The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-08-06

HentS III INC OOutn, placing lOyal
men at the head Of affairs, or rebels
back in their old places again, after
they had forfeited their rights by
treason to the Government. Congress
had reconstructed seven of the States
upon a loyal basis, giving the loyal
men the privilege to select their
own rulers and make the laws to gov
ern them. But it was urged that ig-
norant negroes had been allowed
the right of suffrage. To the mind of
the speaker it was clear that as an intel
ligent institution slavery had not been
a great success, and consequently it
was not to be expected that the ne
grocs would be very intelligent: how
ever, he had never yet learned that
an intelligence qualification was de-
manded of a white man before he was
taken into the Democratic party. Ifthe
Democratic party had been placed in
slavery for two hundred years, no
great amount of intelligence could
or would have been expected of them.
1t was still urged hat the negroes
were stupid. 1t at the commencement
of the war they had been given the
right to vote, it twas not at all likely they
would have been so stupid as to have
voted for secession, and a continuance
of slavery. But all this cry about
negro suffrage on the part of Demo-
Gratis amounted to nothing. If negroes
voted the Democratic ticket, all that
odium was lost, and even the scent was
forgotten. 1t was said that there was
a negro in the New York Convention.
He ceased to be the despised negro
there. He was Mr., and perhaps
Honorable, if he voted that ticket,
but with all the stupidity of that race,
they were not stupid enough to vote
the Democratic ticket.
He argued that the negroes had
been Of service during the war to the
Government, and now if they could
offset a few Copperhead votes in the
North. they could still be of service
to the Government.
Democrats argued that if negroes
voted in the South, it would result in
negro equality in that section. 1t by
voting they could become the equals
of Democrats, then in Gods name
give them that right; but that reason
ing was not good, for men who were
not, according to Democratic doe
trine. capable of casting a vote intel
lightly, could not become the equals
of the white man.
Men had come to the speaker and
seriously asked, Would you give
your daughter in marriage TO a me-
gro?" He had answered them as
seriously, No. But there were plenty
of white men to whom he would not
give his daughter in marriage. 1t did
not follow that because he would not
give his daughter TO any and all white
men, hat they should be excluded
from the polls. There were plenty of
Senators and Governors of States to
whom he would not give a daughter
in marie &c, but it did not follow that
because he did not choose to make al
men his sons-in-law, that they should
be excluded from the privilege of vo-
ting.
In the United States there are
100000 white people, and 1000, 000
blacks. Hendricks had represented
that in the South the negroes were
not only the equals, but that they had
the supremacy over the whites. What
an alarming proposition, that4. 000, 00O
blacks should gain the supremacy
over the white race Of $4,000, 900. A
great leader was badly wanted to lead
the $4,000, 900 whites against the
10000 600 blacks, to prevent them
from becoming the superiors Of the
white race, and at last that man had
been found In Frank p. Blair.
Democrats had complained of the
military rule in the South. 1t was
but an engine to govern the people
until they had recognized their State
Governments; and in every ease Re
publicans had proven this true. by
turning over to the civil officers the
affairs Of the Government as soon as
they were Ieorgauized and placed in
the hands of loyal men.
Frank p. Blair had said that, as
soon as a Democratic President was
elected, he was ready to shoulder his
musket and march down South to
~overturn these reconstructed Govern
ments.
At the close of the war, the speaker
had travelled through the South, and
he found that all were meek and
willing to submit; that they were
willing to accept any terms, SO
Life was spared, but it was not SO
now. What had caused this changes
Why were rebels defiant? 1t was
because Democrats in the North had
given them hope.
We want peace. With Gen. Grant
at the head of the nation we will
have peace. Rebels in the South
know that when he says Un-
conditional surrender" that he
means it, and with him we will have
peace. The balance of the speech
of this distinguished gentleman and
great %reasoner, we cannot, owing 10
the lateness Of the hour and its length
give q synopsis of. His remarks, in
The main dnrinr the lattar mart ware