The Bedford Gazette

PENNSYLVANIA TO BE RECONSTRUCTED!
How The Thing Is To Be Done:
Theodsssyhite to be Stricken from the Constitution!
Negro Suffrage to be FORCED Upon Our People, without their Consent!

The Harrisburg Telegraph, of a recent date, has the following significant and startling editorial:

"A GENERAL ACT OF CONGRESS ON THE SUFFRAGE QUESTION.

The opinion of thinking men, of statesmen and philanthropists, is fast closing strongly on the subject of securing the passage of a general law of Congress, regulating the suffrage question in all the States of the Union. Congress fixes the status of citizenship—the period at which a native born arrives at the rights of citizenship—the period for naturalization—and Congress unquestionably, is the proper power for defining the rights of the black man, to the elective franchise in the several States.— Congress, in order to promote harmony of action in political contests, and do away with the unjust discriminations, which are practised by the States on this subject, should at its next session act upon its unquestionable Constitutional authority by adjusting this vexed question throughout the nation, by doing justice to men who add to the productive wealth of the country in periods of peace, and who in time of war have shown their ability and willingness to peril their lives in the defense of the Government.

At the session of Congress last Spring, Mr. Sumner introduced a bill in the Senate providing for the adjustment of the franchise question in several States. There is no doubt whatever that Congress, when it meets next November, will pass at an early day a general act applying to the whole country, and establishing throughout the nation the right of all American citizens to vote, without any exclusion on account of complexion.— This will be a most potent and prompt remedy for the difficulties in all Northern States. In several the Republicans hesitate to raise the issue in behalf of colored suffrage. It is a question which, if debated, State by State, must arouse all the old and buried prejudices of the vulgar and ignorant. To achieve justice for all their citizens, by local action, must be slow, tedious and uncertain: But when Congress exercises its power, the effect is prompt and unimpeded. A general law will cut the Gordian knot and settle the issue finally?"

The Telegraph is the central organ of the Radical party in this State, and, therefore, must be taken as the mouthpiece of that organization. Hence, we learn from the above quoted article, that it is the purpose of the Radical leaders, to FORCE Negro Suffrage and the Political Equality of Whites and Blacks, upon the people of Pennsylvania, WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT. The editor of the Telegraph knows, as well as he knows that he lives and breathes, that Congress has no right whatever to do this, and yet he talks of the "unquestionable Constitutional authority" of that body in the premises! Are the people so blind and besotted that they will hearken unto so deliberate and shameless a falsehood? For, it is not merely a perversion of the meaning and intent of the Federal Constitution, but wilful and cold-blooded misrepresentation of the language and spirit of that instrument. Will the people, then, vote for HENRY W. WILLIAMS, who is pledged by his party platform, to decide in favor of the Congressional usurpation which is to force Negro Suffrage upon our Commonwealth? To be fore-warned is to be fore-armed! Let every man who is opposed to the political equality of Whites and Blacks, who would not stand by the side of Negroes at the Polls or sit with them in the Jury Box, cast his ballot against the candidate of the Radical party.