Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1868-09-30
The Rcpublican Pidfj'orin.

The second plank in the Republican
Platform. and the one which relates to
suffrage in the then unrcconstructcd
States, is one with which the Democrats
find great fault; it reads rs follows:
The guarantee by Congress Of cqual
suffrage to all loyal men in the South
was demanded 10y every consideration
of public safety, OF gratitude and of jas
tice, and must be maintained while tn
question of suffrage in all the loyal
States properly belongs to the people o.
those States"
Gen. Carl Schurz, proposed rs an
amendment and in addition TO it, the
following resolution, which was adopt
ed:
We highly commend the spirit 0
maynanimity and forgiveness with
which the men who have served the re-
belliOn and who are now frankly and
honestly cooperating with lis iii restor-
ing the peace Of the country, and in re-
constructing the Southern State Gov
ernmelts upon the basis of impartil Il
justice and equal rights are received
back into the communion of the loyal
peOplc, an that we are in favor Of the
lie nov,u of the dislual .tications and re-
strictions imposed upon the late rebels
in the same me ,sure as the spirit OF
dsloyalty dies out, and as may be con-
sistent with the safety of the loyal peo-
pie"
Against this re 3olution, which lcla.es
alone to loyalty in the South and tie
only resolution in the pla form which re-
lates to the matter nj all. and in which
the Negro is not mentioned any more
than ony other nan, comes the whole
opposition OF the Democracy, and they
set up Il clamor against Niger Suffrage,
Niger Supremacy, etc. 1t simply
presents the question of loyalty, and
this i, the question which our oppon-
ents do not wish should be presented.
They attempt to draw attention from
the main issue, and drown every
thing in their cries OF Niger.
This resolution sustains Congress in
its method of RECONSTRUCTED }, and woI AID
seem to every fair minded man to be
no more than what simple justice
requires at oar hands. Ifupon tn pre-.
sentation of these questions ,he inference
is tObe drlwl that Ne groesa'c inclu lo |
we presume the inference is correct, a
no man should be excluded upon que
tons of color alono. This resolution is in
perfecs harmony with the Declaration OF
Independence which says that "oH men
are created elualh and the resolution in
substance further adds, that equal suf-
frage should be guaranteed to all loyal
men where the Federal Constitution is
operative, and Congress can impose re-
strictions. If men of darker hue have
not been, ana are not now loyal to their
Country, then they are not included
within the provisions of the resolution
any more than other rebels the line is
drawn on account of deeds and behavi-
or. Ifmen have been disloyal and yet
carry that spirit of hostility to The Gov
ernment to the mIrd srin2 of loyal citi-
zens in cold blood, tbs is their msfor-
tune.
In Vermont if n Il man violates the
laws of the State and becomes incarccr-
ated in the States Prison, he has forfeit
ed his privilege of The Elective franchise
which can only be restored to him by an
act of the Legislature of the State. A
pardon by the Governor may relive him
from his confinement but does not re-
store the full privileges of a freeman.
Have not Southern rebels who have vol.
UNFAIRLY borne arms against the country,