Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-09-30
Negro suftragc..Yiews of Mr. voorhees,.


The following is an extract Of speech de-
Gvsred by Hon. Daniel w. Voorhees, at Terre
Haute, Ind, on the 9Th ult:
While Radicalsm rs defeated in its at
temps so often made, to force negro suffrage
on tue people Of the North, at their own
homes, yet it compels the Northern man to
swear that he will support it forever, aid rev.
er attempt to abolish it, before he can live as
a citizen in any one Of the reconstructed
States. Last year the Radical leaders made
negro suffrage an issue in Ohio, and were
beaten $4,000; yet citizen Of Ohio canno,
be citizen Of Alabama unless he takes an
oath to change his principles. Again, the
attempt was made to establish negro suffrage,
last fall, in Kansas. 1t was defeated by 5000.
Yet citizen of Kansas cannot move into the
neighboring State of Arkansas, and carry
with him the right to vote or hold office. un-
less, in the most. solemn manner, he first re.
pudiates the public will of his present home.
BIt a few nuonths ago Michigan drove negro
suffrage from her borders by 10000 majority;
yet in order to. be clothed with citizenship la
ten other States, her people are called upon
to reverse this powerful record. Thus a bar
rier is raised against. emigration from the
North to tho fertile fields of the South. The
doors are open on ly TO such as are willing to
affiliate with the negro, and swear that they
will never attempt to disturb his absolute
equality with the white race. Are you who
are living in the descending waters of the
Mississippi Valley those channels which na-
ture made for your communication, trade aud
social intercourse with the South-are you
willing to be halted on the borders of Ten
nessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama or
Louisiana. -by.a negro sentinel and made to
swear allegiance to the policy Of negro suf
frage2 You would repudate it by hundred
thousand majority in Indiana; yet in one
third of the boundaries nt the Republic no
one Of you can be a citizen who does not
embrace it, and seal his degradation by an
oath-ah oath reaching to all the future, and
excluding in advance every reason which
might dictate chance hereafter. The W hole
South is thus to be Africanized, her civiiza
tion destroyed, her fields Of cotton, sugar,
rice, corn and tobacco made barren and un-
productive; her capacity to assist. you in
Iaying the taxes Of the country stricken
down, and all her fruitful lands and mighty
rivers denied to you and your posterity. L
aln no-foe'to the black man. I.would make
the Government blessing and not a curse to
him. In the work OF bis own hands he should
eat his bread, and would protect him in the
fruits of his industry. Nor would l tax him,
save for the education Of his children. But
from all participation in the affairs OF the Gov.
eminent would exclude him in all the States,
as you do hero in Indiana. The examples Of
the Almighty, the teachings of all history,
and the deep philosophy of human nature all
denounce tile comming'ing of separate and
distinct races. 1t is an unmitigated curse to
both. Prosperity never blessed land that
attempted it. Every age and every cline in
the annals of the human race proclaims this
great fact. I am, therefore, for the suprema.
cy of the white race, ard the rule aud govern
ment of the white man. He alone, Of all the
tribes and kipdreds that have peoped the
earth since the stars first held high jubilee
in the sky together, has shown himself capa.
Bile Of. selfgoyernment. Iuto his hands, aud
his alone, would 1 commit the mighty mis-.
sion and the lofty destiny of my cnuntry.
And sooner or later, to this doctrine We will
all come, with ore mind and with one heart,
regardless of party ties or party names. Then
will our country rise from her distractions
and calamitics, and present her bright fore
head without spot or wrinkle to the gaze of
nations.