The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1865-09-14
Important Letter from Secretary Harlan

Important Letter from Secretary Harlan
DErARTMENr OF THE INTERIOR,
WASHINGTON, d. c., August 2G, 1865.
Hon. Geo. b. Edmonds, Clermont, Iowa:
DEAR SR-1 have just received your
letter of the 2lst inst, stating, among
other things, that the Union State Con.
vention Of Iowa has adopted as a plank
in its platform recomme o dation in faver
of negro suffrage; that the Copperhead
Convention has endorsed President John.
sons policy for the reorganization Of
States, assuming it to be in opposition to
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ion, the issue joined between the two
parties in Iowa; that heretofore the
Union party has derived valuable aid
from me in support of its principles;
that you regret, however, to observe a
newspaper report of speech recently
made by me, which places me, as you
think, in antagonism with its present
principles and policy, which gives you
pain.
In reply, I have to say, that if your
opinion was we'll founded, it would be a
cause of greater pain to me, than to
yourself; but, beg leave respectfully to
state, that you Inexperienced the posi-.
tion Of President johnson, and my own,
as well as that Of the Union party at
large. The real question at issue, in a
national point Of view, is not whether
negroes shall be permitted to vote, but
whether they shall derive that authority
from the National Government, or from
the State Governments respectively.
President johnson maintains the doc
trine that the Constitution Of the United
States does not confer on the Federal
Government the right to interfere, prim
arly with the question of suffrage in any
State ofthe Union that the question
may arise and properly be decided by
Congress, when Senators 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 elections Of members; and the othe1
clause of the Constitution Of the United
States, which provides that the "United
States shall guarantee to every State il
tho Union Republican form of Govern
ment." l infer that if any State should
adopt law on tho subject of suffrage
which would clearly show the State Gov
ernment to be other than republican, j
would be the duty Of Congress to rcjec
applications for seats; and to adopt what
ever legislative remedies would in thei
judgment be necessary to carry out tn
guarantees of the Constitution.
That the State of Iowa may take step
to extend the right Of suffrage, is not, q
it seems to me, in conflict with this pol
icy, and consequently, those who supper
the policy ofthe President on this sub
ject, are not in antagonism with th
, platform Of the Union party Of Iowa. A..
, The Union party Of that State pro
poses that the state shall modify its owl
Constitution so as to include as electors
persons who have not, under its prssen
provisions, the right to vote. This, a
President johnson maintains Stat
, may do, but that the National Govern
: ment would have DO right to requir
Iowa, or any State, to modify its ow
. Constitution, on this, or any other sui
icct, when not in conflict with the Cor
stitution of the United States.
If I should be in Iowa when the ques
ton be submitted to the people, if
shall be SO submitted by the Legislature
I would vote to extend the right Of gu
frage to all classes Of persons possessin