Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1868-09-23

!, That is not all, fellow citizens. The
Republican party did more. The Re
publican party provided beyond ques-
ton that slavery should never be re-
established. With that, our control
J and interference with these Southern
States ended. .
THE QUESTION OF SUPREMACY.
Now, 1 confess, that / have listened
to Democratic speakers. They say
that we have established the suprema-
cy of the black race over the white
men of the South. There is just this
much truth in that. / am content to
be responsible for my share of it. We
said that the loyal negro shall vote
and the rebel white man shall not
Surely no admission can be more
frank than that, and when say that
the loyal negro should vote and the
rebel white man should not, we did
exactly right. / could not repent for
that if 1 knew that my friend John
Eden would beat me 10000 votes,
although / now expect to beat him
about that many or more. Much ap-
plause. 1 can't repent of that for
it was right.
That was the course of the Republi-
can party there, but in addition to
that, as a part of our reconstruction
| policy, we determined that no part of
the rebel debt should be paid we de-
| termined that nothing should be paid
/ for slaves; we determined that the
national debt Should be paid we de-
termined also that, although the
negroes had a right 10 vote under the
provisional organization of these State
governments, that the question of suf-
frage in the Southern States, here
after, after they adopt constitutions,
will be like it is in the Northern
States, entirely under the control of
the people of the States themselves
You reeollect that the Chicago Con-
ventiOn declared that suffrage is under
the control of the States. These States
in the South were then in an excep-
| tional condition. Some of them are
yet. They were under provisional
government. 1t was the duty of Con-
gress to provide a system of govern
ment for them. When they form
| their governments, adopt their consti-
tutions, and these constitutions are
approved by the National Congress,
they will have the same control over
the question of suffrage that every
other State in the Union has. But
the Republican party, by their eonsti-
tutional amendment, provided that if
they shall disfranchise any portion of
their people, then the people disfran-
chised shall not be counted for repre-
sentatiOn.
THE OLD DAPPORTIONAIENT.
Now, you are aware that the Demo-
cratic idea would be this-that under
1,s 4 I,4r,
slaves counted as three white men,
You are aware that by the abolition of
slavery these five black men count
just as much in the apportiOnment of
representation as any five of you. The
policy claimed by those that passed
the Constitutional Amendment is that
State which would contain, say 400,-
600 whites, shall have four representa-
tives, and 400, 900 blacks, that count
just like the whites do in the appor-
tiOnment, shall entitle that State to
four more, and the Democrats want
that but 'one-half of the people shall
elect them.
OUR DOCTRINE
Is that if these States think proper to
disfranchiSe any portion of their pop
ulatiOn they shall part with the politi-
cal power which that population would
give them if they were allowed to
vote. That is the whole solution of
our theory of reconstruction. And so
in regard to negro suffrage in Illinois.
That is a question of State concern,
and when the time comes, if it shall
ever come, to agitate that question in
the State (the number of blacks is so
small that there is not much prospect
- u
trOversy; but if it shall come, / eX-
pect to see both parties divided on it.
My organ, the Chicago Times, know,
has been very strong advocate of ne
gro suffrage, and | know a great |
many Democrats that are, and a great |
many Democrats that are not, as | |
know many Republicans that are, and |
many Republicans that are not. One |
of the most distinguished and most |
venerable men that belongs TO the Re |
publican party informed me to-day |
that he thought the time had not yet |
come when the suffrage should be eX-
tended to all. 1t is, however, a ques-
ton of State concern, in regard to
which neither party is committed,
and in regard to which both parties
are in measure divided.
We go Il step further. We have
adopted the State Governments, and
they will be, in fact, before the election
in the Union.
LET US HAVE PEACE.
The Republican party says let us
have peace. Let these experiments
go on. If the people of the South
prefer a change, let them make it. If
the people of the South find the plan
of reconstruction not adapted to their
it is in their power to
change it; but we impose this penalty
upon them, that they shall not count
their black population against US for
purposes unless they
allow them to vote.
The Democratic party says, let the
President declaer all that is done to
be unconstitutional, and let the army
be employed 10 disperse these govern
ments, and that constitutes the vital
issue between the parties to-day.
OF REBEL AsCEN-
DENCY.
Let us see how many Democrats are
willing to trust the safety of this coun-
try in the hands of the exclusive
rebels of the late conflict. Suppose
the question was to give it up to the
rebels altogether, / mean as a mere
question of safety? Is there Demo-
,rat here who would say, / am willing /
that the rebel officers and rebel soldiers ,
should control this government in the ,
future? You would all say no. How,
then, does it do any good to combine !
this Democratic party with it when ,
The Democratic leaders seemed to do
exactly what the rebels dictated d? i
Wade Hampton says they did this
The Democrats say, 1--WE will do it."
Let us carry the election, and what
is it whether you give up all ,
he power of the government to the i
rebels alone, or give it to the rebels !
and Democrats? Both agree to carry
)ut the plans and purposes of the !
rebels, and what is the difference
What will be the consequence of this?
The consequence will be that political :
IDEAS held by the rebels will become :
he ruling ideas of this country, and !
-he rebels themselves will be in power :
in this country. Is there any reason
10 doubt that if Seymour is elected,
Wade Hampton may be sent as Sena-
or, or perhaps as Minister to some I
foreign country to represent the honor ;
IF this nation abroad? What would i
hinder Forrest, or any one of this
kind, from being members of the ma =
ional Congress, Senator or House of ]
Representatives What would hinder }
hem from doing it? Nothing. You
simply give up the control of the Gov
to rebels. Are you prepared !