The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1865-09-26
Important Letter from Secretary
Harlan.
The Position Of President Johnsqp on Negro
suffrage.
DEPARTMENT or THE INTERIOR, !
" .SurNnraN ID q nnr o ,EE

~~'..'"st
Suffrage.
DEPARTMENT or THE INTERIOR, !
WAsnINGToN, ID c., Aug 81 't5.
Hon. George B. Edmunds, Clcrmont
Iowa:
DEAR SIR.-I have Just received
your letter of the 2lst inst, stating
among other things, that the Union
State Convention of Iowa has adopted
rs a plank in its platform recommend
alton in favor of negro suffrage: that
the Copperhead Convention has en-
dorscd President Johnson's policy fcr
the reorganization os States, assuming
it to he in opposition to negro suffrage
that this is, in your opinion, the issue
joined between the two parties in Iowa
that heretofore the Union party has de-
rived valuable aid from me in the sup
port of its principles that you regret,
howeSor, to observe newspaper re-
port of speech recently made by me,
Us you think, in antagonsm with its
present principle and policy, which
gives you pain.
In reply, have to say, that if your
op;ni0n vas well founded, it would be
the cause of greater pain 10 me, than
to yourself; but beg leave respect
fully 10 state, that you misapprehend
the position of President Johnson, and
my own, as well rs that of tie Union
party at large, The real question at
issue, in national point of view, is
not whether negroes shall be permitted
to vote, but whether they shall derive
that authority from the National Gov
ernment, or from the State Govern
mcnts respectively.
Prcsi lent Johnson maintains the doc
trinc, that the Constitution of the
United States does not confer on the
Federal Government the right to inter-
ferc, primarily with the question of suf
frage in any State of the Union that
the question may arise and properly be
decided by Congress, when Senator's
and members present themselves for adj
mission to seats in that body, under the
clause of the Constitution, which make
each House the exclusive judge Of the
qualifications and elections of msm-
bers; and that other clanse Of the
Constitution of the United States,
which provides that '..the United States
shall guarantee to every State in the
Union a Republican form of Govern
ment." infer that if any State should
adopt law on the subject of suffrage,
which would clearly show the State
Government to be other than republi-
can, it would be the duty of Congress
to reject applicants for seats; and to
adopt whatever legislative remedies
would in their judgement be necessary
to cary out the gaurqnlltiIef of the Con-
stitution.
That the State of Iowa may take
steps to exterd the isht of suffrage,
Is not, as it seems to me, in conflict
with this policy, and, consequently,
those who supndgt the policy of the
President OH this subject, are not in
antagonism with the platform of the
Union party Of Iowa.
The Union party of that State pro-
pose that the State shall modify its own
constitution, so rs to includeas cicctore,
persons who have noG, under its pres
ent provisions, the right to vote. This,
rs President Johnson maintains, o
State may do, but that the National
Government would have no right to re-
quire Iowa, or any other State, TO mod
ify its own Constitution, on this, or
any other subject, when not in conflict
v it'll the Constitution of the United
States.
If should be in Iowa when that
question is submitted to the people, if
it shall be so submitted by the Lcgisia-
turc, | would vote to extend the right
to all classes Of persons possessing the
requisite intelligence apd patriotism to
be entrusted with participation in the
management OF public affairs, State or
National, without regard to their ma
tionality, as l DO not believe that the
liberty of any class Of pooplo can be
considered safe who. arc to be pcrma-
nently deprived Of the exercise of this
right. ~
/ do not disguise these opinions !;
you may, therefore, make what use of
this letter you may deem proper.
have the honor to be,
Very respectfully your ob't serv't,
JAS. HARLAN.