The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-09-22
VuNg LanIuf 0tH D nUi IiYU TU-I .TFTT ~ w
The Position of, President g Johnson on
WOOL qdi uCHsgro Suffrage. doola bns s'ot
rod !EDEraxrxExr or tn. fSristbs, q
w AsHiSoroE. D. c. Aug! 1885, e.

auuh .IOkpAkIuBNI W THB tNtBNp,wt
Nv A,aisoroS. d. CsgAuk 1885, oF
Hon. George iEamoRds,l cisrmOn,,
IOvs: Dear Sir-I have jus. received your
letter Of the 2ist inst. stating, among other
thing, that the Union State Couvantion Of
Iowa has adopted asa plank, n ID platform S
q recommendation in favor Of negro suffrage;
that the copperbsad convention hes endorsed
President johnson" policy fot 'thsNrsoryani.
,stlon Of States, Assuming II TO bs 10 6ppS-
sitipn 70 negro suffrage; that this a,in Jour
opinion. the isus Joined bstwssn tho two
parties in'lows; that heretofore the Union
party has derived valuable sid from me 10
support of ia principles. that you regret,
however, 70 observes newspaper report Ola
speech, recently made bylms, which places
me, ss you think, in antagdnIsm With its
present principles, and poliey-whieh gives
You pain ri b3lsfrs Lnlh Ildiio az w!1~
In reply: have to say thatit your opin.
ion was we'll f.unded II would be cause Of
greater, rain to me than to younslf but !
beg leave respectfully to state that you mis-.
,apprehsnd' the position Of President John.
sou, ana my own, as Vol as that of tho Tn,
ion party at large. The real. question At ID,
sue, ina national point of view, To- not
whether negroes shall be permitted 10 vote
but whsthsrthsy shall derive that aa thority
FROM the national government or from the
State governments respectively 'S1iW i7 a1'
President johnson maintains tue doctrine
that the Constitution o. the United States
does not confer on the Federal Government
the right to aintnrfero primarily with tbs
question OF suffrage il any State Of tho Un.
ion that the question may arise and proper.
lly be decided by Congress, when Senators
and members present themselves Tor adiiiis
sion to seats In that body, under the clause
Of the Constitution which makes each House
the exclusive judge Of the qualifications and
elections Of rnsmbers' and that other, clause
Of the Constitution Of the United States
which provides that "tho United States shall
guarantee to every State in the Union re
publican form Of government infer that
II any State should adoptn law on the sub.
ject Of suffrage which, would clearly show
the State government to bs athsr thun re.
publican. Il would be tho duty Of Congress
to reject applicants for seats. and I'd adopt
whatever legislative remedies would, In their
Judgment, he nscsssary to carry out the guar
antics Of the Constitution. 's1gor ID iHamu
That the State Of Town may tsko steps to
extend the right of suffrage. Is not. as 1t
seems to me-, in conflict with this policy,
and, consequ ntly. those who support the
policy Of the President on this subject, nro
not IN antseonism with the platform Of the
Union party Of Iowa. u4arm I7a loi
The Union party Of that State propose
that the State shall modify iis own constitu.
ton. % rs to include as electors persons who
have not, under its present provisions. .,tl's
right to voto. This. ~ President johnson
maintains. State may do, but that the ma.
tional government would have no right to re.
quire Iowa, or any other State, to modify its
own constitution, on this or any other sub
jec,. when not in conflict with the Coustitu.
ton Of tha United States. ~ n1Hit',i y. 30 -
It I should be 10 Iowa when that question
is submitted to the peopls-ii II shall be 90
submitted by the Logislaturs-I would vote
to extend the right TO al, cl,@s Of persons
possessing the requisite intelligence and pat.
riotism to bs entrusted with a participation
In the management. Of public aa,irs, State
or national, without regard to their nation
ality. ~ do not believe that the liberty Of
any class Of people can, bs considered safe
whn are to be permanently deprived Of the
exercise OF this right .D,i ,- ~ ,sg y" n i.ar
do not disguise thcss opinions: you may
therefore make what use Of this letter you,
may deem proper. bio ~ 1gnJsIl aH ao''r'. ..sd
I have the honm to be, very respectfully.
YOUR obedieut servant,