Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-08-25
RACINE, Wis, Saturday,
August s, 1868.

August 8, 1868.
TO the Editors of the Mila0okee Sentinel
Gents.-My attention has been called to the
following extract from your paper yesterday: :
''Doohttzes Figures -Doolitte made little
speech at Racine the other day, in the course of
which he is reported to have said This Rad
ical party, my friends, have DISTINGUISHED near
ly 100000 Of white men, and placed the ballot
in the hands of s, 100000 Of british blacks =
The principal difficulty with this statement is
that it is not true. .StG4 e
Who your reporter was do not know but
he has imposed a wicked falsehood upon you
and through you upon your readers. The truth
is, made no figures at all, nor any statement
whatever of the number of white men disfran-
chised, or OF blacks to whom suffrage was given,
by act of Congress. In the enclosed extract is
contained what said, and all that l said at
Racine upon the subject of white disfranchise-
ment and negro suffrage forced upon the South
against her will. You will see there is not one
word OF truth IN the statement made III your
report OF my speech. Please to read it careful
ly, and publish it for the consideration OF your
thoughtful readers: M
Every day confirms my opinion of the Wis
dom and justice of the plan Of pacifcation pro-
posed by Mr.. Lincoln and renewed by Mr.
johnson more than two years ago. | have no
more doubt than of my existence that if that
plan and policy had been suffered to be carried
out by Congress the States Of the South would
have been fully reorganized upon the civilized
white basis and their representatives admitted
more than two years ago. There would have
been a more perfect restoration of harmony and
friendly feeling than is now possible for years.
The industry of the South would have been re-
stored, and with its restoration its great markets
would have been re-opened to the manufactures
of the East and to the breadstuffs and provisions
of the West. The exports OF her cotton-bet-
ter than all the mines Of the mountalns-would
have changed in our favor the balance of trade
Our six per cent. bonds would have command
ed premium in gold in any money centre of
the world. Specie payment without shock or
convusion would have resumed itself. Our
financial troubles would have been far easier OF
solution, our taxes less burdensome, and our
credit so fully restored that a four per cent
bond would now command gold at par
Just about one year ago, my friends, | was
at Frank fort-on the Main, in Germany. While
there our bonds bearing six per cent. sold at
seventy three in gold, while the bonds of Brazil,
bearing only four per cent. sold for more than
ninety in gold. This fact, which | stated else
where, can never bring to mind without feel
ing my cheeks burn with shame and mortifca-
ton.
'Why is it? Why is our credit lower than
that of Brazil?
us it because the Radicals in Congress would
have it so-because they would keep the Union
divided and the South parayzed? They would
not allow of any pacifcation which did not dis
franchise the most intelligent whites and force
universal, unqualified suffrage upon the mass
of ignorant and half civilized blacks, and upon
the ground, openly and aypWed, not that they
were fit to vote, but that their votes could be
used by the army and the Freedmen's Bureau
to carry those States for the Radical candidates
in the next Presidential election. :.
After reading this your readers will see what
[ did say, and that made no statement Of any
figures at all upon the subject Of disfranchise-
ment and negro suffrage They may reflect
| also upon the great and irreparable wrong which
has been done in slandering and trampling down
| the plan of qualification proposed by Mr. Lincoln
as early as December, 1863. Respectfully
a j. r. DOoLITTLE.