Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1867-12-07

their rights oil person anu properly
were practicable at this time 10 give them
government exclusively their own, IN
der which they might manage their o"n
affairs in their own way, il would become
a grave question whether we ought TO DO
go, or. whether common humanity would
moi REQUIRE US 10 save them from Them
selves. But under The circumstances,th this
is only speculative point. Ii is not pro-
posed merely that they shall govern them
selves, but that they shall rule the white
race, make and administer State laws
cleo, Presidents and members oil Con-
gress, and shape 10 greater or less ex-
ten, the future destiny OF the whole coun-
try. Would such trust and power be
safe in such lands The peculiar quail
lies which should characterize any Peo-
ple who are f 10 decide upon the man.
apemeni Of public affairs for great State
have seldom been combined. 1t is the
oory of white men 10 know that they
have had these qualities in sufficient
measure TO build npon this continent a
great political fabric and TO preserve It's
stability for more than ninety years,Whlle
in every other part Of the world all slnil-
ar experiments have failed, But if any
thing can be proved by known lacts' 1t all
reasoning upon evidence is not abandoned
il must be acknowledged that in The prog
ress Of nations negroes have shown less
capacity for government than any other
race of people. No independent govern
ment Of any form has ever been success
ful in their hands. On the contrary,wher-
ever they have been left 10 their own de-
vices they have shown constant lenden'
cy 10 relapse into barbarism. In the
Southern States, however, Congress has
undertaken 10 confer upon them the priv
ilege of The ballot. Just released from
slavery, it may be doubted whether, as
class, they know more than their ances-
tors how TO organize aud regulate civil
society. Indeed, it is admitted that The
blacks Of the South are no, only regard
less of The rights Of property, but so Ut
lerly ignorant of public affairs, that their
voting can consist Of nothing more than
carrying palloI 10 the place where they
are directed TO deposit il. need moi re-
mind 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 lnsilIu-
TONS il constitutes the true basis OF
democratic form of government, in which
the sovereign power is lodged III the body
of the people trust arlfcislly created,
not for its own sake but solely as a means
OF promoting The general welfare. It's IN
fiuence for good must necessarily depend
upon the elevated character and true ale.
glance of the elector II ought, therefore,
10 be reposed in none except those who
are fitted morally and mentally 10 admin.
lister i! well for, if conferred upon per-
sons who do no, Justly estimate It's value,
and are Indifferent as 10 lis results, il will
only serve as means Of placing power
in The hands of the unprinciPed and ambi-
tious, and must eventuale in the complete
destruction OF that liberty of which il
should be the most powerful conservaior.
| have, therefore, heretofore urged upon
your attention the great danger 10 be ar
pretended from an unlimely extension 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 TO comprehend the
duties and responsibilities which pertain
10 suffrage. Yesterday, as it were, four
millions Of persons were held in condi-
ton OF slavery. that had existed for gene.
ralions. To-day they are freemen, and
are assumed by law 10 be citizens. 1t
cannot br presumed, from their previous
cond;ion Of serylude, that, as a class,
they are as well informed as 10 the nature
Of our Government as the intelligent Tor
eigner who makes our land the home Of
his choice. In The case Of the latter,
neither residence OF FIVE years, and The
knowledge of our institutions which il
gives, nor attachment TO the principles OF
the Constitution, are the only conditions
upon which he can be admitted TO clll.
zenship. lie must prove, in addition,
good moral character, and thus give rea.
sonable ground for The belief that he will
be faithful 10 the obligations which he as
sumes az a citizen of The Republic where
people, the source Of all political power,
speak, by their suiIrsges, through the bal
lot box. 1t must be carefully guarded
against the control Of those who are cor
rup, in principle and enemies Of Tree insii-
iutions, for it can only become 10 our po.
litical and social system safe conductor
Of healthy popular sentiment when kept
free from demoralizing influences, con-
trolIed through fraud and usurPation, by
the designing. Anarchy and despo'ism
must inevitably follow. 10 the hands of
the patriotic and worthy our Government
will be preserved upon the principles Of
the Constitution inherited from our faith
ers. 1t follows, therefore, that in admit
ting 10 The bsloi.box new class OF voters
not qualified for The exercise Of the cleo
tive franchise we weaken our system Of
government instead of adding TO lis
vielI IN