The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1867-08-30

the American people to strike cf' the
fetters from every slave in the I'D
and summon them to the defense of
the nations lite. The Government
did do it. Abraham Lincoln pro-
claimed liberty throughout all your
borders. These men, emancipated
from their thraldom, rushed to tue
defense OF your Tag. and your armies
bore witness that lT5, 600 OF the black
population, made free by the procla-
nation OF liberty, were in the army
OF the republic. Wien you consider
that the majority of the black popu-
lation were the slaves of rebels, and
within their territory, unable to sig
nifty to the United States Govern
ment their willingness TO serve it,
the fact that as large proportion of
the black population as of the free
whites rushed to the defense of your
flag, speaks well for their patriotism.
In reference to this, what said Gen.
Sherman? "The hand that lays down
the musket must be permitted to take
up the ballot" That was the sol
dier's opinion, the patriots opinion
But these Democrats are whining
through the. streets. ''You propose to
enfranchise the nigger aud disfran-
chise the white man" That is the
point where the difficulty is. i think
the black patriot is as much entitled
to vote as JEFF. Davis, who is waiting
across the border, or any of hls fol
lowers. The issue is upon US One
third of the whole population of the
South. are black freemen. They are
friends of the Union; and if they are
to be permitted to remain free, they
must be permitted to exercise the
rights of freenen. Those States
must have republican government,
where the minority rule over the ma
jority of the natural born citizens OF
the Slater | want some Democrat to
cypher that out In South Carolina
the black population exceed in num-
Der the white population; and what
sort If a republican government will
that he, If tho white minority, who
are traitors, should rule the majority
who are loyal menY 1t is just as well
now we are at it, to establish Justice
Everywhere in our land. And we say
that all who have upheld the power
OF our arms, or contributed by taxa
tion to its support in peace, ought
to be permitted to exercise the only
remaining duty of citizenship, the
privilege of voting at the polls j
think it is the pure Democracy OF the
century in which welive.
WHAT DOES The CONSTITUTION SAY /?
These gentlemen say they are for
the constitution, the great Constitu
ton mich our fathers gave us. Let
them read in the forefront of that in
strument, those words tha. should be
written this day upou the lintels of
every door in the land: 1--WE, the peo-
pie OF the United States, in order to
establish justice, do ordain this Con
stitution,' etc am for the constitu
tion, too; and equel political rights
amongst all natural born citizens
in every station of life, is simple jns-
tice. Therefore | am for it, and in
standing for it / but initiate the great
majority of the people, who, in 1857, |
formed ,hc constitution of the Gov
ernment, and handed it down to us
as a nation. lam for it; and because
in the long run justice is your surest
defense. | am for doing justice to |
every man in the land, be he white or
be he black. Do justice to the weak |
rs well as the strong; and thereby
rely upon it, yoC will insure the per
manence OF American institutions,
until that great day comes when
the heavens and the earth shall be !
no more.