Journal of freedom. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1865-186?, 1865-09-30

they are at liberty to do so. But they
Will be the losers, in political influence in
the general council of the nation, by the
indulgence of their anti-democratic course:
and they ought to be-" :"
Thus we see that, as it is now held by
some OF our most eminent statesman, there
would be no changein the power of each
State over the right of franchise. But the
ambition Of place-seekers, and the lauda-
BILE desire of each State to have as much
influence as possible in. the national
councils, would, if the amendment were
adopted, prevent the exercise of any snch
powes assumed or MOTTO the detriment
of any portion of its citizens, the result
would be the enactment of laws authori-
zing extended suffrage privileges, and
having in view the advancement, intel
lectually, of every citizen. On this point
the Post says:-
"But, it may be urged, there may be
persons in some States who are not capa-
BILE of wisely exercising the voting power.
In this case the influence of such an amend
1nent will be very strong, to induce the
people to secure such training and educa-.
tion. to this ignorant class as will make
them trustworthy and intelligent voters
Now this is precisely the point which it is
most desirable to gain-the spread of use
fnl education amongst all classes. At pres
ent considerable number of men talk of
narrowing the franchise to exclude the
ignorant classes in our cities. We have
always opposed such measure as unwise,
and contended that the true remedy for an
acknowledged evil, is to give more atten-
tion to the diffusion of education. The
proposed amendment will Unite the whole
people upon this point. 1t will be to the
interest of every man in this State, for in
stance, to secure for ourselves the largest
voting population and because ignorance
and vice are dangerous at the polls, it will
become matter of importance to our
selves-to the whole community-to adopt
such measures and such policy as shall
extirpate ignorance and lessen vice.
SIT may be objected that if such an
amendment were passed the States would
at once open the polls to every one, e,regard-
ess of character, residence or any other
qualifications. 1t is easy to provide limits
in the amendment to prevent the abuse of
tho power. The terras of citizenship, now
.a4i.r,n matter=of diApnte. ought to be
declared in it.
'EThe next enumeration takes place in
1870. Until then the representation in
the South is upon the basis of three-ffths
of the black people and all the whites.-
On the present enumeration only one more
Congress will be elected. If the amend
ment of Mr.. Schenck should meet with
favor, and be passed next winter, it would
be an inducement to the leading men in
the South to further the education Of the
blacks, 80 as to make them, even in their
opinion, capable of exercising the franchise
Iintelligentty arter 1oTo; ana rlruv tngy
might, by general consent, be counted in
the enumeration of voters in our Southern
States whose people desire to profit by do,
ing justice. But if any State should
choose to continue the disfranchisement
of the blacks, or any other class, that
would not affect the rights or the position
in the Union of any other State; and
could not, therefore, give rise TO reasona-
BILE complaints from other States" "