The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1867-12-12


acter and true allegiance of the eleetOr;
it ought, therefore, to be 'reposed in
none except those who are fitted, morally
and mentally, to administer it well, Tor if
conferred upon persons who do not just
ly estimate its value, and who are indif-
ferent as to its results, it will only serve
as means OF placing power. in the hands
of the ambitious and unprincipled, and
must eventually end in the complete de-
struction of that liberty of which it
should be the most powerful conservator.
L have therefore, heretofore, urged upon
your attension that the great danger TO
be appreheuded from an uutimely ex.
tention 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 thoir
hands, cannot be expected correctly to
comprehend the duties aud responsibill-
ties which pertain to suffrage. Yester.
day, as it were, four millions OF persons
were held ia "a condition Of slavery that
had existed for generations. To-day
they are freemen, and are assumed by
law to be citizeus. 1t cannot be pre-"
sumed from their previous condition of
servitude that as a class they arc
as we'll informed as to the nature of our
government as the intelligent foreigner
who makes our land the home Of his
choice ... ..-.. ...'...H..r "a.
In the case Of the latter, ncithers
residence of fyeyesrs nor the knowledge
of our institutions which 1t gives, nor
attachment to the principles OF the Con.
stitution are the only conditions upon
which he can be admitted to citizenship.
He must prove, in addition, good mo,
raj character, and thus give reasonable
ground for the belief that he will be
faithful to the obligations which he as
sumes as a citizen Of the Republic.
Where people, the source Of all polit-
ical power, speak by the sutlrages thr'o
the instrumentalty of the ballot. box, 1t
must be caret ully guarded against the
control of those who are corrupt in prin-
ciple and enemies of free Institutions,
for it can only become to our political
and social system safe conductor of
healthy popular sentiment when kept
free from demoralizing influences. Con.
trolled thr'o fraud and usurpation by the
designing, anarchy and despotism must
inevitably follow. In the hands Of the
: patriotic and worthy our government
will be preserved upon the principles of
: the Constitution inherited from our faith
ers. .....- ar
: 1t follows, therefore, that in admit
ting to the ballot-box a new class OF 'vo.
7 ters, not qualified FOR the exercise Of
the elective franchise, we weaken our
t system of government instead Of adding
: strength and durability.
). l yield to no one in attach nent to
: that rule Of general suffrage which dis
tinguishes our policy as nation. But
d ther is limit, wisely observed hither-
d to, which makes the ballot privilege
r and suitable for probation and prepara-
I. ton. To giveit indiscriminately to q
e new class, wholly unprepared by previ'
r our habits and opportunities to.perform
e the trust which it demands, is to degrade
it it, and finally destroy its power, for it
II may be safely assumed that DO political
n truth is better established than that such
e indiscriminate and all.embra ciug exten-
sion of popular suffrage must end at
is lass in its overthrow and destruction.
j. repeat the expression of my will.
n ingness to join IL any plan within the
e scope of our constitutional authority
.e which promises to better the condition
IF of the negroes in the South, by encour-
IS aging them in Industry, enlghtenin ng
lie their minds, improving their morals and
v giving protection to all their just rights
lr as freedmen. But the transfer of ouI
y political inheritance to them, would, in
lie my opinion, be an abandonment ofa du
1t ty which we owe alike to the mem ory o
our fathers and the rights of our child
W ren. ....
in The plan of putting the Southern
is States wholly, and the General Govern
to ment partially, into the hands negroes
e. is proposed at time peculiarly unpro
of pitious. The foundations of society
,e have been broken up by civil war. In
" dustry mnst be reorganized, justice re
i. established, public credit maintained
C, and order brought out of confusion. II
a. accomplish these ends would require al
ty the wisdom and virtue of the great mel
of who formed our institutions originally
Mt l confidently believe that their descen
in dants will be equal to the arduous tasl
v. before them; but it is worse than madnes
e. to expect that negroes will perform i
l. for us. Certainly we ought not TO asl
their assistance nntil we despair of ou
n. own competency.
on The great difference between the tw
lst races in physical, mental and mora