Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1868-05-18
THE SUFFRAGE QUESTION.

THE SUFFRAGE QUESTION.
II has become quite common for DOM
speakers and writer's to cite II
singularly inconsistent for Congress
to impose negro outrage on the South
while the Northern States do not accept
it themselves These villifers Of Con-
gress know, and any fair and candid 'n-
ouirer may ascertain from the record,
that il was only step by step and rs tue
arrogant obstinacy Of Southern people
compelled, that Congress Incorporated
g suffrage into its reconstruction
policy. A complete reversal, in The
political arena, of the verdict OF the
war, was the only alternative by which
It seemed possible for Congress to re-
construct the Southern States. To con-
sent that all tho Union men Of TINT
section, white rs we'll as black, should
DO prosecuted and tramplsd undor foot
by red-handed rebels, was tho only re-
suit that appeared probable or possible
in recoustructing on M exclusive white
basis. Besides, nm apparent majority
Of the loyal whites Of tho South humbly
begged Conrsess to afford them this
only sufficient protection against the
malignant hatred Of those who would
have hunted them down and bounded
them as during tho palmy days Of the
C~onfoderacy, for their undying devotion
and manifold sufferings for the flag and
cause of Il heir country. Will amy fair
minded ms.n contend that the Govern
ment would have dealt justly or honor
ably if q system of reconstruction had
been adopted which would inevitably
have LEFT its tried, true and ever
faithful friends at the mercy Of their
ruthless and relentless enemies? Will
any one have the h%ardihood, with tho
facts of recent history staring him in
the face, to assert that this result was
avoidablo by any other means than the
introduction of the negro element into
the scheme Of reconstruction?
A continuance Of military rule and
no reconstruction-rebel rule and per-
socution Of tho loyal because Of their
loyalty, or negro suffragO-these were
the questions and considerations which
Congress had to graphic with. The
domineering arrogance Of white rebels,
and tho humble plea Of white loyalists,
alike pointed to negro suffrage MS the
only road to redemption from military
or rebel rule. From this, and only from
this point of view, the Republican party
has endorsed the negro suffrage phase
Of Congressional reconstruction. There
fore, iuasmuch as it was only as II ne
cessity that it was adopted, and onlyas
a necessity that it was endorsed, there
is not the slightest inconsistency, moth
ing OF all singular or unreasonable in
opposing it where it is not a necessity.
The Northern States endorse Congress.
They want to SEQ the Southern States
readmitted into the Union on a loyal
basis, and peace and prosperity restored.
To accomplish this they consent to
negro suffrage in the South. But those
States, even Michigan, with her over
whelming majority for Republicanism
and tho Congressional plan OF recon-
struction, refuses, bya majority Of forty
or fifty thousand, to make any change
in her basis Of suffrage. Whatever may
be the opinions Of individuals rs 20 the
justice or injustice, propricty or impro-
priety of extending the suffrage to the
negroes Of the Northern States, there is
no reason why those who differ on that
point may not consistently sustain Con-
gross in its plan Of Southern reconstruc-
ton.