Year: 1867

fFfom the ClrCeTills UniSn.
Am Old Veterans Reasons for


Supporting the Constitutional


Amendment.


Mr.. EDITOR Permit an old vete-
ran in the Republican Union ranks to
state briefly, his reasons for voting for
the proposed Constitutional Amend
ment..


Because the enfranchisement Of the
negro is the legitimate result Of his
freedom.


Because he has been declared by the
Legislation of Congress and decisions
of the Supreme Court, whole citizen
and not a part of citizen.


Because, in a republican form Of
government there should be no dis
Jinetion between citizens on account
of nativity or color All men should
be equal ',before the law and possess
the inestimable rights guaranteed by
the Declaration Of Independence.


Because it is just to accord to others
the same political rights we claim for
ourselves. "Do unto others what you
would have others do unto you"


Because it is mean and dishonest to
require the negro to fight, pay taxes
and sustain the government, and yet
deny him the privilege of voting for
those who impose these burdens upon
him.


Because the negro, though perseeut-
ed and outraged in his rights Of man
hood, was uniformly loyal throughout
the recent civil war.


Because the enfranchisement Of the
negroes in the South is the only hope
of creating and maintaining q Repub-
lican party in that section. By his
vote, connected with the loyal whites
in the South, we are certain Of carry
ing half of the Southern States at the
next Presidential election.


Because n general entranehisement
will reconstruct, on a loyal basis, rebel
border States, like Maryland and
Kentucky. Give the negro q vote in
those States, and tho rebel power is
forever OYerthrown.


Because we shall always have agi-
tation and discord about the negro un-
It'll we secure to him his full rights Of
citizenship.


! Because, as a Union man, never
can cast a vote that will give said and
comfort" to rebels and CoPperhea1s.
What they are against, am in favor
of. What they are in favor Of, l am
. against That is the only safe rule.
} COpperheads oppose negro suffrage
because it will be cast against seces-


sion and rebellion.


? Because every vote cast against the
) Amendment is vote to strengthen
5 the COpperhead party.


Because a vote in support Of the
? amendment, is a vote against Yallan-
J digham for the United States Senate.


By the agency of popular prejudice


against the negro, they expect to car


ry the Legislature and thus elect this
: arch traitor to the place filed by hon
, est old Ben. Wade. I would vote


Congo suffrage, Chinese suffrage, or
, any other kind of suffrage, to insure
, the defeat of this infamous man.
, Because I want to put an end to the
! agitation of the negro question. Give
the negro vote, and you destroy the
political capital of the Democratic
party. There will then be nothing
: left for it to demagogue about.
l shall vote the entire Union ticket,
p Amendment and all l would seorn


to cast a ballot, which even by i'm


plication, would place me in compan-
ionship with the followers of JEFF. Da-
Wis and G. L. Vallandigham Both of
those Democratic leaders are opposed
to negro suffrage for the reason that


the addition of their votes to the Re
; publican party viii annihilate the
l Copperheads, North and South, be-
> yond redemption. My doctrine is,
= choke this party to death Jrith lC0OJ!
Z EQUAL RIGHTS,