The Democratic advocate., 1909-10-08
PARTY NEEDED VOTES.
Leading Republicans On Motive For
EnfranchisIng Slaves.

- ee-A N-A-~AAAShA%5 0A@fO1s
A leading Baltimore lawyer who is
close student Of history has collect
ed number Of expressions Of promi-
nent Republicans who were active Ia
imposing negro suffrage on the South,
In which they urge party necessityas
a reason for that move.
In letter to the editor of the New
York Independent, dated April 20.
1857 Charles Sumner openly avowed
the purpose and motive of extending
the suffrage to the negro were to se-
cure his vote for the Republican party
and thereby perpetuate its power.
In his letter Mr. Summer said
You wish to have the North recon-
structed so at least that It shall cease
to deny tho elective franchise on ac-
count of color, but you postpone the
day by insisting on the preliminary of
constitutional amendment. / know
your views to the good cause, but ask
you TO make haste, We can not wait
This question must be set
tied without delay In other words,
II must be settled before the Presi-
Dental election, which is at hand
Our colored fellow-citizens at the
South are already voters. They will
vote at the Presidential election. But
why should they vote at the South and
not at the North? Their votes are
needed at the North as we'll as at the
South. There are Northern States
where their votes can make the good
cause safe beyond question.
There are other States where their
votes will be like the last preponder-
ant weight In the nicely balanced
scales. Let our colored feilow-clti-
zens vote In Maryland and that State
will be flxed for human rights forever
Let them vote In Pennsylvania and
you will give more than 10000 votes
10 the Republican cause. Let them
vote In New York and the scales which
hang so doubtfulRy Will incline TO
the Republican cause, It will be the
same In Connecticut En-
franchisement must be u national act.
proceeding from the national Govern
ment and applicable 10 all the States. /"
Thaddeus Stevens. I'm o speech de-
iiyered January 3. 1867. said;
There is more reason why colored
voters should be admitted In Rebel
States than In the Territories. In the
States they form the great mass OF
loyal men. Possibly with their aid
loyal governments may be established
In most Of those States without Il
all are sure to be ruled by traitors.
and loyal men, black and white. will
be exiled or murdered.
There are several good reasons for
the passage OF this bill In the FIRST
place. IL is just ! am now combining
my argument 10 negro suffrage in the
Rebel States. Have not loyal blacks
quite as good a right 10 choose rulers
aud make laws as Rebel whitea7
I'm the second place. Il is a neees-
sity IN order 10 protect the loyal white
men IN the seeded States. The white
Union men are In great minority In
each OF those States. With them the
blacks would act In a body, and Il II
believed that In each Of said States
except one, the two united would form
a majority. control the States and pro-
tect themselves Now they are the
victims Of daily murder. They must
sufier constant persecution or be ex-
He'd. The convention of Southern
loyaiiats lately held In Philadelphia
almost unanimously agreed 10 such
a bill aA an absolute necessity.
A1bNuti Enou EeuHuu ~ ~ NUNAu
insure the aacendency Of the Union
party DO you Avow the party pur-
pose7 exclRims some horror-strioken
domagogue do. For I believe. on
my conscience. that on the continued
aBccndoncy Of that party depends tho
safety of this great nation II Impair
tial suffrage IL excluded Ia tho Rebel
States. then every one Of them In sure
10 send solid Rebel representative
delegation to Congress and caat = solid
Rebel electoral vote They. with their
kindred copparheads Of the North,
would always elect the President and
control Congress
While slavery sat upon her defiant
throne and inaulted and intlmidated
the trembling North. the South fire.
auently divided on questions os policy
between Whigs and Democrats and
gave victory alternately TO the sec
iionK Now you must divide them be-
tween ioyaiiata without regard 90 col
or and dieloyalista. or you will be the
perpetual yassals Of the free-trade
irritated .reyengeful South. For these
among other reasons. ] am for negro
suffrage In every Rebel State. II Il be
Just, II should not be denied; II II be
necessary. II should be adopted: II
II be punishment to traitors. they
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