Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1865-08-17

To the Editor Of the Lntelligenoer:
Tho most important question ever
agitated in our country is the one OF
reconstruction, in such a manner as
will continue our form Of government,
and make it permanent, just and equi-
table. Many educated and intelligent
citizens have publicly expressed opin-
ions, in which, with long and labored
arguments, they share fears for the fu-
ture, but do not advocate any specific
plan of action. They evidently show
an uuwillingness to invest the colored
race with the elective franchise, and
fear the influence of the educated
whites who differ from them in opin-
ion.
1t must be evident to every reason.
ing mind that the most efficient means
of perpetuating our form of govern.
ment, securing permanent and last.
ing peace, prosperity at home and res
pect as q nation abroad, is to make
the education and intelligence of the
people the basis of the elective fran.
chise. History will prove that in the
past, as a nation, we have committed
many errors through the ignorance
and cupidity Of tho electors. There
fore, having the power, it is our duty
to our country. ourselves and posteri-
ty to reconstruct on . principle per-
mauent and within the reach of all.
Slavery being forever abolished in
the United States, the colored race are
placed on an equality as citizens with
the whites, aud entitled to every right
and privilege enjoyed by them, which
principle carries with it the right OF
life, liberty and the pursuit of hap
piness," the right Of franchise aud the
right to Office. However this may af.
feet our opinions or our nrejudices,
nevertheless it is an incontrovertible
fact. And the remedy to prevent any
evil effects from uneducated persons
at the ballot box lies with the citizens
of the States that have not been in re.
bellion against the government, and
that remedy must affect all without re.
gard to race or color. There are two
principles before US, namely, the right
of suffrage with restrictions, and the
right of suffrage without restrictions,
and whatever we adopt must be uni
versal and permanent. One will sure
ly lead to prosperity and happiness
and the other may lead to anarchy and
misrule; one tends to educate and en-
tighten the people, the other to keeE
them in ignorance and under the con
troll of the educated demagogue.
feel that l have written enough tt
convince the impartial judge that the
Constitution should be 80 amended a.
to restrict the right Of suffrage to al
male citizens twenty-one years of age
and upwards, who can read and write
and are not otherwise ineligible BY
law, and for the express purpose o
preventing frauds at elections ther'
should be q uniform registry Law
throughout the Union. Congress hal
the right, but have not exercised it, I,
determine in what manner their mem
bers shall be chosen. The right 0
franchise is not similar in all th,
States F; in some the ability to rea,
and write without regard to color is
requisite,in others color rejects and al
others vote without any restriction
except short residence in some spec
fed locality. l will not extend thi
article farther than to say that the ed
ucated elector must see the necessit,
Of change now is the time to sc