The Lincoln County herald., 1870-04-07
The Suffrage Amendment.

that the proposed amendment to the con
stitution ('so called') is agitoting tn,
the minds of the legal voters" as wei
as the disfranchised throu Ihout the State
One feature Of that agitation, fear, i.
altogether wrong. l allude TO the oppo
sition the measure is meeting with in the
Democratic party. That that opposition
is the result Of feelings and a msappre
hension of the results to arise from the
act of the General Assembly, | have moi
the least doubt. That citizens who have
been born in the State, and who have con
tribu'ed 20 unproportionately heavy in
bearing the burden of the Government OF
he State, should be disfranchised merely
to keep in state the power now cnthroned,
is grievous sin, one which bitter expe
rienco teaches the writer is of unparal-
leled magnitude, and erevous enough to
make men feel intensely.
But if we would regain that rich in.
heritauce (Isberty) which our Fathers
achieved for US by so much blood and
privation we should with one accord be
come sto,cs, and in one particular in
stance follow the example of those who
oppress US; /; cast feelings aside, and 90 to
work with hearty good will, and in
unison and harmony determine that, let
come what may, we will either have re-
stored US our stolen liberty, or 60 down
with the fall which must inevitably
cnsue, demanding our rights.
TO these ends what is most necessary
First, in our humble opinion, the bill
which our Radical Legislature has JUST
passed, is one full Of vital interest to the
disfranchiscd people of Miss oufi and
though it was not so intended by its
makers, it will be, if properly understood
and acted upon by the Democratic party,
means Of escape to the dowa troddcn
and oppressed. The very feature of the
bill (negro suffrage) which is causing so
much dissatisfaction among Democrats,
is the very e which its authors intended
should defeat it. Does any sane Demo-
crat believe chat the party in power
passed the bill believing or intending it
should be carried at the approaching
election. Ifso, such are sadly mistaken.
That party, Judging from its past history,
reasoned upon the subject thus: The
times demand that we should make some
show towards that magnanimi,y to rebels
of which We have been prating so many
years let Us, therefore, biad the eyes Of
the simple with this bill We will hitch
on to it the most obnoxious principle
known to Democracy NEGRO suffrage
that will be sufficient to our purpose; il
will either drive them from the poles, or
to vote against the measure, and with the
opposition to rebel cnfranchisement which
exists in our ranks, and by little soft
soaping Of the ignorant and crcdulous
(who are lcsions) portion Of the party
We can easily secure Its defeat at the ap'
preaching election We can then declare
that the bill was defeated BY the popula,
vote Of the people, and that "rebcls" vii
have to wait two years longer. So it viii
60, al nfnitum.
l would raise, at this critical junctur'
of State affairs, my warning voice, be tina
voice ever SO feble. Democrats, Con
servatives, Patriots, beware Your bite
enemies have planted fearful torpedo
for your destruction do not, Therefore
press bliudly upon the battery which viii
explode the last hope to the down sroddel
people of Missouri. BE wise--turn tn
Internal machine against its makers
awake from the terrible sleep of rubmis
sion; take counsel from your oppressers
and lay aside foolish technicalities; cos
from you tho green eyed, frecklel face
monster, prejudice, and act like men /; g
to the poles when the time comes, an
cast your vote for the suffrage amend
ment, If for none others, and let you
vote be so unanimous as to defy even
Rodmans count. Be not deferred fiol
this glorious duty lit is glorious, b'
, cause by it you are to give freedom
, thousands who are bound down by Ii
heel Of despotism by the jabs and hoo
Of thoughtless young men, or tho sueel
Of men who have grown gray over the
: wrongs and prejudices. Pursue .h
: course, and your deed will be blessed b
a children yes unborn.
l We, Of course, do not wish to be unde
Q stood as saying to you that your vot'
alone will secure the blessed result b,
: We insist that there are many good ar