Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-06-11
WHERE IS-OUR1 REMEDY?

and Its utter UlSregaTu OF the rights OF
others, is about placing IL the hands of an
inferior race an instrument with which they
may reud asunder the very fabric of govern
mcnt, and destroy the last vestige and only
remaining hope Of rcpubiicanism, in the true
and legitimate Interpretation of that blessing.
Not that the negro, who is about to be en-
franchised, desires to DO evil or because his
instincts are wrong, but because his condition
of ignorance units him for the judicious ex-
eTcise of the right whose confermeut is con-
templatcd, and leaves him prey to the de-
ceptions and wickcdness of men without prin-
eiple and without patriotism How many Of
the thousands of negroes who ara to lie en-
trusted with the ballot, have an intelligent
idea Of the duties which their new relation
imposes, and how many arc prepared to enter
upon those duties with n just comprehension
Of ir-weight and maguitads? If the pro-
sramme laid down is carried out, and which
seems, inevitable, what arc the prospects for
the future of this government, OF which its
friends boast that it is the frccst and best the
world ever saw ? All but is it not too free
Does not its freedom sink into RIGHTEOUSNESS,
aud is it not with rapidity that is alarming
in the hands of its present rulers, crumbling
to decay? And then, as to its freedom, is
not that too sectional and partial in its bcne-
its? Is it not at the present hour, by delu>
sivc catch-Words and unmcaniug professions,
developing the worst passions Of men on one
side of the line and arraying them against
their lellow-meH on the other, and bounding
them to the Perpetration Of acts which would
have crushed the fathers of the republic with
agony could they have foresecn, or even inn
agined, such result. And what has led US
to this precipice, over whose verge radicalism
is about TO hurl US Every man who has
5een an attentive observer Of the workings of
the political machinery of this government,
has an instant answer Coz this last question.
The right of franchise has gone too far, and
the liberties and happiness of all have bccn
impcrillcd if not overthrown,a as a consequence.
\ government, such as ours was designed to
be, must rest upon the intelligence of those
wio select the rulers of the country, and the
iacorrupGbility of the rulers selected. The
flent under which they live the latter should
ave in addition: the virtue Of patriotism so
fully developed as to adhere to the right with
answering fidelity" uuawed by power I'M
Influenced by gain" Suffrage in the hands
of the ignorant, is the ayenging sword, with
its edges whetted, scvering, dividing, dis
tr1oting and destroying; in the hands of the
intelligent it is the bond of saiety-the ark
frsighted with the hopes, the desires, the lib
cries Of all-the rich and the poor, the learn
c l and the unlcarned, the bond and the free
Power in the hands OF the unprincipled is used
in behalf Of oppression entrusted to the keep
ing Of those whose virtue enables them to rise
above self, it IS welded for the benefit of all,
Of whatever condition. The scales of justice
a'c evenly balanced, and % blessings of gov
CT lment, ike the dews of heaven, fall alike
up N the rich and the poor
Our present distrcsscs arc the result of ig-
n rance in the electors, uniting them for
the selection of men upon whom to confer
poyer and making them the easy dupcs of
those whose most exalted idea of government
Is, that it is specially intended for plundercrs
a1l thieves. And as these distrcsscs have
resulted from ignorance, if We had wisdom
a I'D honesty in power, we would curtaii rather
than extend suffrage. We hope We are net
misunderstood here We of course have no
reference to that unPrinciPled and outrageous
restriction of suffrage which prevails in our
Immediate midst, but We speak of Limitation
which has become necessity, if cvertLc
pillars of this government are to rest upon
st<ble foundation. This limitation we cannot
now stop to define, but We may say that there
should be on the part of the voter sufficient
degree Of intelligence TO ensure just appre-
cation of the benefits of government, an I'M
derstanding Of the institutions under which
he lives, and desire for the perpetuation of
liberty. How much of intelligence is neces.
sary to meet shess requirements? \ vast
deal, but not more than is within reach of
every man who arrives at minority, if he or
his friends see fit to use the means at their
disposal Poverty should be no bar to sui,
frage, but ignorance should, and then if a man
neglects the cultivation of the gifts which
God has bestowed, upon himself rests tn,
blame and not upon others
The party in power. placed there through
Ignorance, wishes and means to retain its hold
through the same agency. and it is likely to
d. it, unless there is spontaneous and in
d'gnant uprising Of the Intelligence Of tie
country. The indications of this uprising
LIS leaders think they see in what it suits them
t. term the "leyal" States, and their Gu,
pil.tY looks 70 another fold E,r sr,,-rnr. IT.,