The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-09-05
GOV. SEYMOUR AND THE NEGRO VOTE.

The Radical papers which, with an AIR OF
triumph. parade the statement of certain
William Brown, of Kentucky, that Mr.. sey-
mour favored the nomination OF Chief Justice
Chase on a platform that should assent to
some form and degree of negro suffrage, ex-
hibit very selfstultifying spectacle. The
same papers daily charge that the New York
convention refused TO nominate Mr.. Chase
because of his Identification with such plat
form. and that it nominated Mr.. Seymour be-
cause of his presumed opposition to negro
suffrage upon any conditions. But when
thew ipdorse the testimony of Brown they to-
tally upset this presumption and concede that
Mr.. Seymour is not the uncompromising OPP
ponent of negro suffrage as they have hereto
fore represented him.
This same Brown has followed up his origi-
nal statement, contained in speech before
Wester8 Grant club, with card giving what
purport to be corroborative particulars. The
only one of these particulars which is of the
least importance, if true, is the following:
can tell the World that hsve in my posses
sion q copy of the platform submitted TO the
chief justice by the professionals OF the Demo
cratic party, and that said platform was seen,
read and approved by HOratio Seymour before
the convention met. and that it accepts negro sui
frsge. in The following language:
1.-The American Democracy, reposing their
trust under God, in the intelligence, the patriot
ism, and discriminating justice Of the American
people, declare their fixed adhesion to the great
principles Of equal rights, and exact justice for
ali mel aud all States.
THAT wise regard to the altered crc1mstsn-
ces of the country. aud impartial justice TO the
millions who have been enirsDchised, demand the
adoption of all proper constitutional measures for
the projection, i'm proyement and elevation of this
portion OF the American people.
" That in a land of Democratic institutions, all
public and private interests repose most securely
on tie broadcast basis of Suffrage"
Remaining that these provisions are more
liberal than the Chicago platform" this
spocryphal divulger of political secrets adds:
Mr.. Seymour approved and urged Mr.. Chase's
nomination on the platform from which have
Just quoted, andsif be denies it / will prove it on
him. How does Mr.. Seymour reconcile his APP
prevail OF this platform with the declaration that
the " reconstruction sets Of Congress are uncOn-
stitutonsl. revolutionary and void"
Browns imagination must be very lively, and
his logical faculty must be very weak, if he can
conceive Mr.. Seymour vainly struggling to
reconcile the antagonism between the plat
the Democratic convention. The fact is that
the passage which declares " fixed adhesion
tn the great principles of equal rights and
exact justice for all men and all States" i'm
plies all the reprobation of the unjust, une-
quail, proscriptive and oppressive features of
the reconstruction acts which is expressed III
the Democratic platform and reiterated by
Mr.. Seymour in his letter of acceptance. Nor
is there in the same platform, or in Mr..
Seymours language. indorsing it. anything
| at variance with the idea of impartial JUS
tice" to the enfranchised, or of "proper con-
stitutional measures for the protection, inn
provement and elevation of that portion of the
| American people" or of the repose of public
and private interests on the broadcast basis
| of SURFACES" The Democratic party, in its
national declaration of principles, allows Mr..
Seymour, and every Democrat, full liberty
to hold this or any other sentiment in regard
+, to suffrage it only insists that the question
| of suffrage is one which, under the Constitu-
ton, must be properly left to theindependent
regulation of the several States.
Thus it appears, from assertions, admis-
sions, and arguments of Radical politicians
and papers, that Mr.. Seymour entertains SEN
timents on the subject of suffrage, and with
regard to the interests of the enfranchised ne
groes, which are more liberal than the Grant
| and Colfax platform. Let the colored people
| mark this