Year: 1863

whether you sill take counsel Of your eue-
MES to the prejudice Of your friends how
ever humbls' they may be. We say. take
BOT counsel from thine enemies" They
win excl.im, 'swhat. will you grant, to
ignorant negroes just escaped from slavery,
the dearest right OF The freeman-a righ ght
that requires. SO much intelligence for the
proper exercise thereof" The argument
predicated upon the general want of inteFli-
'genee~ among the oolered population of
Kansas might at 6rst sight seem weighty;
but good cause was never lost because i,
could not be defended by the best reasons.


The argument that black men should not
vote, because Ignorant, is met by The obser.
vation that many ignorant white men vote
The want of intelligence among them not
working . forfeiture Of natural and
Inherent right. We contend that our right
to vote is natural and inherent resting it
upon the fact of our being born N this
country, and upon the form Of Government.
under which we live. While we mainly
rest our claims on the immutabls principle
Of right and justice, yet there are other and
wsighty considerations of public policy,
which may be urged in favor Of extending
to the black population generally the elec-
tive franchise.


The political equilibrium has been de-
stroyed, and the politics of this country
corrupted to an alarming degree by an
ignorant and alien mass Of voters. Alien
[alike in birth, religion, and habits of
thought Corrupt they have corrupted


Brutal they have brutalized. Acting as a
unit, they have disturbed the balance of
parties, and elevated to the Presidency men
distinguished only for cunning and subser.


viency to the slave power.


1t is the conviction Of every thoughtful
mind that in the future, as in the past, this
disturbing element will be the prize for
which demagogues will contend, mutually
corruptlng each other to the ill of the nation
and the reproach of Republican institutions.
Should the right of suffrage be extended to
the black population, counerpoise will be
found to this disturbing element. No ar.
gumeut being necessary to convince all that
the blacks will vote en- masse on the side of
liberty, union, and the supremacy of the
General Government.


A knowledge Of the good use they will
make Of the right when acquired, will
silence the objections of every truly loyal
and patriotic man. 1t is the knowledge of
the noble uses to which they will apply
their newly acquired rights, that embitters
the opposition Of corrupt and disloyal men.
Men now seeking the ruin of their country
to the end that they may the more com
pletely run riot in their hatred of liberty
aud justice. But you will not receive your
inspirations from the depraved and disloyal.


You will reflect that our misery is not
necessary to your happiness. That your
rights can never DO secure whilst ours are
denied. That if you would propi;iate the
good genii of liberty, at whose bcnignau.
smile deserts bloom, you must worship her
in spirit and in truth. Remember that as
in architecture, that building is most secure
whose base is broadest, SO in politics, that
government is most permanent, whose base
rests on the broadest foundations of justice
and liberty. We beg you to condemn that
atheistical and brutal dogma that " might
makes right" Power create duties. The
fact that We are weak, aud you are strong.
so far from justifying you in expressing US,
only multiplies our claims on you. With
nations, as with individuals, duties are
measured by capacities.


In conclusion, We ask you to remember
that out of population Of 70oO, We have
furnished 1000 soldiers to the Army Of the
Government, now seeking BY the stern
arbitrameDt of the sword to vindicate the
offended majesty of the laws, and preserve
intact the unity of the nation. These sol.
diers are acknowledged, BY universal ac-
claim, to be equal to any in the great essen
tials Of the soldier; obedience, aptitude for
and courage in the presence of
danger. They, emulous of the just renown
Of the white soldiers Of Kansas, have con-
fronted danger With equal hardihood, bear
ing ths banner of their country proudly
aloft, full in the front of battle, encircling
it with a wall of fire, and hedging it about
with cleaning bayonets.


No cowardice on their part has caused it
to trail in the dust, or dimmed its glories
Kansas, which took the lead 10 armiog black
men, has no more devoted soldiers, nor will
she ever have Just cause to blush for her
'' Iron clads.'


Citizen, of Kansas, shall your black vet
Grams return victorious from the war, proud
Of dangers past. of many tolls cheerfully
borne, and of honorable scars bravely won,
to find themselves still denied the rights of
q manhood so nobly vindicated?


o, men of Kansas, let it not be-. We