The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-09-09
IMPORTANT LETTER FROM
SECRETARY HARLAN.
The Position Of President John.
son Oh Negro Suffrage.
DEPARTMENT or THE INTERIOR,
WASHINGTON. ID. c. Aug. 20 1865.


Hon. Geo. B. Edmonds, Clermont, Iowa:
| Dean SIR Il have just received your let
ter of the 21st inst, stating. among Other
things, that the Union State Convention q
| Iowa has adopted az plank in its platform a
recommendation in favor of negro suffrage
that thACopperhead Convention has endorsed
| President ohnson policy for the reorgani
zation of States, assuming it to be in opposi-
ton to negro suffrage that this is, in your
opinion, the issue joined between the two par.
ties in Iowa: that heretofore the Union party
has derived valuable aid from me in support
of its principles; that you regret, however, to
observe newspaper report of q speech re-
| Gently made By me, which places me, as you
think, in antagonism with its present princi-
pie and policy, which gives you pain.
In reply, have to say, that if your opinion
| was we'll founded it would be cause OF
greater pain to me, than to yourself; but,
beg leave respectfully to state, that ybu mis-
apprehend the position of President Johnson,
and my own, as well as that of the Union
party at large. The real question at issue, in
| national point of view, is not whether ne
groes shall be permitted to vote, but whether
they shall derive that authority from the Ma
tional Government, or from the State Govern
ments respectively.
President johnson maintains the doctrine,
that the Constitution of the United States
does not confer on the Federal Government
the right TO interfere, primarily with the ques-
ton of suffrage in any State of the Union !;
that the question may arise and properly be
decided by Congress, when Senator'S and
members present themselves for admission TO
seats in that body, under the clause of the
Constitution. which makes each House the
exclusive judge of the qualifications and cleo
tons of members and that other clause of
the Constitution of the United States, which
provides that ''the UnitedStates shall guaran-
tee TO every State in the Union Republican
form Of Government infer that if any State
should adopt law on the subject of suffrage,
which would clearly show the State Govern
ment to be other than republican, it would be
the duty OF Congress to reject applicants for
seats and to adopt whatever legislative RENE
dies would in their judgment be necessary to
carry out the guarantees of the Constitution.
That the State of Iowa may take steps to
extend the right of suffrage, is not, as it seems
to me, conflict with this policy, and, con.
sequently, those who support the policy Of
the President on this subject, are not in an
tagonism with the platform of the Union
party of Iowa.
The Union party of that State propose that
the State shall modify its own Constitution,
so as to include as electors, persons who have
not, under its present provisions, the right to
vote. This, as President johnson mai ntains
State may do, but that the National Gov
ernment would have no right to require Iowa,
or any other State, to modify its own Consti-
tuition, on this, or any other subject, when
not in conflict with the Constitution of the
United States.
IfI should be in Iowa when that question
is submitted to the people, if it shall be so
submitted by the Legislature, | would vote to
extend the right to all classes of persons pos
sesing the requisite intelligence and patriotism
to be entrusted with participation in the
management of public affairs, State or Ma
tional, without regard to their nationality,
and do not believe that the liberty of any class
of people can be considered safe, who are to
be permanently deprived of the exercise Of
this right.
do not disguise these opinions; you may
therefore make what use Of this letter you
may deem proper.
have the honor to be,
Very respectfully,
Your obedient serv't,
JAS. HARLAN.