The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-04-05

hNtu az HuN uiOuttnNf ibA ~ hh' OphoNNh-
ion docs not protect all, it pro tccts none. ~. r
NEGRO SUFFRAGE ,
Z is maniesty and avowedly the object OF {
his law to confer upon negroes the priyi- /
cgc OF voting, and to disiranchisc such
lumber of white citizens as will give the
ormer a clear majority at all elections in
he Southern states. This, TO the minds OF
tome persons, is so important that violation
II the Constitution is justified ms means OF
bringing 1t about. The morality Is always
false which excuses a wrong because 1t pro-
poses TO accomplish a desirable end. We
are not permitted to do evil that good may
come. But in this case the end itself is evil
as we'll as the means. The subjuga
tion of States to negro domination would be
worse than the military despotism under
which they are now suffering 1t was be-
leved beforehand that the people would en-
dure any amount OF military oppression for
any length Of time rather than degrade
themselves by subsection to the negro race
Therefore they have been left without
choice. Negro suffrage was established by
act Of Congress end the military officers were
commanded to superlntcnd the process OF
clothing the negro rae, with the political
privileges torn from white men The blacks
III buJ Dbuki hit thAitteu ~ bt Ntii htiN Aih-
namely governed and to have the protection
Of just laws for all their rights ot person
and property. Ii it were practicable at this |
time TO give them government exclusively |
their own, uoder which they might manage /
their own affairs in their own way, it would |
become grave question whether we ought |
to do 50 or whether common humanity would
not require us to save them from themselves
But under the circumstances this il only
a speculative point. 1t Is not proposed mere
ly that they shall govern themselves, but
that they shall rule the white race, make
and administer State laws elect Presidents
and members of Congress, and shape to a
greater or less extent the future destiny OF
the whole country Would such trust and
power be safe in such hands The peculiar
qualities which should characterize any peo-
pie who are fit to decide upon the manage
nent OF public affairs for a great State have
seldom been combined 1t is the glory Of
white men to know that they have had these
/ qualities in sufficient measure to build upon
/ this continent great political fabric, and to
/ preserve Its stability for more than ninety
/ years, while in every other part Of the world
all similar experiments haye failed.
NEGRO tNCAPACITY AND IGNORANCE.
If anything can be proved by known facts, if
! all reasoning upon evidence is not abandon
1 ed, it must be acknowledged that IN the pro.
gress Of nations negroes have shown less ca
pacity for government than any other race Of
people. No independent government of any
form has ever been successful in their hands.
On the contrary, wherever they have been
left to their own devices thpy have shown a
constant tendency to relapse into barbarlsm.
Z l.. "a
gress has under taken to confer up
on them the privilege Of the ball1t.-
just released from slavery, il may be doubt
ed whether as a class they know more than
their ancestors how to organize and regulate
civil society. Indeed, it is admitted that the
blacks of the South are not only regardless
Of the rights Of property, but so utterly *
norant Of public affairs, that their voting
can consist in nothing more than carrying
a ballot to the place where they are directed
TO deposit 1t. | need not remind you that
the exercise OF the elective franchise is the
highest attribute Of an American citizen,
and that when guided by virtue, intelligence,
patriotism and proper appreciation OF our
free institutions, it constitutes the true basis
Of a democratic form Of government in
which the sovereign power ls lodged in the
body of thei people. A trust artihcially
created, not for its own sake. but solely as a
means of promoting the general welfare. ITS
influence for good must necessarily depend
upon the elevated character and the allegi-
ance Of the elect0r 1t ought therefore 10
be reposed in none except those who arc fit
ted, morally and mentally, to administer il
well, for if conferred upon persons who do
not Justly estimate ITS value, and who are
Indifferent as to it's results, 1t will only serve
as a means of placing power in the hands OF
the unprincipled and ambitious, and must
eyentuate in the complete destruction of tina
liberty of which it should be the most pow
erful c0nseryator, | have, therefore, before
{ urged upon your attention the great danger
10 be apprehended from an untimely exten-
sion 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 in their hands, cannot be
} expected correctly % comprehend the du-
ties and responsibilities which pertain tc
suffrage. Yesterday, as it were, four mil
lions OF people were held in condition oil
+ slavery that had existed for generations
to-day they are ireemen, and are assumed by
! law to be citizens. II cannot be presumed
from their previous condition of seryitude
that, as a class, they are as well-informed al
to the nature OF our Government as the in
= tolligent foreigner who makes our land tn,
G home Of his choice In the case Of the lat
e ter. neither a residence OF five years, and the
8 knowledge Of our Institutions which it gives
nor attachment to the principles OF the
Constitution, are the only conditions upor
Q which he can be admitted 70 citizenship
Z lie must prove, IN addition. % good mora
character, and ,hus give reasonable grounC
for the belief that be will be faithful to Tux
obligations which he assumes as a citizen o
the Republic, Where a people, the source
OF all political power, speak by their suit
! irages Though the fundamentally of th,
7 ballOt-box, it must be carefully guarded
: against the control Of those who are corrupt
in principles and enemies of free institutions
= for it can only become TO our political and
z soral system a safe conductor of healthy
popular sentiment when kept free from de
{ mJralizlng influences. Controlled through
= fraud and usurpation by the designing, anar
chy and despotism must inevitably follow
In the shands of the patriotic and worthy
our Government will be preserved upon th'
principles OF the Constitution inherited from
our fathers. IL follows therefore that in ad
hitting to the balot-box a new class OF yo-
tiers not qualified for the exercise Of the eloc
z tive franchise we weaken our system IF GOV
erRment instead Of adding TO its strength
and durability. yield to no one in attach
ment to that rule Of general sufrag which
distinguishes our policy as a nation, but
there Is a limit, wisely observed hitherto
which makes the ballot privilege and q
trust, and which requires of some classes a
time suitable for probation and preparation
To give it indiscriminately to new clasi
wholly unprepared by previous habits and
opportunities to perform the trust which il
Z. IL. Il Ena IL. ~ d.