Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1867-04-11
The Southern Negro Vote.

There are many indications OF alarm on the
Fart of the Radicals, says the W heel,ng heg,s-
tsr. lest the negro vote Of the South may be
divided or cast adversely TO the interests Of
sloyalty" at future elections. The disposition
manifested by the darkies in various localities
10 preserve friendly relations with representa-
tive Southern white men, and TO receive from
them suggestions and advice in political mat
ters. is indicative of new danger to Radical
ism, hitherto unthought Of Some of the Re-
publican newspapers are already abusing the
negroes, aud complaining that if they use their
political power under the counsel OF their for
mer masters, the South, instead of being politi-
cally annihilated under the Sherman plan, as
was intended, will only be strengthened and
consolidated thereby The South, it is said,
has been forced 70 negro enfran nsement, a
very distaSteful and obnoxious step, but by
swallowing the nauseouS dose, she not only en-
titles herself to representation; hut to ::aeledS
representation, since voters are henceforth TO
! be the basis. If Southern men can control the
negro vote, the power of the rebellious States
has only been increased by themeasures adopt
ed to curtail it, and that power may at any
time be directed to the destruction of the inter-
ests of loyalty" throughout the country
Such is the trepidation some Of the Radical
papers are displaying, aud while we think that
their fears are groundless and that 'loyalty"
and Africa will gravitate toward each other and
unite by reason of powerful constitutional Atm
ity, it is nevertheless quite diverting to witness
the alarm Of the negro lovers in view of a sup
posed contrary possibility. Pious and pedan-
tic Massachusetts, is especially exercised She
has an educational suffrage standard, applica-
BILE alike to whites and blacks. Under this
test many of both races are DISTINGUISHED, al
though they have been represented According
TO the Constitutional Amendment this class will
not be counted in fixing her representation I'M
| der a new apportionment; the Bay State will
| lose one or more members in Congress, while
South Carolina, with universal suffrage, will
gain two or three. 1t will be quite consoling
to the victims of Massachusetts, philanthropy
to reflect that she must submit to the same dos
ingS Of political quackery which she has helped
administer to the South, or lose considerable
portion of her weight and influence in the ma
| tional councils.
The following specimens Of newspaper SEN
timeut will serve TO show very marked change
in Radical opinion, fastened, undeniably, by a
fear of inability TO control the negro vote. The
New York Tribune says of its darkey pets
Many of them are mean, scampish loafers,
who choose to live by theiving, selling rum or
pandering to lewdness, rather than by honest
industry some blacks who have been kindly
treated will vote under the influence of their
old masters, and others again, being grossly ig-
norant, will vote under the influence of fear, or
being dependent, will vote SO as to curry favor
with the powerful"
Its Washington correspondent discourses in
a somewhat similar strain:
Information mas reached here from trust
worthy source 10 the effect that thereconstruc-
ton ratification meeting held in Columbia,
South Carolina, the other day, at which Wade
Hampton spoke, turns out to be farce Of the
most disgrdcefm character. ,Nofreedmen were
present Of their oicn accord with the exception
Of Beverly Nash, one of the speakers, with
few Of his followers, who are known to the
colored men generally as " Black Copperhedds."
Nashs speech was repetition of former efforts
in that line. aud made at the dictation Of Ger
tain rebel ickiteS. He receives a salary from
them, and is employed for no other purpose
than to work against the influence of the Radi-
cal Union Leagues, which are in the control of
white UnioniSts and freedmen rhO de1l0uRce
him as a malignant traitor 30 his race. He is
O mulatto, and was q witness in the Bureau in
vestigationS made by General Scott when Gene
raj Ely was removed from the charge of the
Columbia District, at which time he gave testi-
mouy IN direct contradiction TO that OF hun
dredS of other freedmen. Since then he has
been entirely ignored by his colored brethren,
and has found consolation in the bosom Of the
white Rebels"