The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-08-08
LETTER FROM HENDERSON.
HENDERsoN, KY. Aug.


Editors Journal:
The election here and in the county,
on last Monday, for various county
officers and for Judge of the Court of
Appeals. passed off quietly, and. l
may say. creditably to all concerned.
There was no disturbance of any kind,
and the expense to the city of the
extra police called out. might just as
well have been saved, for there was
no occasion for extra vigilance.
There may have been one or two ar
rests in the evening, and among them.
1 understand, one of the extra po-
licemen was arrested for disorderly
conduct, but the ordinary force was
amply sufficient.
There had been no effort made to
organize the Republicans, and not
Withstanding this, the colored voters
almost unanimously voted the Re-
publican ticket. This first vote cast
By the negroes must challenge the
respect Of all liberal minded men, for
it shows eonclusively that they In
diligently understand the difference
between the two parties. They voted
to uphold the Thirteenth, Fourteenth
and Fifteenth Amendments to the
national constitution, which insures
their freedom, their citizenship and
Acknowledgement against the past OPP
position and future designs of the
Democratic party. Had they voted
the Democratic ticket, it would have
been a public manifestation of their
utter Ignorance of the difference be-
tween the two parties and Of the fixed
hostility of the Democratic party to
their advancement and elevation.
Now consider that many-nearly
all-of the negroes employed by white
men, are employed by Democrats
who oppose their freedom and en-.
reimbursement, and whose approba.
ton and kindly feeling the negroes
would naturally seek, and yet, taking
all risk Of future prescription, these
poor men march peaceably to the
polls and cast their votes against the
party of oppression.
Whatever figure the negroes NAV
cut in the future, their first vote vim.
dicates their right to the ballot, on
this occasion.
But il must not be supposed thai
this peacea bic election and this mani
festation Of political intelligence and
integrity on the part of the black
man gave hope and satisfaction to al
parties in Henderson.
Many fair minded Democrats nc
doubt rejoice at the exhibition las
Monday for while they regret the en-
franchisement of the negroes, they
cannot deny the intelligence and or
| der manifested in their first vote.
But fair minded Democrats do not
rule their party In Henderson, or in
Kentucky. The reins are in the
hands of malcontents and irreconcila.
bic traitors, whose vile and disloyal
Intentions and desires are only re.
strained By the strong arm of national
power. These miserable wretches
could not witness the evidence OF
their complete defeat and overthrow
as rebels against the government
without one howl of modification and
despair.
Driven to the last ditch by the bull
lets and ballots of loyal men, they
writhe and gnash their teeth In the
filth and imbecility of their own
treason, aud while they madly throw
dirt at the paper, they only sink
deeper in their own mire.
Did say driven by the bullets of
loyal men2 / beg pardon. [ would
not speak so discourtiously of the
brave rebels who fought for their mis- !.