The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-12-15

bers OF tho House Of Representatives of the
United States, "tbe electors in each State
shall have the publications requisite for
electors Of tho most numerous branch Of
tho State Legislature" After the formation
OF tho Constitution, 10 remained, as before,
tho uniform usage for each State to On.
largo tho body of lite electors, according to
its own Judgment; and, under this systom,
one State after another has proceeded to
increase tho number Of its electors, until
now universal suffrage, or something very
near 1t, is tho general rulo. So fixed was
this reservation of power in tho habits OF
tho Interpretation of tho Constitution, that
during the civil war tho late President
never Earbored the purpose--c eriainly nev.
or avowed tho purpose-of disregardipg it;
and in tho acts Of Congress during that DO.
riod, nothing con be found which, during
the continuance of bostlities, much less
after their close, would have sanctioned any
\ departure by tho Executive from policy
which has so uniformly obtained. More.
over, o concession of the elective franchise
to the freedmen, by oct of the President of
tho United States, must have been extended
/ to oil colored men, wherever found, and so
must have established change of suf-
frage in the Northern, Middle and Western
States, not less than 10 the Southern and
Southwestern. Such an act would have
created new GLASS of voters, and would
have been ON assumption of power BY tho
President which nothing in the Constitu.
ton or laws of the United States would
bave warranted.
On the other hand, every danger is
avoided when the settlement of tie ques.
ton is referred to the several Siates.-
They can each for itself, decide upon the
measure, and whether it is TO be adopted
at once aad absolutely, or introduced by
degrees and with conditions. In my judg-
ment, the freedmen, if they show patience
and manly virtues, will sooner obtain q
participation in the Elective Franchise
through the States than through the Gen
eral Government, even If it had power to
intervene. When the tumult of emotions
that had been raised by the suddenness
of the change shall have subsided, it may
prove that they will receive the kindliest
usage from some Of those on whom they
have heretofore most closely depended.
But while l have no doubt that now,
after the close Of the war, it is not compe-
tent for the General Government to ex
tend the Elective Franchise in the several
States, it is equally clear that good faith
requires the security of tie freedmen in
their liberty, their property, their right
to labor, and their right 10 claim the Just
retnrn OF their- labor. cannot urge too
strongly dispassionate treatment Of this
subject. which should be carefully kept
aloof from all party striie. We must
equally avoid hasty assumptions of any
natural impossibility for the two races to
live side by side, in a state Of mutual ben
eft and good will. The experiment in
voivea no inconsistency; lot us, then, 60
and make that experiment in good faith,
and not be too easily disheartened. The
country is in need Of labor, and the freed
men are in want of employment, culture
and protection. While their right of vol
untary migration and expa:riation is no.
to be questioned, I would not advise their
forced removal and colonization. Let US
rather encourage them to honorable and
useful industry where it may be beneficial
to themselves and to the country; and in
stead of hasty anticipations of the GER
tainty Of failure, let there be nothing
wanting 10 the fair trial of the expert.
ment. The change in their condition is
the substitution Of labor by contract for
the status of slavery The freedmen can
not fairly be accused of unwillipgness to
labor, so long as doubt remains abont
his freedom Of choice in bis pursuits, and
the certainty oil his recovering bis stipu-
lated wages. In this the interests OF the
employer and the employed coincide.-
The employer desires in his workmen
spirit and alacrity, and these can be per-
. manently secured in no other way. And
il the one ought to be able to enforce the
contract, so ought the other. The public
interest will be best promoted if the sew
eral States will provide adequate protec-
tion and remedies for the freedmen. Un-
til this is in some way accomplished there
is no chance for the advantageous use OF
their labor, and The blame OF i'll success
will not rest on them.
know that the sincere philanthropy is
earnest for the immediate realization OF
its remotest aims; but time is always an
element in reform. 1t is one OF the great
es! acts on record to have brought four
millions Of people into freedom. The ca
reer of free industry must be fairly opened
to them, and then their future prosperity
and. condition must, after all, rest mainly
on themselves. II they fail, and SO per.
ish away, let us be careful that tie fail.
ure shall not be attributable to any denial
of justice. In all tina! relates TO the des.
tiny Of the freedmen, we need not be too
anxious to read the future; many Incl
dents which from speculative point Of
| HiaM mint raisa alarm will nuiellv sci.