Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-07-21
Southern Representation.

We have discussed the question how
the negroes would probably vote if they
had the privilege, bat we should never
forget what is the effect of their present
position upon Congress and the Presi
dency. 1t would seem that by the pres
ent time this subject ought to be fully
understood but it is not. Let us, then
glance at its bearing upon the future
politics of the South.
The House of Representatives consists
of definite number of members-fxed
at 244 by the act of 1862. These are
apportioned equally, according to the
figures of the census. If we take differ
ent sections of the country into view
then, what one gains the others lose, as
there can be only SO many on the whole
In the days of slavery, the basis of rep
resentation at the South. in addition to
the usual elements of population pre-
vailing at the North, took in three-fifths
OF the slaves that is, these three-fifth:
of the slaves were the means of procur-
ing for the South certain proportion OF
Congressman (from fifteen to twenty at
different times) which it otherwise would
not have had but having procured the
Congressman, the negroes disappeared
from all further connection with the mat
ter, and the whites elected them. The
same process was followed with regard
to the Presidency-the three fifths of the
slaves procured so many additional
electoral votes, and the whites exclusive
ly attended to their casting.
Now comes change, through the
emancipation Of the slaves. They being
freemen, the other two ffths also 90 into
the basis of representation, and will thus
be the means of procuring an additional
number of OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES at
from II to 14-for the South, this gain
being at the expense Of the other parts
of the Union. But, as before, the ne
groes count simply to secure so many
Southern Representatives which h e
whites elect. 1t is obvious, therefore,
that the effect upon Congress is the same
as if the negroes should vote in the same
way'with the mass of the Southern white
voters. If the negroes, as basis OF
representation, should obtain for the
South say twelve specific new members,
and these should all be fire eaters, il would
be the same as if the negroes, having a
right to vote, had chosen those fre-eaters.
And SO now, when their influence as an
element in the representation extends to
the entire delegation of the late slaves
holding States, the effect Is precisely as If
they voted substantially with the rest of
the Southern community.
1t will be seen, therefore, how much
the talk amounts to that the negro voter
would be swayed by the white voter
As it is now, the white voter substantial
ly casts the eolored voters ballot, with
out taking the trouble to get his consent
But it is to be observed that this takes
place only in Congressional and Presi-
Dental elections, where the discrepancy
between representation and voting exists,
in State and local elections the objection
to putting the negro voter at the mercy
Of the more powerful white voter might
have full force, whatever it amounts to as
a matter of fact. But as to Congression-
al elections, the thing is now just as bad
as the most bitter enemies of negro suf-
frage pretend to fear, and all the chances
of granting that suffrage would be in IA
vor of improvement.-BostonJo Journal.