The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1867-03-15
NUMBER IL.


Governor BrOwnIOw on Negro Suffrage.
The negroes il Tennessee having been
enfranchised, they are now called fpon to
vote for Governor Brownlow on the ground
that he has been their Moses We pro-
pose to show that Gov Brownlow, in re-
commenting the giving the ballot to the
negro, has been actuated by no respect for
him OF his rights, but simply to perpetuate
the lease-hold he now has upon the State
government. In his message to the Legis-
lature Of October, 1865, he said
Il am free to admit that, for the present,
We have done enough for the negro, and,
although negro voting cannot suit my natu-
raj prejudices of caste, there is class of
them I would Be willilsg 70 see vote atoace.
A large class, ignorant. doeile. easily led
hg gsdssiguing men, aBd not safely trusted
With political power I ana nos nilling to-
see It TIE bailot.boA IS even these.
have been faithful among the faithless, if
rebels are to be restored 10 tho right of the
elective franchise, would say let US no
longer deny the politica! rights to the
slaves.
x And being satisfied that the imme-
diate and indiscriminate extension Of the
franchise to the negroes will not prove as
beneficial as many suppose, l cannot re-
commend the measure for your adoption
think it would be bad policy, as we'll as
wrong in principle, to open the ballot-box
to the uniformed and exceedingly stupid
slaves of the Southern cotton, rice, and su-
gar fields. If allowed to- vote, the ggreat
majority Of them could be influenced by
leading Secessionists to vote against the
/ government as they would be largely un-
/ der the influence Of this class of men for
| years to come, having to reside on and cul-
/ tivate their lands. When the people of
I Tennessee become satisfied that the negro
is worthy Of suffrage they viii extend, and
not before.
am free to confess that if it
| becomes necessary to enfranchise the
blacks, in order to keep the control of the
oountry out of the hands Of the rebels and
| traitors, l am for the measure 4 A
long and intimate acquaintance with affairs
IN the South has convinced me that the
/ white aud colored people caunot live to-
/ getheF, politically or socially, as equals.
and therefore all our Legislation should
look Q peaeeable separation Of the two
Traces oa Southern soil-the blacks in their
pafate coalition @ ENJOY full political
/ rights-d you please the right Of suffrage
and representation. In this way [ would
/ seile the most difficult question that has
/ grown out Of a terrible war Of four years
duration. Lsis certainly right aud exPe-
dient for the-Legislature of Tennessee to
! say To what extent yhe State shall be over
run by the emancipated slaves Of other
States.
would say, guard against ex-
~cessiye Legislation upon this subject, but
by all means see that Tennessee is not bur
dened with any but her own slaves. am
myself the advocate Of aPpropriatiug sep
arate and suitable amount Of territory with
in such degrees Of latitude as are adapted
to their nature, and there settling them as
a nation of freedmen"
1t will be seen from these extracts that
the Governor announces distinctly that he
would favor the enfranchising of the negro
only as means Of preventing power from
passing out of the hands of his party. As
long as he felt satisfied that the Radical
party was secure in power, and his re-elec-
tion not endangered, he was opposed to
ccnferring the right Of suffrage upon what
he declared to be "a large class, ignorant,
docile, easily led by designing men, and
not safely trusted with political power
The negro ought to be smart enough 10
see that be is to be used simply as tool
by the Radicals to secure their continuance
in power. So apparent is this fact, that
with a majority IN both houses Of the Leg
isature, they refused to confer upon him
the righ. to hold Office or sit on juries.-
Union and Dispatch.