Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-12-13

H >
eminent than any other race of people
No independent government Of an,
form has ever been successful in thei
hands. On the contrary, WheTeve
they have been left to their own devi
ces they have shown a constant tendeD
l cy To relapse into barbaFism. In tn
Southern States, however, C0ngrse
has undertaken 20 confer upon then
( the privilege of the ballot Just re
4 leased from slavery, it may be dOubte'
{ whether, as q ciass, they know NOR
than their ancestors, hD9 10 organic
and regulate civil society. Indeed, j
is admitted that the blacbF Of the Soutl
are not only regardless os the rights o
4 property. but 50 utterly ignorant o
/ public affairs, that their EeSing can con
z Sist OF nothing more than carving (
ballot 70 theplace Where TREY are Ql
rected 10 deposit il. ] need not re
mind YOU that the exercise Of the eiec
i tive franchise is the highest attribute
s OF an American citizen, and that, wheT
+ guided by virtue, intelligence, patriot
+ ism, and q proper appreciation OF oui
{ free institutions. il constitutes the true
basis OF a democratic form Of govern
I ment. in which the sovereign power l:
lodged in the body Of the people &
trust artihcially created. not for Its OWL
sake, bat solely as means Of promOt-
/ ing the general welfare. Its influence
I for good must necessarily depend upon
( the elevated character and true allie
glance Of the electOr. 1t ought, there
fore. to be repOsed in none except those
who are fitted morally and mentally
70 administer it well for. if conferred
upon persons who do not justly esti-
mate its value, and are Indifferent as
to its results, il viii only serve as a
sneans Of placing power in the hands OF
the unprincipled and ambitious, and
must eventuate in the complete de-
siructi0u Of that liberty of which il
should be the most powerful c0nSeTya-
tor. i have, therefore, heretofore urged
upon your attention the great danger
10 be apprehended from an untimely
extension Of the elective franchise 10
any new class in our country, eSpec-
Tally when the large majority OF that
class, iu welding the power rhus plac-
ed in their hands, cannot be expected
correctly 20 comprehend the duties and
responsibilities which pertain 20 suf-
frage. Yesterday, as il were, four nlil-
lions of persons were held in a condi-
tion OF slavery. that had existed for
generations. To-day they are freen1en,
and are assumed bN- law TO be citizens
Il cannot be presumed, from their pre-
vi0us condition Of servitude, that, as a
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 ch0ice. In the
case Of the latter. neither residence Of
i've years, and the knowledge Of our in
stituti0ns which il gives, nor attach
ment TO the principles OF the COnstltu-
tiOu. are the only conditions upon
which he can be admitted TO citizen
'iiiF- rT'- --y,-f n-eve, IN assditiop, 3
good moral character, and thus give
reasonable ground for the belief that
he viii be faithful 10 the obligations
which he assumes a. q citizen Of the
Republic. Where q people, the source
OF aN political power, speak, by their
sgfrage>, through the ballot-boX, II
must be carefully guaFied against the
control Of those who are corrupt IN
principle and enemies of free IusutU-
ti0l~. FOR il can only become TO our po-
LueIi and social system a safe couduc-
tor Of healthy popular sentiment when
kept Irae from deIoEaIIZing influences.
Controlled through fraud and usurpa-
ton. by the designing, anarchy and
deSpotism must inevitably follow. In
the hands Of the patriotic aud worthy
olr Government viii be preserved up
0a the principles of the Constitution
inherited from our fathers. Ii follows,
therefore. that ia admitting to the bal
iDt-boE a new class Of voters not quail
fed for the exercise Of the elective fran
chise. we weaken our system Of govern
mCut instead Of adding 60 lis strength
. str 7 r-fe.FE n
attachment 10 that rule Of general -suf-
frage which distinguishes our policy as
q nation. Bat there is alimit, wisely
observed hitherto, which makes the
ballot a privilege and q trust, and
which requires Of some classes time
suitable for probation and preparation.
To give it indiscrimiuaoly 70 q new
class, wholly unpreparei by previous
habits and opportunities 10 perform
. the trust which il demands, Is to de-
grade it and finally - destroy its pow
er, for it may be safely assumed that
no political truth j. better established
than that such iudiscriminate and all
embracing extension Of popular suf-
. frage must end at last ia lis overthrow
and destruction.
+ ] repeat the expression Of my will
( ingness 10 join in any plan within the
scope Of our constitutional authority,
which promises 70 better the condition
0f the negroes in the South by encour-
( aging them in industry, eRiightening
their minds. improving their morals,
and giving protection To all their just
rights AS freslmen: bat the transfer nf
I our political inheritance % them would,
i'm my opinion. be an abandonment Of a
dutv which we owe alike 10 the memo
~ Of our fathers and the rights of our
children. The plan Of putting the
/ Southern States wholly, and the Gen
eral Government partially, into the
hands Of negroes, Is proposed at time
( peculiarly unpropiti0us. The f0unda-
lions OF society have been broken up by
civil war: industry must be recognized;
. Justice re-established; public credit
maintained. and order brought out OF
confusion. To accomplish these ends
would require all the vision and vir-
tue Of the great men who formed oar
Institutions originally. ] confidently
believe that their descendants win De
pguai 10 the arduOus task before them.
. but Ii is worse than madness 10 expect
. that the negroes viii perform it for us.
7 Certainly we ought not 10 ask their AS
Z sf@tauce until we despair Of our own
competency. The great difference be-
tween the two races in physical, men,
. tal and moral characteristics will pre-
Z Yenta an amalgsmatiOa CT fusion Of them
F together in one homogeneous mass.
. Ifthe inferior obtains the ascendaucy
over the other It VIII govern with ref
& eTence only o. lis 0Fu Interests, for %
VIII recognize no common interest, and
create such tyranny - this continent
! I5.s~ never vet witnessed. Alrsalv ths