Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1867-12-07


where they are directed 10 deposit it.. l need
not remind you that the exctci-e Of tic elective
franchise is the highest tribute in an American
citizen, and that when guided By virtue, inte Ii
gcncc, patriotism, and tie proper appreciation
Of our free institutions, it Constitutes il tue ba-
sis of the democratic form of government in
which the sovereign pHwcris loigcd i'll the body
of the people, Il truStartiticialy created not for
its Own sake, but solely as mems of promot-
ing general welfare. Its influence for nOnd
mu I &C Sir,ly de. end u ,,on its elevated char
ater and tue allegiance of the eec;or 1t ought,
therefore to be repOs2d in none except those
VINO are fitted, morally and mentally, to atiI.lin-
istcr ii well tor If conferred upon persons who
do not justly estimate IFS Value and who are i'll
different us o its results, ii viii OILY serve as
means OF placing power in The hands of the un-
prin ;iplel and anbi i3us and must eventually
end II The complete obstruction OF that liberty
of which il 81 oIld be the IN, s. powerful cnnser
vator. have, therefore, heretofore urg, upon
your attention the great danger to bc aipre-
h nded from an uIiimely extension Of the elect
I'VE franclI.se 10 my new class in this country,
cSl l'ccialiy when large majority of that ci ,sS,
In well ing the power .hus pIc, in tll ir h nd,
C mot be expected correctly to comprehend the
duties and responsibilities which lerlain to suf-
fragc. Yesterday rs il were, four millions Of
Ier:onS were htlI in ii condition of slavery
are f:eetlen; and are assumed by law 10 be Girl
Zans 1t cannut lie Presumed from their previ-
Gus Condition OF serviiUde that as class they
arc rs well inform ed TO the nature OF our gov
ernmcnt MS an intelligent foreigner WHO makes
Or land the home of his choice. IN the ease
of The latter reithor II sIdrrce of five YEARS.
nor the knowledge of our iEs tutinES which il
gives. nor attachment to the principles of the
Constitution, are the only cunduiOns upon which
L.. l.. I'D
PROV, in addition, good moral character. and
thus give Il reasonable ground for the belief
that lie will be faithful to the obligations which
lie assumes as 2 c!tiZtn of il Republic, where
the people the source of al puli ical power
speak by their suffrage, through the irstruElen
tality of the ballot box 1t must be carefully
guarded against Tie control of those who use
corruption IN principle, and are chcmiCs Of free
institutions, for il can only become to our po-
LIT cal and social syS en- a fe conductor { f
healthy and popular sentiment when kept frte
from The dcmuralzing Influences cJltr, He'd
thr, ugh usurpation bya designing anarchy and
dcsp tIsn mus inevitably follow. in the hands
of The pat ioIic ard worthy our government vii
he prt SIR cd upon The principles of tIie Cons
tnlion inherited ff III oUr Tiers. 1t follows,
Therefore, That in admitting 10 the ballot box
new Class OF vote 3 not qualified for the exur-
else of the elective franchise, We weaken our
syst, IN of government instead # adding to is
strength and durability. | yield to no one in
attachment 10 that rule of general suffrage
which distinguishes our policy as a naiion. kut
h re is limit wisely observed hitherto, which
makes the ballot privilege and trus', and
3" hich requires of some classes time suitable
for probation and preparation. TO give it in
discriminatory 10 new class, wholly imp: epal-
ed by previous habits and opportunities To per-
form the trust which it demands is to degrade
it, and finally TO destroy is power, for it may
ue safely assam; Il that no political trtth i b l.
