Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-01-10
From the n. Y Evening Telegram
Ex-senator EIingman. of North Carolina
on the Political Situation
WAsHINGTON, Jan. 4, lS60.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4, lSOO.
Ex-senator Clingman Of North Carroll
IA, has prepared letter addressed to the
gentlemen connected with the management
of the great democratic banquet on the an
niversary OF the battle OF New Orleans, de-
Ginning with regret, owing to a press of bu-
siness, the invitation extended to him re-
guessing his attendance. He says there
are passages III the letter of invitation pain
fully interesting to every patriotic mind rs
contrasting the present with the past Of
1916. He contends that distinction must
be drawn between the questions settled by
the war and those now left for decision.---
The result of the war determined that the
negroes should all be free, bnt it has not
decided they are capable Of becoming the
political and social equals of the whites
The fact of their inequality has been re-
Gently decided in the most emphatic man
ner. A great, progressive, dominant party,
flushed with recent successes, sought to
advance the negro to equality with the
Caucasian race. The force Of party power
is we'll understood n this country. 1t Of
ten induces its members to sustain meas
ures their Judgment disapproves, to vote
for men they despise and to cover up frauds
and crimes of which any of their number
may be guilty, and yet this immense pres
sure, stimulated by the idea that granting
suffrage to the negro was necessary to the
success OF the party, failed to bring up the
members to its support Ill even single
State where a contest was recently fought
on tie question.
The great point before the country. then,
is-Which race shall give way to the other
in the United States The white race
came here from q love of liberty and es-
tablished their own social and political sys-
TO IA uht i,
out their own consent, and have merely to
expect and require upon principles of JUS
tice that those who brought them should
not leave them in a worse condition than
they were found. The people OF the United
States are not under any obligation to cri p
pie themselves as nation and destroy for
all useful purposes the most valuable sec
ton of the national domain. Is the rich
valley of the Lower Mississippi, which JET
ferson acquired and Jackson-defended, to
be turned into second Hayti? When all
other civilized nations of the earth are
doing their utmost to rise IN the scale of
prosperity, Intelligence and morality, this
mighty republic is devoting its best powers,
earnestly and vigorously, to degrade large
portion OF its territory to the condition of
Congo and Guinea. 1t is said, however,
that suffrage is not generally conferred on
the negro, and their rights of property and
person will not be protected Widows and
minors often have suits in court. but was it
ever suggested that they could not obtain
justice because half the Jurors We're not
women or boys In conclusion, he hoped, |
If negro suffrage was inevitable, it ought to !,
be made a property OF intelligence qualiti-
cation, and no objection would then be
made to negroes taking part in controlling
the destiny of the country.