The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1876-11-25
LincOln's Prophetic Counsel.
The Ballot Of the Freedman Keeping the
Jewel of Liberty in the Family Of
Freedom.n

jewel oI AlDefGy In tne amlly OF
Freedom"
MORGAN CITY, La, Nov. II, 1876.
Editor ". o. Republican
In contemplating the present per-
llous crisis, the remarkable fact stands
out boldly that the freedman's ballot
IN the three States To give the final
decision of the presidential contest
saves the Republican party from a
premature disaster. With all its pres
tlge as the preserver of the national
unity its heroes aud martyrs crowned
by halo Of glory to be reverenced
by future generations its physical
ralor as the promoter of govern
ment of the people, by the people and
for the people," in its highest sense,
on this continent, it has come within
one electoral vote of IA defeat, and
victory is to be awarded the aston
ished " boys in, blue" by the poor
cOntraband of war" whom they
were slow to liberate and enfranchise.
When the telegraph announced the
thrilling intelligence that Republican
victory depended upon Louisiana, my
thoughts almost instantly recurred to
the letter of President Lincoln, ad-
dressed to Governor Michael Hahn,
in the earliest period of reconstruc-
tion. 1t may be found in Raymond's
" Life, Speeches and Public Services
of Abraham Lincoln" as follows:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
Washington, March 13 1876. {
Hon. Michael Hahn:
My DEAR SIR congratulate Won on hav-
ing fixed your name in history as the first
free State Governor of Louisiana. Now, you
are about to have convention. which,
among other things, will probably define the
elective franchise. barely suggest for your
private consideration, whether some of the
col0red people may not be let in, as, for in
stance, the very intelligent, and especially
those who have fought gallantly in our ranks.
They would probably help, in some trying
time to come, to-keep the jewel of liberty in
the family of freedom. But this is only |
suggestion, not to the public, but to you
alone. Truly yours,
a. LINCOLN.
Have we not reached the vtritica-
ton of the prophecy Is not the lay
of hope on the anxions faces of the
friends of the Union caused by the |
freedman's ballot keeping the Jewel /
of liberty ont of the hands of Confel-
crate Democracy, and in the family |
or party of freedom Verify, it seems /
to be IA providential interposition to
awaken the nation from the too care
less policy pursued of late years, Ivy
which the defenseless allies of the
government have been subjected to
assaults from enemies
that should be silent or vanquishcd.
The policy of equal Justice to the
freedman in the matter of civil rights
has borne ample fruit to establish it's
The black allies have fought
Sor the Union as nobly in the civil as
N the military arena.
A singular coincidence is this: Gov
Arnnr Hahn, whom LiDcoln so sagely
was the able Supervisor of
in the late election. who
personally directed the making up of
he record, and aided in the fulfill
nent of its design. Lincoln WAS as
assinated, and Governor Hahn mar
owly escaped similar fate in the
July riot of 1866. at the prompting of
J like spirit. The counselor may not
but the humble servant does
witness the trying time come, and the
'etention of the "iewel of liberty in
he family of freedom the election
# General Hayes by the freedman's
'allot. EMERSON BENTLEY.