Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1875-11-06
Negro Suffrage.

The extreme beauties Of this Institution were,
as we learn fully set forth at the recent munich
pal election in Charleston 5. C. At the polling
precincts might. have been en.hundreds Of Afri-
cas- sons who were not, by their actions, language
or dress, to be taken for men. They were, indeed,
simply animals British in their gestares, idiotio
and numbling in their words, and sloven IN their
attire, the opinion was forced upon observers that
this class Of the negro might only be classed as
equal with the lowest animal. And yet. they were
allowed to voto-though Il may really be doubted
if the Africans knew for whom their ballots were
cast. when asked for their names and residence
by the registering clerk the questioned opened
their eyes and stared with a meaningless look at
the commissioners, nor in some cases, could they
be made to understand. And even then, majori-
ty Of the would-be voters were actually unable 10
give their own names. II challenged as to their
age residence or oft-and-carly voting, the eusto-
mary oath was, perforce, administered them, when
with uplifted hands, as. directed, many succeeded
in perjuring themselves beautilu!!y-though it is
scarcely possible that an oath, given such persons
is at all binding.
Commenting on these and other facts in this re-
gard, we find ourselves wondering if this state Of
things will really continue on? II the United
States Government can really be so destitute Of
ordinary intelligence as to continue this actual
waste of precious boon-the ballot. By confer
ring its privilege upon beings buta trile removed
in all save form-from the beasts Of the feds
Were our highly intellectual legislators to see an
other country permitting its dogs to vote, itself
arranging the ticket for the canine ballot suffers,
they would look upon that country with contempt
a.d regard It's ruling power as slightly insane
And yet, here we have enacted and are enacting
today, precisely the same farce, aud so Tar from
viewing it its true ightofa species Of madness,
expect there ior the plaudits OF adm.ing nations
Eehave n few thoughts aneHt reform in this
matter, and, though despairing indeed Of ever
seeing II accom- li5hed, viii yet give them 10 orr
readers Negro emancipation, Of course, was IA
ther to negro suffrage. The first, We hold, was
right, in so far as allowing the cOlored to be
the master of bis own labor to charge for it as he
thought best and to support, in entire freedom,
himselfaudhis family. This however, was enough
amply enough. The negro was entirely content
WIN lie 'hH bN|A VI tNNNNA isa'A NisAtNl az Ah
possession sought nothing more Negro Suffrage,
then, we hold, was an arrsgant-not to say fool
ish-azsuiuption by The goyerumen: OF righ;
which was hardly its own to exercise. II, how
ever IN defiance Of ali respect FOR the graatPriv-
iIece. its conferral on the negro was determined
on, why not have modified the gin, so as to ensure
its exercise, only, by those OF the colored race
who, through hard study had acquired a sufficient
Intelligence? Such an naction would have been
cminendy wise, as not only protecting the bal
LOT. but giving 10 those colored men who really
earaG1or voting, a cause 10 apply themselves dlI-
gently to the task Of rendering their minds capa-
bic Of understanding the great privilege which
they were exercising. Thus would have been
compassed, IA reality, The nominal object Of Negro
Suffrage, viz: his elevation to Al equality with
the white man. Ofcouse in Gxingupon our le-
gslators only this reason ior their action, re-
fer to the honest ones whose convictions, though
erroneous, had this redeeming feature; butthere
were others, as we know, whose only desire, in
eonierring the suffrage on Tie negro was to use his
yeteIfcr bad ends
These, then, are our views. We have set them
dovn rather hastily, bat yet believe the thought
fal mind uay find in them d; least one truth on
this great subject.