New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-12-02
A DANGER TO THE SOUTH.


u We suppose none would deem it i'm
probable that if the restriction of the RICH
of suffrage to the amnestied people of tn
South were now in the power of tn
Union party, it would ponder we'll upol
the propriety of granting it. We ma.
suppose that if the incapacity Of tn
emancipated people to defend their right
by the exercise of their suffrage had bee,
as we'll known in 1865 as at present. nj
reliance would have been placed upon th'
self-protecting power of the colored bal
lot. It is we'll enough to offer the timit
and unsheltered man q weapon TO
his defense, but the theory of self
protection is refuted when the stronger
wrests the protective weapon from the
weaker, and compels his obedience
There was certainly an honorable obi
cation resting upon those who accepted
amnesty with restored suffrage. It was
to respect the authority which accorded
this right. 1t was to recognize and sus.
tain the same right of suffrage conferred
upon the emancipated people. Have all
the amnestied Democracy kept this i'm
piled faith Have they accepted the
restored Union in spirit of Christian
compliance with their pledges2 Have
they done unto tho colored people as
they would that the Unionists should
have done-and have done-unto them?
We say with regret that the amnestied
Democracy of the South have not COM
piled with the pledge under which their
disabilities have been removed. We ap-
prehend, secondly, that the friends of the
Union may in effect disable this faith
less element of its powers of mischief.
We regret that this may affect the ability
of the Southern people to secure from the
national government that share of its ad-
vantages which their suffrage and their
necessities demand.
We fear the friends of permanent
Union may say, We have given to
both white and colored equal rights. We
find that this grant has been nullified as
to the colored race by the military force
of the whites. We will not deny to either
the civil, legal and political equality
which We have bestowed upon all per-
SONS, but We will not permit the amnes-
tied whites to capture the whole con-
gressional and electoral representative
vote of the emancipated and WELD it
against the emancipated
In this point of view the testimony
taken before congressional committees in
Mississippi, and especially that now &C
cumulating in Louisiana and Florida by
by the lawful returning boards of these
States, will, we can very we'll see, furnish
fearful material for the preservation of
the Union. For the application of these
terrible facts we need but turn to section |
six of article fourteen of the constitution.
It provides the rule for spportioning rep
among the States according to !
numbers, and adds:
But when the right to vote ct any cleo
ton for the choice If Federal or State repre-
or officers is denied to any of the
male inhabitants of such State being TWEEN
fv-One years of age and citizens Of the
United States, or ia any way abridged, ex.
sept for participation in rebellion or other
,rime, the basis OF representation therein
shall be reduced in the proportion which
he number of such male citizens shall be
uh<s1S. /, hon 0f Ia l
y-one years Of age in such State.
We will be, perhaps, told there has
'een no enabling statute passed to give
fleet to this amendment It may be
Urged that no State has formally 'de-
lied" or Sin any way abridged" the
light to vote by State law. To all
his we reply that with the control
f the national Legislature will pass
he right to construe the amendment
nd to enact the laws necessary to give it
feet In struggle for and against the
afety of human rights and the Union, we
lay apprehend from either party such
obstruction of its own powers as will Sc 6
ure the success of its own purposes. The 6
liminati on of this power, perverted from {
8 purposes, would deprive the disaf. {
,cted Democracy of all future capacity ,
II mischief, while the emancipated citi- {
ems finding their whole representation {
lptured and carried over to Mr.. Tilden, +
ill have no objection to its suspension =
ntil a better faith in the Democracy shall .
nder the restoration of that, representa- d
We strength safe and proper. 1t will be c
en- that in no event. could the colored |,
ce lose their right to vote, or to hold s
fee; nor could their civil, legal or polit- a
al right be impaired in the least They y
uld themselves 60 to Congress or hold Y
y other position just as white man, n
It the white man would cot be allowed to ;,
pture their r. presentation, with the effect o,
multiplying their rights. T.
This great remedy for the abuses and h
se faith of the amnestied Democracy is :,
It Swallowed for the consideration Of our -
We trust that the re- =,
Sc
ton of conservative wisdom will arrest
9 tendencies of disafection, but we re-
at that in view of the possibility that :,
is radical remedy for the wrong to the =,
this peril to the Union may
resorted to, the terrible testimony -
out the manned and murdered freed y
sn and the fai thless Last Dltchers will )"
come important, and should be per-