Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1869-02-04

Democrats:
"Bs Il rssolrs9, &C.. ihco-tIirds 81 both
Fo,,ysg oopc,trriRgl That the following article
be proposed 10 the Legislatures Of the several
States as an amendment 20 the Constitution Of
tbe United States which, when ratified by
tbree-fourths Of said Legislatures, shall be
held as part Of said Constitution, namely:
ARTICLE
SECTION /. The right Of any citizen Of the
United States 10 vote shall not be denied OF
abridged by the United States, or any State,
by reason Of race, color, or previous condition
of slavery Of any citizen or class Of citizens Of
the United States.
"SEcTIoS 2. The Congress shall have power
70 enforce. by appropriate legislation, the pro-
visions Of this article"
The above only aE'cts negroes, and while
Tiveting, if adopted, the accomplished fact,
practically, Of universal negro suffrage in the
South, it ProUides for Il in the North It is a
miserable mockery, fraud, snare, and delusiOn,
when viewed in the light Of the professions Of
partisan demagogues during the Presidential
canvass, in favor Of extending suffrage to all
citizens. The Democratic or Conservative par
~, in its general willingness to support Chief
Justice Chase for the Presidency, had he been
nominated at New York as urged by Governor
Seymour. acquiesced in the idea Of universal
suffrage and amnesty" as advocated by the
Chief Justice. This was the view of the better
sort Of Republicans but since the election,
developments have constantly arisen to the eff
feet that ne 1mirerSal suffrage Of Radical pro-
scriptionists meant only uRireTSal suffrage Of
negroes, and the exclusion Of white men Of the
South, such vast numbers Of ,rhOm are deJGr-
red. by the fourteenth constitutional amend
nent, from holding office, and under State laws,
isO called from rotiHg in hs elections, because
srpdrtieipaiiOH IN he rebellion.
Suppose a white man who had participated
In the rebellion should offer his vote in an
election in Tennessee, or any other Of the
Southern States where negroes and carpet-bag-
gers rule. upon the idea that the deceptive con-
stitutional amendment III adopted Of Boutwell,
authorized him TO vote, what would be the ac-
ton Of the csrpet-bag poll Oficial7 1t would
be. that the amendment in question only ope-
rated to prevent the exclusion Of men from
voting because Of their being another color
than white, or Of another race than negro, or
Tor having been once in slavery.
Il is no wonder that Mr. Bingham proposed
an amendment providing that white men who
had been in the rebellion should have the right
Of voting nor is it strange that the proscrip-
zionist, prosecutor, and party trickster, Bout
well, should oppose it. He could not under
stand the proposition Of Mr.. Bingham, because
some who have eyes to see viii not see, and
some who have ears to hear will not hear.
The whole thingis pitiful and shameful, con-
Sdered IN the sense Of honor and consistency.
The practical question that now arises in the
elections is, whether the people viii go for ne
gro suffrage in the North, the same being as
Eured to the negro in the South not only now
practically but by the proposed amendment in
question We could conceive Of Democrats
and Conservatives going for universal suffrage
Of citizens white and black, and leave the
question Of amnesty to be settled hereafter
But the miserable special pleading, higgling,
and pettifogging resolution Of Boutwell,, gives
neither amnesty nor suffrage to the whites Of
the South. Itprovides only for negroes. a
little while since the New York Tribune called
for honest and straightforward action upon
this subject, in consistence with the idea Of
universal suffrage, as advocated by most Rad
ieal orators the past year or two. What will
Il say now Of the deceptive and derisive move
ment Of Boutwell,, the viudictive and malignant
and constantly prosecuting FOO Of the white
people Of the South
Since the beginning Of the present session.
the carpet-baggers Of the South have come up
here and insisted as a thing necessary to the
continuation Of their obligarchical rule upon
the continuation Of the status whereby certain
whites in the South shall not hold office, nor
have the right Of voting in contravention Of
the disgraceful statutes, so-called that exist in
Southern States.
It was only this day that our eyes fell upon
picture Of carpet basgers in Virginia, BY the
Rev. Mr. Hunnicut,, the leader Of negroes in
that State We quote
a fec strangers sVlat,ei in Virginia for
TIE 'shole aud sole purpose Of making their liy-
ing and fortunes ly ofice-holding These men,
withoutmeaus, without any established charac-
tiers % recommend them tp the confidence Of the
people, without any employment or business 10
help build up the State In any way loafns a
round, prying into everybOdys business. having
noneoftbeirown; looking out fJr any vacaucyof
office which may be made irving to shove
others out that they themselves may creep In 4;
trying - pull others down that they may 90
up; trying 10 snatch the bread out Of honest
mems mouths that they may fIl their own
greedy s'omachs; trying 90 undermine honest
mems business that thsy nav sneak into their
places trying @ crush out truth and honesty
10 make way ior .iHg and roJJtTy."