Year: 1865

OBERLIN, July "a, 1865.
General j. d. Coz:


DEAR SIR The people of this place,
with entire unanimity, sought your noml-
nation for Governor of Ohio. With equal
unaninity we desire to promote your cleo
ton. We reioiced in your nomination,
because we had perfect confidence that
your views and sympathies were in har-
mony with our own on the great issue be-
fore us-the equality of all men before
the law. We still believe that we were
not mistaken. But some of us have been
startled by report, coming directly from
Warren, to the effect that you are opposed
to giving the elective franchise to colored
people, and that you requested the editor
of the Chronicle to publish your views on
the subject, that you might not lose the
support of Union men in the Southern
part of the State. We do not credit the
rumor, and yet it has so disturbed some
of your warmest supporters that the un-
dersigned have been requested to address
you on the subjet.


We want to know directly from you
your views on the following subjects 1st
Are you in favor of modifying our Constl-
tuition so as to give the elective franchise
to colored men? ? I'd. In the reorganiza-
ton of the Southern States should the
elective franchise be secured to the colored
people?


Among us there is but one opinion on
this subject, and we were never more in
earnest on any political question. We be-
lieve that the distinction made by our
Constitution between white and colored
people was made in the interest of slavery,
and is both wicked and absurd. And we
believe that to reconstruct the Southern
States and admit them with Constitutions
excluding colored men from the polls
would give the country and the negro into
the power of the very men who have
sought and still desire to ruin the one and
enslave the other.


Deliver the four millions of freed peo-
pie into the hands of their former op-
pressors, now embittered by their defeat
and they will make their condition worse
than before. The Copperheads of the
North. with the united South, would gain
control of the General Government, and
in various ways would harrass and Cypress
the negroes and their friends beyond en-
duranee. A war of races would be likely
to result. IF as nation we can be so
wicked as to deliver our colored soldiers
and the millions whose freedom we are
pledged to maintain, into the power of the
most cruel and Yindictive people that ever
/ laid claim to civilization, terrible retrl-
| button will await us. We speak strongly
that you may know how we feel on the
subject.


If it be said that the negroes of the
South are ignorant and unit for the cleo
4 tive franchise, we answer, grant It; but
this has nothing to do with the question.
| Our colored soldiers who have fought
three years for the Union are not of this
class, nor are those who have always been
free, many of whom have amassed wealth.
It is for these we ask the elective fran
chise. IF it should take year, or two, OF
three. to prepare the mass to vote, we
would be content. Though we believe ou1
free institutions would be safer in the
hands of the colored people as they are,
than in the hands of the best half of the
white population of the South. The
lowed to vote? F? The enemies of oul
Ecountry say no. The mass of the loyal
/ say yes So decided are our people on the
aspbiect, that they could by no means be
persuaded to vote for a man known to be
opposed to it. The Union party of this
county, so far as we know, are unani-
mons on the subject, and we believe thai
throughout the country the party can be
rallied on this platform with greater en-
thusiasm than on any other. All the
prominent religious papers, and, with one
Tor two exceptions, all the leading Republi.
can papers are in favor of universal suf.
1frage. We believe that nothing could be
\ more suicidal to our party and to the
cause of freedom than to reject this doe.
trine


Please let us hear from you soon. It is
not our wish to publish your views unless
YOU desire it. But we wish to have oul
own minds relieved, and to be able tc
contradict any false reports that may be
, in circulation regarding your views on this
subject. Very truly and sincerely yours


r.. III. FAIRCHILD,
SAMUEL PLUMB,


Committee.