Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-12-09

Tho federal government has freed the
negroes of tho South. It now ives them
protection IN their freedom and there is only
one way that it can give them this protcc-
ton, and that il by giving them the ballot
and prssecting them in the exercise of the
suffrage. The ballot must be given them by
a constitutional amendment the protection
will follow by the strong arm of the govern
ment if needed. Hopeful philanthropists,
men who believed there was some virtue and
honesty in what has been for years the domi-
cant race in the slave States, made them
selves believe that the Southern States would
settle this question of suffrage fairly and
justly for the colored race and they wished
the federal government to leave it to the
States. Experience has proved how de-
lusive was this expectation. In Georgia,
soon after the legislature assembled, every
colored man was expelled from that body
and this happened as much through h
cowardice Of the so-called white Republicans
Of that body, as through the bitter prejudice
of the Democrats against the blacks. 1t will
Be but a step from this to the disfranehisc-
ment Of the colored men. Such a Course is
foreshadowed, not only by this action OF the
legislature, but by such articles as tho fol-
lowing from a prominent Macon, (Ga.) pa
per, published Just before the presidential
election in that State
ave tell you that YOU have the game in
your own hands 50 far as Georgia is con-
cerned. You can make the anti-radical YER
diet here, almost what you please. The
greater and more emphatic it is, the better
you have done your duty, and the greater
viii be your reward. Let Grant 20 into The
White House. That evil can be endured, if
you declare against him here at home, by
an overwhelming majority. His arm will be
long and strong, but it can't hurt you much
with 20, 900 majority for Seymour and Blair.
That voice viii reach even to Washington.
1t will speak like that of Kentucky. Il will
warn your enemies that here, st least, they
cannot riot, rob, and ruin unchecked. 1t
will be the signal for an exodus Of all the
vile creatures who have spawned, and
crawled, and polluted Georgia soil. They
will depart even more quickly than they
came. They viii speedily discover that this
climate is as unhealthy for them as that Of
Kentucky. The lords of the soil-tte natur-
al owners Of Georgia-will gather Up the
reins Of government again. and the reign Of
usurpers and spoilers viii come 20 an end.
We will again have a government of our
own, and one to be proud of, strong in the
hearts of the people, and equal to every de-
mand upon its strength.
Georgians. TO the rescue This is the
guerdon that offers itself 10 zeal, faith, and
work. A richer one never fired the hearts,
or steadied the nerves of the wise, the brave,
and the true SAY GEORGIA. For such n
contamination who will doubt, who dares to
daily? Let the cry ring out loud and clear
from every hilltop and along every valley.
Iio, every freeman to the rescue
The .~'Georgians" came "to the rescue, -
: the lords of the soil, the natural owners of
Georgia. according to this Macon sheet,
took possession of the ballot boxes, and by
intimidation, threats, and force, made the
election a mere farce. The black men of
that State, as in Louisiana, were substantial
ly DISTINGUISHED and these lords of the
soil" thus demonstrated that nothing short
Of q constitutional amendment. backed by
q national authority that is respected BY
these recent rebels. can secure suffrage, or
make freedom anything but a mockery to the
black men of the Southern States.