Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-01-17

go further than this Especially, are tbov
under obligations to cripple themselvea ~
nation, and destroy for all usefnl ~.
poses large section Of as valuable territo,,-
as is contained within the limits of ~
! Union Let it be remembered. that ~
J liberaie these negroes the people of foo
United States, both North and Sonth-
when we consider the debts created fbo
property destroyed, the time lost. and =
million of able-bodied men killed or a.
abled, SO as to have become non-producerq
have thus sacrificed value to the extent
of not less, probably, than ten Thousand
million dollars. Is it necessary FIRTH
than this that our political and social svg.
tenn should be destroyed, or even seriousIv
endangered Is the Eich valley OF ma
Lower Mississippi which Jefferson acouirnJ
and jackson defended, to be converted
into second Hayti, to the lasting dison,
pointment Of the people of the whole Ms
slssIppl valley, who were once so apyio,,s
for its acquisition ? Even now, within
sight of the Capitol, the Legislative AMI
military power of the Republic is beinr,
most strenuousiy exerted to Africanize tbn
State which gave to the country WASHING.
ton, Jefferson, Madison, Marshall CIav
Taylor, and Scott. While all the Other
civilized nations Of the earth are doing
their utmost to rise in the scale of pros.
perity, intelligence and morality. this
mighty Republic is deyoting it's vast powers
earnestly and vigorously to the task of de-
grading large portion of its TERRITORY +,
the condition of Congo and Guinea.
Lit is said, however, that if suffrage is NAT
generally conferred on the negroes tbr:r
rights OF property and person will not La
protected. Widows and minors often bay,
suits in our courts, but was it ever SIM
posed they could not obtain justice became
half the jurors were not women or bows
My own observations of the course Of our
courts in North Carolina formerly. doe.
not allow me to doubt that the white iur,gs
of the country would deal fairly with the
negro.
If suffrage should be given to the Negro.
based on such a property qualification ass !,
established in the State of New York, itwonlJ
present two important considerations. In
the first place, the voters would probably
be the most industrious and intelligent #
their race and, secondly, their numbers
would not be so large as To prevent the
white race from controlling the Legislation
and shaping the destiny of the country. II
seems almost needless for me 10 say that
[ entertain no feelings of hostility to the
negro. Having been kindly nursed by them
49,
ing from wounds, were the power given me,
L would make them in all things Caucus
ians. But as the ways of Providence are
wiser than the imaginations Of men, so His
laws are too mighty to be set aside or
changed by human efforts, and true wisdom
consists in acting in accordance with them.
/ have thus, gentlemen, L fear at perhaps
too great length, discussed that question
which yourletter makes prominent. Great
and important as are other pending issues,
IN themselves, they are as nothing in com
parison with q question of such magnitude
that our political and social existence de-
ponds on its proper solution.
Wishing the fullest success to your efforts
and those of the great, noble, and patriotic
Democratic organization you represent,
am, very respectfully and truly,
Your most obedient servant,
T. j.. CLINGMAN
J. d. HOOVER, Esq and others, National
Hotel, Room 2O,) Washington City.