain seek it here and
so add 10 the embarrassments already
experienced from the large class Of idle
persons congregated in the District
Hardly Vet capable Of forming correct
Judgments upon theimportant question:
that often make the Issues of a political
contest, they could readily be made
subservient 10 the purposes of designing
persons. While in Massachusetts, un'
der the census Of 1850, the proper
ton of white TO colored males over
twenty years Of age, one hundred and
thirty TO one, here the black race con-
stitutes nearly one-third the popuIa-
tion. whilst the same class surrounds
the District on allsides, ready TO change
their residence at moments notice
and with all the facility OF u nomadlc
people, ip order 10 enjoy here, after
short residence, 4 privilege they car
find nowhere else. II is within theil
power, in one year, to come into The
district in such numbers as 10 have the
supreme control Of the white race, and
TO govern them by their own officers
and by the exercise of all the munlcl'
pal authority-among the rest, OF the
mower of taxation over property Ill
which they have no interest. In Mass
achusetts, where they have enjoyed the
benefits of thorough educational sys'
TEN, a qualification Of intelligence 1:
required, while here suffrage is exten
ded TO all, without discrimination, a:
well to the most incapable, who CAL
prove q residence III the Dlstrlci
of one year, as TO those persons OF color
who, comparatively few In NUN.
Der, are permanent inhabitants, anc
havin. given evidence Of merit anC
qualification, are recognized as usefu
and responsible members Of the com
nuuity. Imposed upon an unwilling
people, placed, by the Constitution
under the exclusive legislation Of Con
Cress, il would he viewed as an arbl
trary exercise of power, and as an ind!
cation by the country OF the purpose o.
Congress. 10 compel the acceptance o.
negro suffrage by the States. 1t wOulC
engender feeling of opposition ano
hatred between the two races, which
becoming deep rooted and ineradicabie
would prevent them from living To-
gether in a state OF mutual tr1endhneSs
Carefully avoiding every measure thai
might tend to produce such a result
and following the clear and well ascer'
tanned popular will, We stould assid'
uously endeavor to promote kindly re'
llations between them, and thus, when
that popular will leads the way, pre-
pare for the gradual and harmonious
introduction OF this new element into
the political power of the country.
1t cannot be urged that the proposed
extension Of suffrage IL the Dlsclct o.
Columbia is necessary 10 enable per
sons of color TO protect either their IN.
terests or their rights. They also stand
here precisely as they stand III PennsyI'
LAMA. Ohio and Indiana. Here, rs else
where, in all that pertains TO civil
rights, there is nothing to distinguish
this class of persons from citizens OF the
United States; for they possess the full
and equal benefit Of all laws and pro-
ceedings for the security Of person and
property as is enjoyed by white citi-
zens," and are made subject 10 like
punishment, pains and penalties, and 10
none other, any law, statute, ordinance,
regulation. or custom TO the contrary
notwithstanding. Nor. as has been as
su1ned. are their sutfrages necessary "a
aid sentiment here; for loca! govern
ments already exist OF undoubted fealty
10 the Government, and are SUSTAINED
by communities which were among The
first to testify their devotion TO the
Union, and which during the struggle
furnished their full quotas Of men 10
the military service of the country.
The exercise Of the elective franchise
is the highest tribute of an American
citizen, and, when guided by virtue, III
telligence. patriotism, and proper ap-
precistion Of our institutions, eonst1-
futes the true basis Of n democratic
form of government. in which the SOW
ereiru power is lodged in the body OF
| the people. Its influence for good neces-
sari " depends upon the elevated charac-
ter and patriotism Of the eleCtor. for !!
exercised by persons who do not instiy
estimate its value. and who are iuditi,r-
ept as 30 Its results. il viii only serve
as means Of placing power IL the
hands Of the unprincip!ed and am
! bilious. and must eventuate n the com
plete destruction of that liberty OF
which il should he the most powerful
couservatOr. Great danger i therefore
! TO be apprchended from an untlmeiy ex-
tension of the elective franchise TO any
new class in our country, especially
when the large majority of that class,
in welding the power thus placed IL
their hands, cannot be expected correct
lly TO comprehend the duties and re-
sponsibilities which pertain 10 suffrage.
Yesterday, rs ii were, four millions OF
persons were held in Il condition of
slavery that had existed for generations:
to-day they are assumed by law 10
be citizens. II cannot be presumed
from their previous condition OF ser.
vitude, that, as a class, they are rs well
Informed rs to the nature of our Gov
ernment rs the intelligent foreigner
who makes our land the home OF his
choice. In the case OF the latter, neith-
er O residence of FIVE years, and the
knowledge of our institutions which II
gives, nor attachment TO the principle;
of the Constitution. are the only cOndi'
tions upon which he can be admitted
TO citizenship. He must prove, IN addl'
ton, a good moral character, and thus
give reasonable ground for the belief
that he will be faithful TO the obhga-
tions which he assumes as j citizen OF
the Republic. Where q people-tht
source OF all political power-speak, by
their suffrages, through the instrumeu-
tality Of the ballot box, II must be care
fnIly guarded against the control 0i
those who are corrupt in principle and
enemies of free institutions, for il can
only become to our political and social
srsfem . safe conductor Of healthy pop.
ular sentiment when kept free from de-
moralizing influences Controlled