Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-08-11
POLITICAL.
Speech of Hon. S. S. Cox in Brooklyn.


meeting held in the Academy of Music,
Brooklyn, New York, Thursday, the 23rd,
the Hon. S. S. Cox was one of the speakers.
He began by referring to the "peace" which
Gen Grant demands, and which has not como.
He then discussed at length the reconstruc-
tiou acts and the question of Finance
Referring to the Constitution of the Southern
States, he remarked:
propose for moment to sift these devices
of Radicalism.
To give one comprehensive statement
Over 100000 ignorant negroes, mostly led
by itiuerants, without name at the North, and
seeking the qualification of their greed South,
the bummerS OF the Radical army, and the
stipeudiaries of Congress and its cedman's
Bureau, are all at once made voters! They
furnish Legislators for the whole country.
The constitution of Alabama is negro con-
sttutiou to the extent Of 81 :2S1 negro maj jor-
ity. In Georgia, Florida, the CaroIinas,
Texas and Virginia, where the whites had
some 20. 900 more registered voters than the
blacks, nevertheless, owing to the chronic
discomfort, the vote showed a negro majority
Of 2J1.496! These constitutions we're made
to order in Washington. They are all cut
from one pattern. 1t is not matter of
interest to the South alone; but to the North
also. Twenty Senators, over fifty Representa-
tives, and seventy electoral votes for Presi-
dent, will WELD in the Federal counsels, the
power of ten States. They hold the balance
of power In the Seuate, Florida nullifes
New York. If the elections are at all equi-
poised as in JS56-G0,-thesc black votes
will rule We are then black republic
1t is a terrible peril. These 100000 black
may vote down our credit; tax at pleasure;
vote to themselves our public lands and
repudate all will. Ifyour children go South
to live, they have to go under irrevocable
laws, enacling that such suffrage shall forever
be continued. The voter South must swear
that he accepts the civil and political equality
Of all men. Where are the voters in New
York, Ohio Minnesota. Wisconsin, Michigan,
Indiana and Illinois, who have refused thus
to vote? Disiranchise Nearly two millions
of Democratic voters in the North are thus
aliens from the South. Thus the union of
equal States becomes sham and @ shame
That | do not overstate the facts, read the
constitutions of Alabama, Arkansas, Missis-
sippi, Virginia and Louisiana. You will find
that every voter must swear that he recognizes
and accepts the civil and political equality of
black aud white. Even though the voter
may believe Omnipotence has made distinc>
tions which should be observed between the
races, he is ostracised as voter till he pierces
the veil Of Omnisccnce, and by some trans
endental intuition from his own superior
divinity swears that the gross, lazy, unpro-
gressive, and ignorant worshippcr of devil
Fetish on Alabama plantation is his equal,
civil and political! | should not wonder if
considerable swearing were the result Of such
policy.
Next comes the Omnibus bill for six others
North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana
Alabama, Geol gia, and Florida. Virginia,
Mississippi, and Texas may follow, though
see that to-day it is proposed to put them to
the sword yet awhile. The play is then to
end in some giddy Black Crook spectacle
These constitutions are the product OF negro
incubation, aided and added by the warmth
of Northern vagrants, who, cuckOo-like, have
set upon eggs not their own. Here and there
are delegates from Canada and Jamaica
unnaturaIized !. Think of it gentlemen from
the Difey and Rhine. Mixed with this
mosac are unparGoned culprits from South
and North Here black sounded from
Sing Sing; there horse thief from the
pententiary Of Ohio Here a razor bearing
barber, innocent Of all but 'athet; and there
razorcuttng assassin, gully Of all the crimes
in the calendar. These prepare sovereign
States Tor the family OF Washington ! They
are manufacturing Radical representations
Listen to their senseless jaigon aud audacious
mali9nity. Is it some mummery OF dim
traditions, caught from their African forests
No; these are the peers OF Randolph, Pink
ney, Madison. Roger Sherman, and Hamilton.
They are making organic laws for millions of
intelligent people! Take Photographic
colored photograph of Southern convention.
a few whites sit there in simple courage and
sadness. They can do no good. Conspicuous
only for their mOdesty and intelligence they
sitaloof from this extravaganza. n Hunncutt
comes forth ring master. Partl>colored
clowns appear. The reconstruction tan bark
is raked overland here we are, Mr. Merryman.
The black horse Equality, is trotten out, and
then begins the eternal round of loyal talk.
But do these caricatures of men make con-
stitutions? No; no. Ohio has the rod over
Louisiana! Kansas has her lash on the back
of Arkansas Wisconsin cares for Florida
New York and New gland have their busy
bodies all through aud behold these con-
stitutions arise, not like the walls of the
ancient city, to Orphean music, but to the
banjo of negro minstrelsy!
NEGRO SUFFRAGE NORTH AND SOUTH.
That this expression is not too severe, read
the second resolve of the Republican plat
form-"Equal suffrage to the loyal men of
the South but in the North, leave it to the
States r' All They have left it to the North
and the people have responded, laundering
for white civilization; but at the South, it is
only loyal to be black in face or heart, there.
fore, let the bayonet and Bureau fix suffrage
Yes, in the North, where their power is
tottering, the Radicals recognize States and
leave suffrage to them. They condescend to
recognize New York and Ohio as sovereign
over suffrage but in the South, even after
they become States, black suffrage is to be a
fundamental and Interchangeable. an irrevocable
! Il IL u Il