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


A leading Baltimore lawyer who is
close student of history has collect
ed number of expressions of promi-
nent Republicans who were active in
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,
1867, Charles Sumner openly avowed
the purpose and motive of extending
the suffrage to the negro were to Sc
cure his vote for the Republican party
and thereby perpetuate it's power.
In his letter Mr.. Summer said
You wish to have the North recon
structed so at least that it shall cease
to deny the elective franchise on ac-
count of color, but you postpone the
day by insisting on the preliminary of
a constitutional amendment. l know
your views to the good cause, but ask
you to make haste. We can not wait.
This question must be set
it must be settled before the Presi-
Dental election, which is at hand.
Our co1ored fe1low-citizens at the
..
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 well 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-
mi icro+ in %
scales Let our colored fellow-citi-
zens vote in Maryland and that State
will be fixed for human rights forever.
Let them vote in Pennsylvania and
you will give more than 10000 votes
to the Republican cause. Let them
vote in New York and the scales which
hang so doubtfully will incline to
the Republican cause. 1t will be the
same in Connecticut. En-
franchisement must be a national act,
proceeding from the national Govern
ment and applicable to all the States"
Thaddeus Stevens, in a speech de-
Evered 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 1t
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, it is just. 1 am now confn1ng
my argument to negro suffrage In the
Rebel States. Have not loyal blacks
quite as good right to choose rulers
and make laws as Rebel whites?
.tIn the second place, it is a neces-
sity in order to 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 1t is
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
suffer constant persecution or be ex-
lied. The convention of Southern
loyalists lately held in Philadelphia,
almost unanimously agreed to such
a bill as an absolute necessity.
Another good reason is, 1t would
insure the ascendency OF the Union
party. - Do you avow the party pur-
pose? exclaims some horror-strlcken
demagogue. I do. For l believe, on
my conscience, that on the continued
ascendency of that party depends the
safety of this great nation. If impair
tial suffrage is excluded in the Rebel
States, then every one of them is sure
to send solid Rebel representative
delegation to Congress and cast solid
Rebel electoral vote. They, with their
kindred copperheads of the North,
would always elect the President and
control Congress.
'While slavery sat upon her defiant
throne and insulted and int1mldated
the trembling North, the South fre-
uuently divided on questions OF policy
between Wings and Democrats and
gave victory alternately to the sec
tions. Now you must divide them be-
tween loyalists without regard to col
or and disloyalists, or you will be the
perpetual vassals of the free-trade,
irritated ,revengeful South. For these,
among other reasons, I am for negro
suffrage in every Rebel State. Ii 1t be
lust, it should not be denied; II 1t be
necessary, it should be adopted; II
it be a punishment to traitors, they
deserve it,