,er established than that such il discriminate and
all cm. racing extension Of popular suffrage
Aus. end III last il its Cv, rthrcw and tleatruc-
ion. lr,pcat the rXpres sion IF my w:ilin-nc
% join ilr y plan wit Vim ihe scope OF our COZ
s.liulional authority, which promises t, better
the condition of the negroes in the suulh, by
encouraging them 10 Industry, enlighltnm nj
and Improvement in their morals and giving
protection 10 all tlIeg just rights rs fire, DIN H.
out TO transfer our poiIticrl Inheritance io them
wnuld, III my piLl''n, e an alb ndOnment Of u
duty " EiCh We owe like to the memory of oar
lati.cIs and 10 the rights of cur cI ! irtn. The
ian of putting tie Southern ttars wholly, aid
he F,der-l Government pa Lilly, INTO the
hands OF the negroes, is p'op"s d at time Pc
;uliarly UnpTOpiIious. The fun daiiUn of so-
ciety il is been brokcn up by civil war; indus
ry must he rcorgtpized, justice re established,
;ul lie credit muintant d, and ortt r Irnught out
# confusion. To acc OH sh these cnd, would
require Ill the wisdom and virtue Of the greai
ncn who formed oEr institutions originally.
'Onfide!ly believe that their descendants will
DC cquJl to the task before thsm, Ut i is Worst.
han madness to eYprcl ihat the nogrocs Will
perform it for us. Ceitaii,ly we ought not to
,sk tht il ash tance until we despair of oar own
q Dmpetency. The great CIiEcreicc b.tweon the
NO Faces, in physical, mental and moral char
Icteristics; will prevent an anal gamatiOn Or flu
IOn OF item together in one HON, gent Gus mass.
4 .hG inferior obtui; The Gscendaucy yer the
Jter. il vii sGvCIn with reference Oi ly To lis
,wn interests. for it will recognize no common
interest, and icate spcA 4 iyIaEny as this con
incnt has never yet Witnesses. AEe~dy tae
regroes a. : Ltiucnced by promises Ct coltisca-
ion ard plunuer They are tItght to regard
s IN enemy every white man Who mas airy le7
poet for the rights of hls own race. IL this
continues, it must tecome worse q. worse, un
il all order will be subverIe1, all induSn cease
nd the fertile fields of the South grow up INT I
wilderness. OF al dangers Which oar nation !
las yet encountered, nome are equal 10 those |
hlch must result from the success OF the effort |
low making 10 AfricaniZe half of our country |
| would not put th- considerations of money |
n competition with Justice and right, but the |
xpenseS incident 10 IecDnstruc ion under the |
ystem adopted by Congress. aegravate what
egard as the intrinsic wrong of the measure it |
eli |, has cost uncuun,cd mllioIs already, |
nj if persisted il, will add largely to the weight
# taxation already too oppressive TO be iOTne |
Without just complaint, and may finally reduce |
he treasury of the nation to condition of
ankruptcy. We must not delude ourselves. |
t will require q strong standing army, ard pro-
ably moe than twD hun red millions of
ulIars to maintain Tie supremacy Of tie negro
nveinments after they are established. The
nun thus thrown away would, if properly used.
ilm sinking fund large enough TO ray the
hole national debt in less than fifteen years.
| is vain to hope that the ncgrOeswih maintain I
leir usccndancy themselves, without military
over they are wholly incapable OF holding
subjugatiou the white people Of the South
submit to the judgment of Congress whether
le public credit may not be injurously affected
v u system of measures like this With cur
ebt ard vast private interests which are COM
Heated with it we can not be too eau luus of
policy which might by possibility impair
e confidence Of the world in our government.
hat confidence can only be retained by care
lily intoxicating the principles OF justice and
Dnor ON the popular mind, and hy most scru-
llnus fidelity To all our engagements OF every
IT. Any breach of the organic law persisted
for considerable time, cannot but create
ars for tue stability Of our institutions Ha-
tual violation of pIescrilc cd rites which we
nd ourselves to obseIvc, must Gemorallze the
Ople. Our only standard OF civil duty being
t atnaugh', the sheet anchor of our political {
Oral:ty is lost, and public cons citnce swings I
IN its moorings, and yields to every impulse
passion and interest. If we repudlaie The