The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-12-18

left to their devices they have shown a eonstan
tendency to relapse into barbarsm In the Southern
States however, congress has undertaken to confe
upon them the privilege of the ballot Just released
from slavery, it may be doubted whether as = class
hey may know more than their ancestors how to ORGAN
se and regulate civil society," Indeed it is admitted
that the blacks of the South are not only regardless
he rights OF property but so utterly ignorant of pub
nc alalfs That their voting consist in nothing more
than carrying ballot to the place where thew are
directed to deposit it. Inced not remind YOU that the
exercise OF the elective franchise is the highest arib
ute OF an American CITIZEN and that when guided BY
virtue, intelligence, patriotism, and proper apprecia
ton of free institutions it constitutes the true
basis of Democratic form Of governments in which
the sovereign power is lodged in the BODY of the pco
pie trust arthcialiy created not for its own sake
but solely as means of promoting the general vel
fare, Its influence for good necessarily depend
upon the elevated character and the true allegiance OF
the eect0r 1t ought therefore, to be reposed in none
except those who fitted morally and mentally to ad
minister we'll for if conferred upon persons who do not
justly estimate its value, and who Indifferent to
its result, it will only the of placing
power III the hands OF unprincped and ambitious
and must eventuate in the complete destruction of the
liberty of which it should be the most powerful con-
scrvator. have, therefore, heretofore urged upon
your attention the great danger to be apprehended
from an untimey extension of the elective franchise
to any new class III our country, especially when a
large majority of that class, in welding the power
thus placed in their hands, cannot be expected
y to comprehend the duties and responsibilities which
pertain to the right of suffrage Yesterday, it were,
four millions Of persons were held in condition of
slavery that had existed for generations; to-day they
are free men and are assumed by law to be citizens 1t
cannot be presumed from their previous condition of
servitude, that, class they well informed
to the nature of our Government the intelligent
foreigner who makes our land his home from choice
In the Of the latter neither residence of five
years and knowledge of institutions which it
civ n tIa prjDr rD1p nf Cons
tuition, the only conditions upon which he be
admitted to citizenship. He must prove in addition
good moral character and thus give reasonable ground
for belief that he will be faithful the obligations
which he assumes as citizen of the Republic When
people, the source of all political power speak by
their suffrage through the inatrumentalty of the ballot
box it must be carefully guarded against the control
ofthoSe who are corrupt in principle and are enemies
of free institutions for it only become to
political and social system safe conductor of healthy
popular sentiment, when kept free from demoralsing
Influences. Controlled through fraud aud usu patton
by the designing anarchy and despotism must inevitably
follow. In the hands OF the patriotic and worthy,
Government will be preserved upon the princ Piles Of
the Constitution inherited from our fathers 1t fol
lows, therefore, that in admitting to the baot-box
class of voters not qualified for the exercise Of
the elective franchise weaken our system Of gov
ernment instead Of adding to its strength and durab
ty. yield to in attachment TO that rule OF
general suffrage which distinguishes policy
natOn but there Is limit wisely observed ntheFO
which makes the ballot privilege and trust, and
which requires OF some classes time suitable for pro-
baton and preparation. To give it ndiscrimiuatey
class wholly unpreparcd by previous habits and
opportunities to perform the trust which it demands
is to degrade it, and finally to destroy its power tor
it may be safely assumed that political truth is
better established than that such ndiscrimnate and
a-embracng extension of popular suffrage must end
at last in its overthrow and destruction. repeat the
expression of my willingness to join in any plan within
the scope of our constitutional authority, which prom
ses to better the condition of the negroes in the
South by encouraging them in industry, enlighening
their minds improving their morals and giving pro-
lection to all their ust ri ghts as freedmen; but
transfer of political inheritance to them would, IN
my opinion be abandonment OF duty which we
alike to the memory of oar 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 pecu
lary unpropitious. The foundations of society have
been broken up by civil Industry must be rer0
ganised justice rcGstabshcd, public credit maintained
and order brought out OF confusion 10 accomplish
these ends would require all the wisdom and virtue OF
the great men who formed institutions riginally
confidently believe that their descendants Will be
equal the arduous task before them but 1t Is worse
than madness to expect that negroes Will perform 1t
for u.s. Cerain ought not to ask their assistance
until we despair of our competency. The great ul-
ference between the two races in PHYSICAL mental and
moral characteristics will prevent an gatnatlon or
fusion of them together in one homogeneous mass Ii
the inferior obtains the asccndency over the SUPERIOR
it will govern with reference only to its own interest,"
for it will recognise no common interest and create
such tyranny as this continent has never yet wit
messed Already the negroes Influenced by pro:i-
| iscs of confscaon and plumber They are taught t'
regard as an enemy every white man who has any res
pect for the rights of his own race. 1t this continues
it must become worse and worse, until all orher VIII
be sbverted all industry cease, and the fertile fields
| nf tba So,1th, will
dangers which nation has yet encountered, none
are equal to those which must result from the success
of the effort now making to Atrcanise halt OF our
country.
would not put considerations of money IN conpe-
tton with stice and right but the expenses lncdcnt
to Reconstruction" under the system adopted by Con-
press aggravate what regard as the intrinsic wrong
of the measure itself 1t has cost uncOunted mlons
already and if persisted in, will add largely to the
weight of taxation, already too oppressive 10 pc oorhe
without lust complaint, and may finally reduce the
Treasury of the nation to condition of bankruptcy
We must not deude ourselves. 1t will require strong
standing army and probably more than Two hundred
millions of dollars per annum to MAINTAIN the suPrema-
CIV of the negro after they are estapsheo
The sums thus thrown away would, if properly used,
form sinking fund large enough to pay the whole ma
tona debt in less than fifteen years 1t is vain to nope
tibet negroes will maintain their ascendency themselves
Without military power they are wholly incapable OF
holding in subsection the white people OF the South
submit to the Judgment of Congress whether public
credit may not be ujnriously affected by system OF
measures like this. With debt and vast private IN
erests which are complicated with it, we cannot be too
cautious of a policy which might by possibility impair
the confidence of The world in our Government Ihat
confidence can only be retained by carefully lneulca-
ting the principles of justice and honor on the popular
mind and by the most scrupulous fidelity to all our en-
gagements of every sort Any serious breach OF or
ganic law persisted in for considerable time cannot
but create fears for the stability of our institutions
Habual violation of prescribed rules which we bind
ourselves to observe must demoraSe the people: Our
only standard of civil duty being set at naught the
sheet-anchor of political morality lost public con
fdence swings its iron moorngs and yields TO every
mpulse of passion and interest. If we rePudafe the
CONSTITUTIONS we will be expected to care much Tor
mere pecuniary obligations. The violation OF such a
pedre as we made on the 22d July, 1861 will assured
fy diminish the market value of our other promises
Beside we now acknowledge that the national DEBT
was created not hold States in the Union as tax
ers were led to suppose, but to expel them from IT, ana
hand them over to be governed by negroes moral duty
to nav if NAV seem much less clear say 1t may seem
so for do not admit that this or any other argument
in favor of repudation can be entertained as SOUND, ou
ifs influence on some classes Of minds may well be ap
nreheuded Tle financial honor of great commercial
naIion largely indebted and with republican form o
government administered by the agents OF popular
ehoce is thing of such delicate texture, and destruc
ton ofit would be followed by such unspeakabe caam
t that every true patriot must desire to avoLd "hae'
er might expose it to the slightest danger Inc Srea
interests of the country require immediate re'e1 lfo
these enactmeuts Business IN the South IS paFayset