The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-07-23

The Courier on Negro Suffrage.
THE JOURNAL charges that Mr.. WhittIe-
sey is in favor OF "negro suffrage" We
have always charged that the JOURNAL
would not tell the truth about an oppo-
nent under any circumstances. Werepeat
the assertion. There is no such record.
Mr.. w. approved the act imposing fines
and penalties on those who would inter-
fere with persons entitled to the right OF
franchise, in violation of law, but he was
always opposed to the fifteenth amend
meat law. While there is q statute allow
ing negroes 10 vote, The Democratic party
Will not resist the law, or, like Repubn-
cans, set all law at nsught; but as soon as
they get the po ser they will repeal it,
C5urfer.
The JOURNAL stated fact. In
long editorial headed The Fools on
Colored Suffrage" the Courier argued
the similarity between the habits,
wants, instincts and ideas of negroes
and white men, to prove that when
the former heoame voters large num-
bers of them would vote the Demo
cratic ticket. Having argued itself
into pleasant frame of mind by the
contemplation of this view Of the
subject. the editor OF that paper said:
In this connection we want especially to
call attention to the following paragraph
published in the Washington correspond
ence of the Cincinnati Coamerctdt:
ga very prominent and thoroughly In
formed RepubIfcan Senator told a Ken
tuckfan TINS evening, the Fifteenth
Amendment would % Tatined and Off
cially promu ulgated within twenty days,
and advised an Immediate organization
of the negroes in Lexington. Kentucky,
with a view of a sweeping republican
triumph in that city. at The municipal
election to be held on the first Saturday in
March. Immediately after the promulga-
tion OF the amendment. there will be
passed, he believes, an act providing Sc
we're pains and penalties on all who inter-
fere with or prevent the exercise of the
right of franchise Of those upon whom ii
is conferred by the F4fteenth Amend
ment."
Let the pains and penalties be as Sc
we're as posi- BILE. We Will see who hrSt
tires of their enforcement!
"They who take the sword shall perish
by the sword?
1t will be observed, here, that the
facts set forth in the paragraph from
the Commercial, at that time exactly
suited the editor of the Courier.
These facts were the ratification OF
the Fifteenth Amendment, and the
passage Of law providing pains and
penalties on all who attempted to in
terfere with colored voters.
Again, in an article on negro suf-
frage, the editor says very emphat-
ically: we haze no objection to the
iS.ate of I'adiana saying negroes may
vote." Hence, we argue, the editor
could have no objection to negro suf-
frage.
Again, in an article February 81,
the editor, Mr.. A. T. Whittlesey,
says:
so far as the question of enfran-
chisiDg the negro, the Chinaman and
all others who have rot hitherto en-
loved the right of suffrage, is con
cerned, we have only to say that We
only object to the manner in which il
is being done. IF done by the State
themselves, the act t1ould hare been un
Objectionable"
Hence, we again conclude, Mr.
Whittlesey is not, or rather uoas not
opposed to the principle Of negro suf
frage when he wrote the above sen
teuce.
Once more, in an article on tn
Fifteenth Amendment, February 10th
the editor uses the following language
The italics are as we find them IN th'
Courier:
"The Amendment, when oficiall.
declared to be ratified, will have NJ
binding force until laws are issued b.
Congress to give it practical effect
Bat aCe shall insist, from the day hd
Secretary Fish Issues has proclamation
saving that the Fifteenth q Amendmen
is a part of the organic lat0 of The ma
tiOn, that cOl0red men are entitled 4
yote at aU elections held IN pursuanc
Ofla10."
Now, if Mr.. Whittlesey intends t
insist that colored men shall be enti
tied to vote from the day Mr.. Els
issued his proclamation. how can h
now say that he is not in favor c
negro suffrage?
So we might multiply proof to sub
stantiate the truth of our statemen
that Mr.. Vhittlesey was not oppose
to negro suffrage, and had the Da
mocracy Of VLnderburgh County bee
consistent, he Gould not have bee
delegate to the District Convention
Mr.. Whittlesey, way don't you IN
SIST on negro Suffrage, as you prom
ised, instead of denounciDg it, as 70
are now engaged in doiug2