Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-02-26
SENATOR CRAGIN-
NEGRO SUPREMACY ~ THE souur-THE BUGREAR
MISUNDERSTANDING PROPORTION OF WHITE
AND COLORED PEOPLE.

NEGRO SUPREMACY ~ THE sOurit-THE nUGBEAR
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. PROPORTION OF WHITE
AND COLoRED PEOPLE.
The President in his annual message charges
Congress with having passed the reconstruction
acts for the purpose OF establishing negro suprc-
macy in ten States ard the whole Democratic
party are now Ginning 10 to the same tune. A
charge more groundless or more destitute Of truth
was never made. In passing those laws, we had
no thought OF NEGRO supremacy or negro dom
nation and have not now any thought or wish
of that kind We thought only OF loyal suprema-
cy in those States. The people had endured reb-
ell supremacy long enough, and had heard enough
OF rebel cruelty and murder of white and black
men because they had loyal hearts. Finding that
the spirit of rebellion was rife and fierce in these
Johnson-recOnstruced States as when they were in
actual rebellion, and that they would not regard
the rights OF Union men, but that in every way
they despitefully used them and tramplcd them I'M
der foot in naughty arrogance, Congress deter
mined to raise up loyal element which, joined
with the white Unionists should reconstruct those
States in the interests of LOYALTY and true democ-
racy. Every Senator in this chamber knew then,
and knows now, il the questions Of Union or dis
union, slavery or freedom, were left to the white
vote alone in those States and they could safely
act, that the Union would be dissolved and slay-
cry again restored.
The ballot was given 20 the black man, first be-
cause ne was cliLtn ana "A freeman aud as mel
dent to and an inhering right of citizenship; but
specially that he might have weapon for sof-pro-
lection, and with which TO insure The adoption OF
loyal Democratic State governments. 1t was Civ
en- for his own protection and the protection of
those principles of union founded " in the Just con-
sent OF the governed which the Declaration OF
Independence declares TO be the original source
OF all government
We gave him no other protection than this and
less we could not do for how could we legisate
for the superstrueture OF government before we
had land It's foundation upon the A" just consent OF
the governed We must either submit TO rebel
supremacy or adopt this policy TO insure loyal
supremacy Congress chose the latter course,
and every days experience is verifying the wis
dom OF this policy. But what sir, are the facts in
relation TO NEGRO supremacy in the South In
only two States, South Carolina and Mississippi,
does the colored population constitute o majority
Of the people. The registration of voters under the
reconstruction acts shows a majority of white yot-
crs in five Of the disorganized States, namely.
Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Arkansas and
Texas, and in the five other States the colored
voters are majority. This, except in South Car
DINA and Mississippi results from the fact that
many OF the white men refused or neglected TO reg
lsier themselves as voters. is Congress TO blame
Tor thls' II O man sleeps upon his rights shall he
complain il he loses themY II all the white men
entitled 20 vote under The acts OF Congress had
registered the cllored men would have had ma-
Jorty only in the two States before named.
The following official figures show the number
OF each class registered in each State and the
votes cast for and against conventions: