Whitelaw Reid: “The brains, the pluck, and the pride of the rebellion are there, and the Rebel capital still leads the returning Rebel…”

It is my firm conviction, that suffrage is not only the best security for freedom, but the most potent agent of amelioration and civilization.

They should persist in this claim respectfully, but firmly, taking care to bring no discredit upon it by their own action.

He who has that right will usually respect himself more, be more respected, perform more, and more productive work, and do more to increase the wealth and welfare of the community, than he who has it not.

Let me repeat, that I think it best for all men—white men, black men, and brown men, if you make that distinction, that all men of proper age and unconvicted of crime, should have the right of suffrage.