Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1868-01-31

been forgotten in the task Of erecting gurran-
tees for the future. Content with establishing
barriers against probable danger, busted with
the work Of compacting and soiidifying the
principles revealed by the war, The sword Of
the war has been withheld from lis deserving
sacrifices, and the sacred altar Of justice win
probably not be stained with the blood Of
single victim. To what extent this may have
been questionable lcniency, win not pre-
sumo 10 say. How far the legal and ,radi-
tionary punishment for treason should have
been extended, patriotic men may we'll have
differed il detsrpisiag. That some retribu-
t;on should have been sisiled spsa tie wicked
chiefs, punishment sufficient to have made
'trcason odious," and to have stood as wars-
ing monument Of the danger Of like unhallow-
cd ambition, have no hesitation 10 declare.
Depreciasing the arrogance Of victory, We
have accepted our responsibilities with no
desire to be vihdicative or exacting. The
consciousness that the Southern States were a
part Of our territory, and their inhabitants a
part Of our own people, whose wen being must
contribute 10 me future glory of our. country,
has been the light in Which the work Of re-
construction mas thus far progressed Atthe
same time, We have felt bound to insist that
those States sl,orid 1saeede whatever gnaran-
tees arc essential to tsie future eafe.y of the
Union. We can not permit tie .rnsL estab-
lished BY the war to relapse into : stase Of
donbs, nor the fruitr Of victory 70 be eSaifow-
edup'i 'ina magnanimity which negseets ms
own salvation. We can afford 70 be generous,
but We must not be unjust.
In restoring The Southern people 10 rights
within the Union, let no discrimination Be
made against the black man Fidelity 10 the
Government should be passport 10 The higl
privilege Of suffrage. The pstaic welfare
must not BE Imperfect BY entrustisg i,s eos.
troll TO hands Of doubtful loyalty, m,sca Less "a
hands whose open hostility has oniy been
avoided by their weakness. If any vciee
cones from tie tomb Of The past elk years, Il
prcciaims: Berore n placing doubtful gasrd-
idns over he palladium Of your E5er6es. Secure
tia sefsty " the government rithout doubt Lei
a1ioydl men share h tie heritage which has jecn
,'ureAased With loya, Blood. The caprice of men
fresh from their carnival or treason must no.
be allowed to deprive us Of the cooperation Of
four millions ofpccp.e whose votes and acts
would interpose the most formidable obstacle
10 the designs Of seditious men. To refuse to
stay mp the hands Of the Union men Of the
Scath who resisted secession in its intereep>
tion, and maintained their opposition to it,
through all the trying extremities Of war, by
making the alliance Of the black man availa-
BILE, would be as ungra,eful 10 them as peril
eus to ourselves.
The theory Of our government awards Ia
the individual the largest measure of political
trust consistent with the public safety. II
declares that Governments are instituted
among men, deriving their just powers from
the consent Of the governed" Consistency
therefore, requires that emancipation should
be followed by the righ, Of suffrage, for equal
ity is . cardinal principle Of t.lc American
Constitution.
To the negro himself the ballot is necessi-
ty. Without it freedom will be to him an un-
defended fortress Give him vote and you
at once invest him with . panolpy which his
recent owner will have neither the power nor
wish to assail. The sentiment Of mankind
will approve such policy, and our justice
willbe repaid by the presence of loyal army
Of defenders Of our Constitution in every
Southern State.
Many profess TO see danger from this cx-
tension Of tae elective franchise In these
approximations have no share. Away with
distrust u a people who bravcd the lash and
bloodhound 70 skci&er the soldier Of the Union.
or guide him - The protection Of mis- flag! Let
tlseir igacrance be forgotten in the remem-
brauee sant itnevef bcguiled them into sub
tletles where eesseassa seu. The solemn
responsibilities Of suffrage can be as safely
entrastet 70 the heroes Who charged x Fort
Wasner and Fcrt Hudson as to the cultured
aristoeracy who raned the Gag of rebellion at
the bsAesss ofperscual ambition. An honest
instinct is worthier than q perverted intelli-
gence. Entitled " our gratitude FOR their
unw wsvering attachment 10 the national cause
aud Tor the heroic couragc they Contributed
to It, defense. and chaiiengins our respect for
their jndici0ds uses Of me privifegeu of free
dop, ~ usinvite tten 10 share in tic bless
inss which. they have helped preserve.
Our own State has already taken tie initia-
tory steps toward the abolition Of al distinc-
ton of race and color from the Constitution. n
Let d not Yaii AZ his session 70 advance The
work inaugurased BY our predecessors, Of
giviag % our coiored population de enjoy
meatofshose political privileges which have
hitherto been denied to them. They have dc.
monstrated their ma1hcod in the stern real:-
ties sf~ar, ana IN this enlightened compoa>
wealth. no longer let preregativs Of manhood
be dsnied to man. That Others faAer AMI
cover before the seeming difficulties Of this
measure, should Be no discouragement to Us.
Let us not emulate their ccwardice nor share
in their dishonor. Let The alacrity with which
We ccncede the privilege equal the eadfness
with (which We gave them our nag and sent
them forth to fight oar battles. Let those who
nobly volunteered and gallantly defended the
tiag of the Union-who stood Between the foe
and our heritage Of common country never
have cause to charge Iowa with lack Of cour-