Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-07-06
shall the Negro Yotei

tFroni the New York Daily Ncw.)
This great and vital problem in state
household is now, by the irreversible logic
ofevents, imposed upon the Southern S Sates
for their consideration and prompt deter
mination. 1t is question upon the policy
of which all may be permitted to speak :
But it is clearly one for the States-and the
States alone-each for itself to determine.
The News can fairly claim to be the expo
nent here of Southern opinion and interest.
That claim will be allowed in the South-it |
will scarcely be denied here. Indeed, il |
would be wrong for us to withhold our voice |
at this crisis in the settlement of Southern |
affairs and poity. We feel q responsibility |
on this question, which long and perilous
advocacy, through more than four years of !
''intcstne strife and civil butchery," has |
placed upon our shoulders. Yet we have !
no hesitation to declare our opinion on this !
matter, for we see plainly where the true
way lies for the interests OF the country and
the South, and the consequent restoration
to the South Of her natural political forces
Ii is TO take up and establish that policy
regarding the black man which the states
men Of the South desired to incorporate in
TO the supreme organic law of the Union,
when the Constitution was formed, and
from the accomplishment Of which they
were withheld by the Northern crafty sug-
ge5tion Of what Hamilton calls "lhe com
promising exredient Of the Constitution"
and by tho ultimate adoption Of which Tex
pedient" the Slave States threw away two.
filths of great source Of political power,
and introduced into our National scheme of
Government that idea of ever recurring
compromise through which the South has
had, at each new cxigency of her life, to
bar;cr with the North, that she might pre-
serve her rights and Just balance of power.
The era OF compromise has passed. The
Southern States now, at last, must be al
lowed to stand fairly and firmly on :hcir
Constitutional basis President johnson
has declared as the fixed doctrine of the
National Government that these States, as
States, have lost nothing Of thsir Inherent
power by the iusurgcnce of persons within
those States-that the oifense adhores to
the individual, not to the State; that the
insurgent may be punished, but that the
State is Ieoral political essance, incapable
of committing crime, and by its very ma.
! ture is beyond the reach and the effects of
! punishment. States, like Miton's angel,
vital in every part, can, but by annihila-
| ton, die. So we are instructed by this
| highest, and therefore, most competent
authority. Duing the Rebellion, the pow
ers Of the States rested in abeyance, and
now, armed resistance to the Federal au
thority having ceased The State, by its own
Inherent force, resumes its activity, and
takes up the peculiar and native functions
of its ancient political existence. This is
sound doctrine, common sense, and is easily
cJmprehended. 1t clears the atmosphere,
and enables Us 10 see the surrounding oh
jects in their real relations to. each Other
u
we would urn.
On this question we take our stand with
Mr. johnson Tais position, 50 protected,
ca mot be flanked.
Now, this problem of negro suffrage
seems to JG disturbing thc charitable minds
OF the iuyGtcrate phiianthropic patriots Of
the * publican party aud Of the War De-
mocracy. They seem 10 be disposed 10 set
lie the matter for the Soulh among them
selves. La this determination it sceins that
so Tar as they are concerned, the powers OF
the National Government an Of the South
egn States are not 10 be consulted at ALL -
Mr.. Richard NJ Dana. j'., ''Jf the Boston
Bar" the author Of Two years before the
Mast" was, in length, il not in brca !th,
the chirf orator ut the recent meeting in
FancUi Hal, and he proclaimed that tie
NdtDaGl Gorern.9@t had the power to su-
perm luce upon the Institution nf the ) 18th
egn States tha gW Of tn, ol.ctiye iranchi &c
~ tue liberated back man. La that U;n.
N til Na..0aa' Administration does mot
seoD - agree win tMa orator; indeed, he
who'o assumrAi augtosts that NJ. D4na
VS. ,ry;1c 10 iil! Il way through region
"ih winch h. had u previous arqulint-
lnce. AID tht Il very savI sailor ha; byen
At IN very laxative attorney. \ lyio,
fio.a such quarters, AMI accouI panied by
tho l.rguare u! iA'imil ion aad the strut
of brie authority, will effect no'hag toward
attaining he cnI which ,hi, orator profess.
es to have in view. Again, it is nor to be
! concealed thar the people Of tho South feel
themselves aggrieved by such papers us Il e
World, which, pretentiou>ly and without
authority, or even accurate information rs
to the real condition OF opinion among tho
people of the South, yet persist in speak
ing, as it were, friendly word, for them,
and advocating what they assume 10 b. the
Southern interest. The Times says, that
the Ul,i0n men of the South are almost
universally taking ground against all color
ed suffrage whatever" And the World
| / a. Al.