Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-02-01
A PLEA ron THE WHITE MAN

sion in the Senate OF the United States
Mr.. DoOlittle, of Wisconsin, offered the
following preamble and resolution:
That the Committee on the Judiciary be
instructed, in any bill which may be re-
ported by them having reference to the
question of reconstruction" 80 called, in
any of the States not represented in the
present Congress, to insert the following
proviso:
Provided nevertheless, That, upon an
election for the ratification Of any constitu-
ton, or of officers under the same, pre-,
Vious to its adoption in any State, no per-
son, not having the qualifications of an
elector under the constitution and laws of
such State previous to the late rebellion,
shall be allowed to vote unless he shall
possess one of the following qualifications,
namely:
|. He shall have served as a soldier in
the Federal army for one year or more;
?. Heshall have sufficient education to
read the constitution of the United States
and 10 subscribe his name 10 an oath to supe
port the same; or,
3. H shall be seized in his own right, or
in the right of his wife, of freehold of
the value of $3.50.
In advocacy of this proposition as re-
strictives and in general opposition to
he Congressional Radical policy, Mr..
Doolittle delivered very able argument.
While we are not prepared to indorse the
policy of Mr.. Doolittle's resolution-for
it comedies the great principle involved
viz: that Congress has the power to
prescribe the qualification of voters in
the States, nevertheless there is so much
Of broad, liberal craftsmanship expressed
by him, that we cannot withhold the
tribute of gratitude due to one who has
plead so nobly for the rights of the white
race We cannot give the speech entire,
but append the following extracts:
Mr.. PRESIDENT: The question present
ed in the amendment offered BY me is,
whether Congress is still resolved to sub,
ject the white people of the Southern States
10 the domination of the negro race at the
point of the bayonet, or whether Congress,
in Difference TO the recently expressed will
of the American people, will now 80 far
modify their policy as to leave the govern
ments in these States in the hands Of the
white race, and of the more civilized por-
ton of the blacks2 That il the naked
question. Strip it of all useless verbiage
and speeious arguments about sustaining
loyal men and furnishing Rebels, it is
nothing more nor less than this: Shall the
General of the army put the negro in power
over the white race in all the States of the
South, and keep him there? That purpose
is boldly svowed by some, and that will be
the effect of this Radical reconstruction
now as it stands, or as it will stand if the
idea of the Senator from Indiana shall pre-
vail. On the other hand, the amendment
which / offer, if adopted, would leave the
governments in those States where they
belong, and where they ought always to
remain-in the hands of our own race
while at the same time it would allow the
right of suffrage to all those negroes who
have any claim to it by reason of intelli-
gence or patriotic services, or estate subject
TO taxation.
a
At present, what do we behold? Now
that war is over, now that every
Rebel has laid down his arms, now that
the people of the South have unanimously
agreed 10 abolish slavery forever, to obey
the constitution, and discharge every duty
az citizens of the United States, the Radi-
calls of the North have morally begun a
lew rebellion against the Union and the
constitution for raising anew the old cry
ofthe Radicals of the South, they now de-
clare that the States of the South are out
side the constitution, and that Congress,
acting outside the constitution, has un-
limited power oyer them as over conquered
territories In their blind zeal for the adj
vsncement of the negro they propose to
overthrow the constitution in order TO
practically subject the white race to the
domination of the negro.
As men who claim 10 be the friends of
liberty, we have no right to do that.
As Christians, who claim TO have learned
something of forgiveness from the teach |
ings of our Savior, We have no right to do
that
IA members of that great Caucasian
race, which has given the world its civil |
iZation, we have no right TO do that.
As statesmen, who desire TO restore the |
blessings of peace, we have no right 10 do |
that which would inevitably make 8,000,- |
600 of our race and kindred in our land |
eternal enemies of the government
As statesmen who with ordinary sagacity, |
should look to the future and TO possible |
wars with foreign powers, We ought to
make haste TO restore sentiments Of afiec- |
ton and patriotism in all that vast region, |
larger and richer by far in natural resoIr-
ces than England, France and Prussia, all |
combined.
And / ask, Mr.. President, with all the /
parnestness of which the soul is capable, |
can any human being conceive of a mea-
sure no well calculated to make the whole Il
white people of the South--men, women
and children,-hate and loathe our govern
hate it With perfect hatred, 10 |
gather around the family altar upon their |
Bonded knees 10 curse it. and in the agony /
Of prayer to call upon God TO curse it-as
this Radical reconstruction which seeks TO
the heart and brain of the /
South, and to subject, st the point of the
bayonet, the white race to the dominion of /
heir late halfcivilized African slaves
Instead of peace, 1t gives them a sword |
instead of hope it fills them with despair; |
instead Of civil liberty it gives them mili-
fary despotism. White disfranchisement
and negro domination was the idea which
inspired and provoked the riot at New Or
leans 1t has arrayed everywhere the
blacks and whites in hostility to each other,
often resulting in bloodshed, all over the
South. 1t tends directly to bring on that
var of races which in the West Indies
enacted scenes Of horror to sicken and APP
pal the world.
That war is now impending over all the
is only the presence of the Fed
.rsl army which prevents lite outbreak
Upon gigantic scale--a war which, once
Begun, will end, fear, in the exile or ex-
ermination of the blacks from the Poto-
nae TO the Rio Grande. l know the Sen
tor from Ohio Mr.. Wade, in speech
q the late canvass, had no fears of such q
var or of its results. He is reported to
ave said, LET that war come; let them
lght II out" God grant that it may never
omeI But, il it does come, no amount OF
military discipline can compel the white
nen of the North TO take part in the mas
soFe,of sheir own race and kindred.