Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1868-10-30


Negro suffrage is no new thing at the
South. II is u well>known fact that free
negroes voted in all the States at the tine
Of Tie adoption Of the Constitution, with the
exception OF South Carolina, Del ware, and
possibly Georgia l assert here to-day that
free negroes voted for the Constitution m
1883 ia Massachusetts,, New Hampshire,
Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia,
North Oarolina,. ] assert also, that they
voted for General Washington "a frs, Pres.
ident Of the United States in :be same
States. There is reason to believe that they
voted ir all the original thirteen States at
the time Of the adoption Of the declaration
in Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee
as late rs le3o. 1t is an undispai fact
that some of the aLlest men in Congress
we're elected by negro votes. Cave John
son, once Postmaster General, was elected
to Congress f.r The FIRST time from Tennes>
see by the votes Of free negroes, as be him.
self declared. once heard John Bull, when
. member Of the Senate from Tennessee, say
that he was once elected = member Of the
other House Of Congress By froe negro votes.
l have heard it stated thA. Willie p. Iap>
gum, Of North Carolina, Was once elected in
the same way, but of this fact am not sure.
l Virginia free negroes voted side by side
with the white r,an until 1880. could give
much evidence upon this point, but my time
will not allow il. They are all free now.
and for their own protection and the saliva.
ton Of the Union We say they may vote.
We say they mhy vote because they are loval
to their country; because thew are freemen
and native-born citizens.
Rut the Seuator from Wisconrin says thev
are ignorant and halfcirilizez Africans
and but . few generh,ions removed from
''cannibals,', and to allow them 10 vote
would degrade the ballot. Ignorance is no,
the worst disqualification disloyalty and
treason are more dangerous. But who made
snem ignorant! The verv men with whom
the Senator now co>operases. They were
bound in cruel bonds and denied the means
OF education. To accuse them now Is to ada
insult 70 injurr.
They are learning fast. aud the time is
not far distant when they vii compare ia
yorably with, If they do not outs,rip, the
mass Of white people South in point Of in
telligence, and believe they do how in moral
worth
General Swayne, in his report to General
Howard, Commiss oner of the Fre-dmens'
Bureau, says:
A distinguished officer of the third military
district declares that the marvellous pro-
press made by the free people in education
ann knowledge finds no parallel in history.
He a6ds
If continued, and the masses of the white
people exhibit the same lndisposiiion 10 be
educated that they now do. i've wears will
have transferred intelligence and education,
so far as the masses arc concerned, to the
colored people Of the district.
Gen. Howard himself says:
AZ a people they are making rapid pro-
gress in education, in mechanic arts, and all
branches Of industry which conduce to their
comfor, and respectability.
The assistant commissioner for Georgia
says:
Their anxiety to learn is unabated. and
every available means which may aid them
in the pursuit Of knowledge is eagerly re-
sorted to. Laborrs on plantations are
learning from eacn other, while in the cities
parents are being taught BY their children !:
and SO tens of thousands who do not enjoy
the benefits Of regular schooling are being
educated IN elementary branches.
General Robinson, in North Carolina.
SAYS:
Gratifying testimony is offered concerning
the fidelity and general disposition of the
freed people. The assistant commissioner
doubts il there ever was q community sud.
denly transferred from a condition 4 slavery
to one of freedom more industrious, sober.
aud law-abiding than are the colored peo
pie oi North Carolina.
Gen. Scott. in South Carolina. saws:
En'ranchisement birth to q healthful sen>
timent. Laborers are mere ambitious in
the field aud woraahcps, as well as at the
night school.
Pnd vet the Seuatcr from Wisconsin calls
these people "halfcivilized Africans;'. but
1t they keep On they may become civilized.
even in the estimation o. the senator. am
tempted to comeare the language Of General
Jackson addressed to the eolored troops of
New Orleans, with that Of the senator from
Wisconsin. Addressing them after that
glorious battle, be said:
Fsllow-cittizens and soldiers: invited
you to share in The perils and to divide the
glory Of ycur white ccuntryme Iexrected
much from you. for was no, uainiormed Of
those qualities which must render YOU so
formidable to an invading foe. knew tha,
you coulk endure hunger and thirst and ull
the hardships Of war knew that you loved
the land Of your nativity, and that, like our>
selves, you had to defend all that is mes,
dear to mnn; but you sarpass my hopes.
hare found in you, united to those qualities,
that noble enthusiasm which impsls TO great
deeds:
Soldiers: The President cf the United
States shall be informed Of your conduct on
the present occasion, and the voice Of the
representatives Of the African nation shall
applaud your valor, as your General now
praises Jour ardor.
The language sounds little different to
me from that Of the Senator from Wisconsin.
! will not, however. presume 70 say that
General jackson was much of Democrat,
as compared with the Senator. He did yer,
well for those old>fashioned times; but De-
moeracy has made wonderful progress since
his day. Democracy was then . generous
sentiment, embracing all the paople ia one
common brotherhood of justice, humanity.
and equal rights. The Democratic party
long ago odriited away from its cla landm .rxs,
and has nov become the advocate and apol.
ogist for slavery aud aris,ocaacy.
Hon. AARON II. CRAGix.