Year: 1866

amnesty for universal suffrage And what ground IL
u that The radical majority IN Congress require that the
II cannot be the score Of the morally or the nel
gence OF our African population. Statistics too plainly
rlute Their pretensons 10 these Tho only object they
have, and they might well confess H. Is To strengthen
the power OF their party In these United States, and
no matter what means must be employed, no mat
yer what course must be adopted, anything
that win strengthen that political Organization becomes
to them measure not only Just but eminently re-


igous aud proper But they say at least IL you do not
give the negroes the suffrage must cut down the
number or representatives from these States must
amend tho constitution so that representatives shall be
elected according to the population, first excluding any
class or race whose right Of suffrage is abridged or
restricted thereby reducing the representation Of the
Southern states probably one-halr They say that
denS6crais are not In favor OF this measure because
the South would always vote with strength would
be thus diminished In regard to this have to
my radical friends that their lest the south
will vote with US are utterly unfounded. The old whig
party was more numerous and powerful In the South than
In the North before slavery became Heading political
question Now that slavery Is abolished ss es will
come up, and the opinions Of the southern people
var be es various as those OF their brethren at
the North There will be no common point
on which they can rally. Tho democrats oppose
this reduction Of Southern representation on nober
grounds. They opposed 10 altering in any un-
necessary manner the constitution Of the United
States because they believe 1t is good enough as u s
and because they believe that instrument ami form
OF government which were good enough for Washington,
for Madison for Jefferson and for their comparios Of
tho Rcrolton are good enough for their degenerate
children of the present day. Another that they
do not Wish TO see the representation reduced E because
there N provision In tue constitution that taxation
and representation shall go together, and becaise


therefore, the result OF having fewer rcprescn-
tativcs from the South the lower house
Of Congress would DO To relieve those States from thcir
proper sars Of the public burdens Bearing these
mentous questions IN view, you VIII all use
your exerons good citizens and patriots TO
secure the success Of the candidate In favor Of the pn


cples and policy Of the President Of the United States
We think fellow citizens, that Andy johnson In right
and say 10 him that the democratic party have aban


doned all their past ssucf and have forward fairly
and honestly saying 10 tie President, awe ask Office
al your hands, we ask for power patronage
from the general government but, nnd ng that
Congress ~ occupying ono position, that you, are
occupying another, and believing ufrom the
surrounding circumstances that your position Is tho
onv true and correct one, offer you individual
support Mr. Bishop concluded by tracing the ante
ccdeDts OF the two candidates. and contrasting the nhu
manity OF General Hawlcy to tho men under his com
mand with tho libcray and DEVOTED unsehsh charity
or Mr. English towards the "boys In blue"


The meeting adjourned with three cheers, repeated
again and again, and rendered with all tho hcartness Of
which the human voice is capable. for johnson and
English.