The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1865-12-07

1
vailed with regard to the officers who
were to be chosen. The Constitution o
| the United States recognizes their diver
sites, when it enjoins that in the choice
| OF members of the House of Represep'
tatives of the United States, the electors
in each State shall have the qualification;
requisite for electors of the most numer
Gus body Of the State Legislature. AfteI
the formation of the Constitution, II re-
manned as before the uniform usage ior
each State to enlarge the body of its cleo
tors according to its own judgment, and
under this system one State after another
has proceeded to increase the number OF
its electors, until now universal suffrage,
or something very near 1t; is the general
rule. So fixed was this reservation oil
power in the habits of the people, and SO
unquestioDed has been the Interpretation
OF the courts, that during the civil war,
the. late Presidenl never harbored the
purpose-certainly never avowed the
purpose-of disregarding it, and in the
acts of congress during that period, moth
ing can be found which, during the con-
tinuance OF hostilities, much less after
their close, would have sanctioned any
departure, by the Executive, from pol
icy which was so uniformly obtained
Moreover concession of the elective
franchise to the freedman, by act of the
President of the United States, must have
been extended to all colorcd men where
ever found, and he must have established
a change of suffrage in the Northern,
Middle and Western States not less than
in the Southern and South. WESTERN
Such an act would have created new
class of voters, and would have been an
assumption of power by the President,
which nothing in the Constitution or laws
of the United States would have war
ranted. On the other hand, every danger
of conflict is avoided when the settlement
of the question is referred to the several
States. They can each, for itself, decide
on the measure, and whether it is to be
adopted at once and absolutely, or reduc-
ed gradually and with conditions. In my
judgment, the freedmeu, if they show
patience and manly virtues, will sooner
obtain participation in the elective
franchise through the States than through
the General Government, even if it had
power to intervene. When the tumult
of passion that has been raised by the
suddenness of the social change has sub
sided, it may prove that they will receive
the kindhest usage from some OF those
on whom they have heretofore most close
ly depended. But while have no doubt
that now that after the close of the war,
it is not compatible tor the General Gov
ornnnont to oxtGnd tho elective franchise
in the several States, it is equally clear
that good faith requires the security OF
the freedmen in their liberty and their
property, their right to labor, and their
right to claim the just reward of THEN
labor.
cannot too strongly urge dispassion
ate treatment of this subject, which
should be carefully kept aloof from al
party strife. We must equity avoid par
ty assumption of any natural impossible
ty for the two races to live side by side
in a state of mutual benefit and good
will. The experiments involves us in nc
inconsistency. Let us then go on ano
make that experiment in good faith, ano
not be too easily disheartened. The
country is in need of labor and the freed
men are in need of employment, culture
and protection. While they have the
right OF voluntary migration and expatri
alton would not advise their forced re-
moval and colonization. Let us rather
encourage them to honorable and useiu
industry, where it may be beneficial tC
themselves and to the country, and in
stead OF party anticipatious of the GER
tainty of failure, let there be nothing
wanting to the fair trial of the expert
ment. The change in their condition i
| the substitution of labor by contract fo
/ the status of slavery. The freedmen can
not fairly be accused af unwillingness t
work, so long as a doubt remains abou
| his freedom of choice in his pursuits anC
the certainty OF his recovering his stipula
| ted wages. On this, the interests OF tn
employer and the employed coincide
The employer desires in his workmel
spirit and alacrity, and they can be pei
| manently secured In no other way, and !
the one ought to be able to enforce tn
contract, so ought the other. The pub
lie interest will be best promoted if tn
several States will provide adequate pro
| lection and remedies for the freedmen
| Until this is in some way accomplished
there is no chance tor the advantageou
use of their labor, and the blame OF Ill
success will not rest on them. | kno'
that sincere philanthropy is earnest &c
the immediate realization of its remotes
aims, but time is always an element /
reform. 1t is one of the greatest acts o
record to have brought 200 peopl
into freedom. The career Of indusl I
must be fairly opened to them and the
their future prosperity and condltio
must, after all, rest mainly IN then
selves. If they fail and SO perish ava
let US be careful that the failure shall M
. be attributed to any denial of justice.
|, all that relates to the destiny uf tt
, freedmen we need not be too anxious
read the future. Many incidents whicl
: from a speculative point of view, migl
raise alarm, will quietly settle themselve
, Now that slavery is at an end, or nes
i its end, the greatness OF its evil in I'll
the point OF view of public economy b
t comes more and more apparent. SLAYER
; was essentially labor and as such locke
+ the States where it prevailed against u
t emigration of free industry Wher
labor was the property of the capitals
: the white man was excluded from er
!. ploymept, or had to run his best chan'
: of finding it, and the foreign emigral
: turned away from the region where b
condition would be so precarious. VII
q the destI uc.ion of the monopoly, FRI
r labor will hasten from all parts of II
e civilized world to assist in developiT
s | various and immeaS urable resourc
: which have hitherto lain do
4 mant. The eight or nine Stat
J. nearest the Gulf of Mexico have sc
!, iof exuberant richness and china
e conducive to long life. and can sustain
b denser population than Is found, as y,
# in any other part of our country, and Il
J. future influx of population to them W