Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-17
Governor Lees New York Speech.

Governor Lees New York Speech.
Nobody has been more surprised than
Governor LEE at the hubbub which hos
been caused by an unprecedented remark
which be made 10 his recent New YORK
speech. lie was arguing In favor OF con-
eeding rstser than OF denying TO the negroes
any OF the rights and privileges accorded
70 them IN tho Federal Constitution. He
was not thinking OF force or fraud or sny
unlawful proceeding. lie said what he did
say rs innoeently as II he had never heard oil
q negro's voting the Republican ticket
His remark that he was IN favor OF white
mans government IN this country WAS made
as be might hSve made the statement that
this country ought not to be governed by
women and children. Governor LEE Is de-
seryedly popular with the negroes here at
home, and has no idea Of wrongiug them In
any way. lie does not think them capable
Of covering = state whether they constitute
majority or a minority Of the population,
aud be did not In New York and does not
IN Virginia hesitate 10 express that opinion.
And what is there wrong in holding such
an opinion or in making it knowni II Is an
opinion that was held by oil the fathers OF the
republic. including the trainers Of the Con-
stitution. Governor LEE says tine negroes
ere not fit TO be governors; but WASHING
TON. MADISON. JEFFERSON, Monroe. HANL-
TON, the ADANsEs, and all the rest OF the men
who advocated the adoption or the ratIiica-
ton OF the Federal Constitution considered
them unfit even to vote, aud stipulated In
that instrument that negroes escaping from
their owners should DO returAed to them.
They incorporated into the Constitution q
provision that only three fiiihs OF the negroes
should be included 10 the basis OF represen-
tation in the lower house Of Congress.
More: The section OF the Constitution
which provided that three fifths OF the
slaves should be represented in Congress did
not authorize the negroes 10 cast their own
votes, but In effect empowered their owners
10 vote in their stead. What would Mr..
HALsTELD, or Mr.. CHANDLER, or Mr.. FORA
xER, or Mr.. EvARrs. or any others OF the
pretended uegropholists say II southern men
have named were hundred years ago were
TO ask the privilege Of casting the votes OF
negroesi DANIEL WEBSTER, one OF the great
est constitutional lawyers this country has
produced, advocated on the stump the fugi-
tive-slave law of 1850. Think OF that. Only
forty years ago the greatest man ever born in
New Hampshire the same DANIEL WEB.
sTER-was urging the northern people to live
up TO the pledges which their fathers had
made for them In the Federal Constitution.
and now such a Lilliputisn as WILLIAM L.
CHANDLER throws his influence. and that OF
New Hampshire as far IS he can control 1t,
in favor OF putting white men under the con-
troll Of negro officials. What change!
What descent
"what fall was there my countrymen1"
The New Orleans es.Democrst comes
ND to the defence of Governor LEE as fol-
lows:
"The men who made this country. Its
frat settlers aud the founders OF It's ciyiliza-
ton. and later on the men who framed its
Constitution and established its government,
took precisely our view Of this question.
Indeed, tue Federal compact would have
been impossible upon any otherterms. Mr..
Lincoln himself declared upon the stump
before the war of secession that the negro
race was inferior TO the white race, and that
Il ought not to he granted the right OF sui
frage. Would be not, then, have deprecated,
rs Fitzhugh Lee did the other day In New
York. the establishment OF African States
aud black sovereignties within the limits OF
this Union!"
Yes, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, who is almost
worshipped not by the negroes only but 1t
would seem by oil the northern people, not
excluding many Democrats, was opposed to
making voters OF the negroes.
Surely the southern people, led by Gov
ernor LEE, are in COED company when they
advocate the policy OF allowing the Cauca.
slan to rule in this country. The negro has
proved his utter ncspacity to govern any
country. Hayti tells the story OF bis total
unftness to be recognized as the equal OF
the white man so far as craftsmanship is con-
cerned.