The Democratic advocate., 1909-10-08
LINCOLN ON SUFFRAGE
WAS NOT IN FAVOR OF NEGROES
VOTING OR BEING JURORS
Many Expressions Against Political
or Social Equality

the Views of President Lincoln on the
question OF negro suffrage as shown
by his writings.
Mr.. Straus said that Mr.. Lincoln's
views on the subject we're well known
and that he was strongly opposed to
extending the suffrage to the negroes.
"On August 81, 1858. at Ottewa, Ill,
during the first speech Of his Joint de-
bate with Judge Douglas, Mr. Lincoln
said
Anything that argues one into the
Idea OF social and political equality
with the negro Is but a specious and
fantastic arrangement OF words by
which a man can prove horse chest
nut 10 be chestnut horse. / have
no purpose to introduce political and
social equality between the white and
the black races. There Is a physical
difference between the two, which In
my judgement will probably forever
forbid their living together upon the
footing of perfect equality; and. in
asmuch as II becomes a necessity
that there must be a difference, /. as
we'll az Judge Douglas, am In favor
OF the race to which I belong having
the superior position
on September is. 1868. az Charles
ton. III, In the course Of the same de-
bate. Mr. Lincoln said
I viii say that I am not, nor ever
have been. In favor OF bringing about
In any way the social and political
equality Of the white aud black races
that I am not. ana never have been,
In favor OF making voters or Jurors OF
negroes, nor OF qualifying them to
hold office. nor TO intermarry with
white people. and | will say, In ad-
dltion TO this, that there Is a physical
difference between the white and
black races which | believe will for
ever forbid the two races ever living
together on terms OF social and politi-
cal equality. And inasmuch as they
cannot 80 live, while they do remain
together, there must be- the position
OF superior and Inferior: and. 1, aa
much aa any other man. am In favor
OF having the superior position as
signed 20 the white man
"Mr. Lincoln repeated these opin-
ions In his succeeding speeches. and,
on October 10. 1855, In the sixth Joint
debate at Quincy. ILL.,. he declared that
they we're not only his sentiments.
but that they were long entertained
and openly expressed by him, and
repeated that his own feelings would
not admit of a political equality be-
tween the white and black racea'
In the last OF the Joint debates
Mr. Lincoln said at Alton. October rs.
1883
i have never complained Of the
Dred Scott decision because Il held
AL Il
and the Judge fDouglas) Is always
wrong when he says I ever did so
complain of IT, And he called 1t a
beautiful fabrication for Judge Doug
las TO aHcribe To him purpose to in
iroduoe political equality between the
white and black races
ION September i6, 1858. ut Colum-
bus. Ohio. Mr.. Lincoln took great
pains TO correct statement published
In a newspaper OF that city that he
had declared In favor of negro sun
rage. Referring 20 this statement.
Mr.. Lincoln said
Il mention this now. at the opening
OF my remarks. for the purpose OF
making three comments upon II. The
hrst ! have already announced--it
furnished me with an Introductory
topic. the second is 10 show that the
gentleman Ia mistaken; thirdly, to
give him an opportunity to correct
II.
I propose here at the outset not
only to say that this is a mlsrepre-
sentatiOn, but To show conclusively
that II Is So
After reading extracts from his
previous speeches In which he had
clearly declared against negro sun
rage. Mr.. Lincoln continued
There. my friends, you have brief
" what | have upon former occasions
said upon this subject. In It you not
only perceive. AS a probability. that
In that contest did not at any time
say was In favor OF negro suffrage,
but the absolute truth that swice---
once substantially and once express
ly--I declared against II. Having
shown you this. there remains but a
word of comment upon that news
paper article. IL Is this That
presume the editor Of that paper is
an honest and truth-loving man and
that he will be greatly obliged TO me
for furnishing him thus sarly an OPP
portunity TO correct the misrepresent-
alton he has made, before It has run
30 long that malicious people can call
him a liar
I'm his plan for the readmission of
the Southern States to the Union. or
as he always put II, upon the theo-
ry that they never had been out OF the
Union for the resumption by them OF
their practical relations under the
Constitution, Mr.. Lincoln made not
the slightest suggestion OF extending
the suffrage to the negroes who had
been freed from slavery by the war.
1T was not until March 10, 1864, In
his letter to Governor Hahn, OF Louis
lana, that he made the bare sugges-
tion for Governor Hahn's private
consideration that only some of the
colored people-that is, the very in
telligent'-should be let in. This
letter he was careful to mark private
II was as follows
Executive Mansion,
Washington, March 10, 1864.
Hon. Michael Hahn.
My dear sir--I congratulate YOU
on having fixed your name In history
as the first free-State Governor or
louisiana You are about to have a
convention which, among other things,
will probably define the elective fran
chise. ] barely suggest for your pri-
yate consideration whether some Of
the colored people may not be let i'm
as, for Instance, the very intelligent
and especially those who have fought
calamity In our ranks They would
probably help In some trying time to
come TO keep the jewel Of liberty With