Year: 1866

0neered our starved and hunted brethren
through the swamps and woods of the South.
in their fight from those who now aspire to
rule them.


The shame and folly Of deserting the negroes
are equaled by the wisdom OF recognizing and
protecting their power.


They will form clear and controlling ma.
jority against the united white vote in South
Carolina, Mississippi and Louisiana.


With very small accession from the loyal
whites, they will form majority in Alabama,
Georgia and Virginia.


Unaided in oil those States, they will be q
majority in many congressional and legislative
districts, and that alone sutfices to break the
terrible and menacing unity Of the Southern
vote in Congress.


If organized and led by men having their
confidence, the negroes will prove as powerful
and loyal at the polls as they have already, in
the face Of equal clanor and equal prejudice,
proved themselves under such leaders on the
field of battle.


To those who say they arc unfit for the fran.
chse, l reply they are moro fit than tho seces.
sionists.


II they be ignorant they are not moro so
than large masses Of tho white voters of tho
South. or the rabble which is tumbled on tho
wharves of New York and runs straight to tho
polls.


However ignorant, they know enough to he
on the side of the Government, and the intelli-
gence of the master has not yet taught him
that wisdom.


They NAV be Influenced by the master, but
the master must touch his hat to them ut least,
and II will be an open question whether they
will vote with the master any moro than they
| fought on his side. IL is certain the Northern
immigrant will find the negro safe ally, and
arguments on his lips will lose no weight by
their Yankee origin.


Il is said not to be safe for the master to
visit their plantations in Georgia; when he
does he will hardly carry much influence po-
litically.


repeat that in this problem are involved
the issues of life and death.


II the negro population be recognized rs an
integral portion OF the people OF the States
which rebellcd. and governments be organized
TN the basis of universal suffrage and equality
before tho law, Congress ought to recognize
them, and the problem is solved forever.


II governments be allowed by the President
to bs organized on the basis of the exclusion
Of the mass ot the negro population, then Con.
gress ought to refuse to recognize them, but |
fear il will not refuse.
If tho question be submitted to the voto of
any portion of the white population, the ne
groes will bo excluded from power.


The result entails on us a barren agitation
instead of benefccnt settlement. 1t carries
with il division Of the friends Of the Govern
ment and threatens to elevate its enemies to
power.


For premature agiiators have small sympa
thy They are cocks which crow at midnight;
they do not herald the dawn, but merely dis
turb natural rest by untimcly clamor.


But this is question OF political dynamics,
which presses now for solution. and on il de.
pcnds the chief fruits of the war.


If it be not rightly solved norD, it will find
no solution for a generation, and possibly none
then without renewed civil connections. Over
the result have no power. can only hope
and fear.


Your ob't serv't, ii. WINTER DAVIS.