Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-09-08
Negro Suffrage.


The following extract is from speech de-
livered by the Hon. Daniel w. Voorhees,, at
Terre Haute, Ind, on the 9Th ult:-
If, then, Radicalism is defeated in its at
tempts so often made, to force negro suffrage
on the people of the North, at their own
homes, yet it compels the Northern man to
swear that he will support it forever, and
never attempt to abolish it, before he can live
as citizen in any one of the reconstructed
States. Last year, the Radical leaders made
negro suffrage issue in Ohio, and were
beaten fifty thousand yet citizen of Ohio
cannot be a citizen of Alabama unless he
takes an oath to change his principles
Again. the attempt was made to establish ne
gro suffrage last fall in Kansas. 1t was de-
feated by eight thousand. Yet a citizen of
Kansas cannot move into the neighboring
State of Arkansas. and carry with him the
right to vote or hold Office, unless. in the
most solemn manner, he first repudiates the
public will of his present home. But few
months ago Michigan drove negro suffrage
from her borders by forty thousand majority;
yet, in order to be clothed with citizenship
in ten other States, her people are called upon
to reverse this powerful record. Thus bar
rier is raised against emigration from the
North to the fertile fields of the South. The
doors are open only to such rs are willing to
affiliate with the negro and to swear that they
will never attempt to disturb his absolute
equality with the white race. Are you who
are living in the descending waters of the
Mississippi Falley-thOse channels which ma
ture made for your communication, trade,
and social Intercourse with the South-are
you willing to be halted on the borders of
Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama,
or Louisiana, by negro sentinel, and made
to swear allegiance to the policy of negro
suffrage? You would ropudiate it by hun
dred thousand majority in Indiana; yet in
one third Of the boundaries Of the Republic
no one of you can be citizen who does not
embrace it, and seal his degradation by an
oath-an oath reaching to all the future, aud
excluding i'll advance every reason which
might dictate change hereafter. The whole
South is thus to be Africanzed, her civiliEa-
ton destroyed, her fields Of cotton, sugar,
rice, corn and tobacco made barren and un-
productive her capacity to assist you in pay
ing the taxes Of the country stricken down,
aud all her fruitful lands and mighty rivers
denied to you and your posterity. L am no
foe to the black man. 1 would make the
Government blessing, and not q curse to
him. In the work of his own hands he
should eat his bread and [ would protect him
in the fruits of his industry. Nor would l
tax him, save for the education of his chill,
dren. But from all participation in the af-
fairs of the Government would e exclude him
in ell the States, as you do here in Indiana.
The examples of the Almi yhty the teachings
of all history, and the deep philosophy of
human nature, all denouncc the commingling
of separate and distinct races. 1t is an un-
imaginable curse to both. Prosperity never
blessed land that attempted it. Every age
and every cline in the annals of the human
race proclaim this great fact. am, there
fore, for the supremacy of the white race,
and the rule and Government of the white
man. He alone, Of all the tribes and kim
dreds that have peopled the earth since the
stars first held high jubilee in the sky to-
gether, has shown himself capable of self,
government. Into his hands, and his alone,
would commit the mighty mission and the
lofty destiny Of my country. Aud sooner or
later to this doctrine will we all come, with
one mind and with one heart, regardless OF
party ties or party names. Then will our
country rise from her distractions and calam
tiles, and present her bright forehead with
out spot or wrinkle to the gaze of the nations.