Year: 1869

STULL's Run, March 20, 1869.


Editors Of the Register:


l reside in one of the rural districts
of this county, and but seldom see OF
read newspaper, therefore my knowl'
edge of political affairs is quite limited
l have just been informed by one of my
neighbors that James Burley, Mr.: Doo'
little, George Edwards and John Rey-
nOlds, members from this Senatorial
district and county in the late Leglsla-
ture of this State, voted for and other
wise aided in the passage of law CIV
ing to the negroes political equality
with the whites in this county and
State. At the same time these men
voted down a proposition to submit this
negro suffrage question to the people.


Why did they object to the people pass
ing upon this matter 7 The reason is
obvious. These men knew that negro
suffrage would have been blown sky
high in this county and State, and
therefore their lovely colored friend
would never have been manufactured
into voting machine for their use. l
have never bad a doubt but what these
gentlemen loved the negro and desired
q Political and social equality with him,
from the fact that all his surroundings
were congenial to their tastes, and from
the further fact that they expect his
vote when they are candidates for office
in the future.


There must be something very entic-
ing about this black mans person and
character that unsOphisticated people
know not of. These men l presume
have tasted the sweets and know the
advantages and eDjoyments arising
from an intimacy with Sambo. Hence
their Willingness to take him into their
embrace. Surely there will be an .odor
arising from the commingling of such
elements that will be refreshing in the
extreme. These honorable lawmakers
have by their action in this matter de-
fined their position. They thus pro-
claim to the world that the negro is
just as good as they are. The people
think so, too. No one will call in
question the right of these men to asso-
ciate with Cuffy, and to take. him into
their homes as suitable companion.


For myself and on behalf of nine
tenths of the people of this county, |
enter a solemn protest against the ac-
tion of these men III forcing negro suf-
frage upon us against our consent. The
young men of this county tell me that
they never will 90 into the ranks of the
militia, the jury box, and the public
schools with the negro, Ind they author-
ize me to say in this public manner
that these gentlemen will hear from
them when they are next candidates for
office in manner not to be misunder-
stood. Up to the day of the election
last fall these men proclaimed publicly
and privately that they were opposed
to giving tho right of suffrage to the
negro, that they were not in favor of
political or social equality of the
races, and planted themselves squarely
upon the Chicago platform, which de-
clared that the people of the States
we're the only lawful tribunals to settle
the question of suffrage. Upon these
promises and principles they were elect
ed. In what attitude do they now
stand before the countryH Certainly
they do not occupy very enViable po
,ition. They have deceived their
friends, falsified their word and brought
disgrace upon themselves and country,
all for the sake of benetiting this Congo
pet of theirs. i leave them with him;
they are in the society of q fit compan-
ion b.