Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-12-13
THE STAR.
WANT OF PRACTICAL CRAFTSMANSHIP.

Mr.. Sumner. in opening in the Senate his
Pandora's box of mischIevous projects, seems
10 have given the alarm to the practical portion
of the Union party, who are not disposed to
abandon the urgent and responsible duties
before them TO follow the jack o. lantern iIlu-
Sion OF sentimental philanthropy.
We find the staunchest Union papers amongst
our exchanges giving expression TO this feeling,
and condemning Mr.. Summers impractical
projects in unmeasured terms Amongst these
is the Baltimore American, which paper, in an
able article under the head of .sWant of Prac-
tical Statesmanship," devotes attention to Mr.
Summers series'of projects, and goes on to say:
"We have already spoken of the sectional
application OF his resolutions upon what con-
sututes "a republican form OF gorernment," by
which he would make a republican form OF
government enc thing south of Mason and
Dixon's line, and another thing north of il
thereby keeping up sectional differences with
their perpetual and angry agitation. If 1t be
the duty OF Congress to guarantee "a republi-
can form OF government to every State" let
Congress pass decaratOry resolution as to
what constitutes a repu biican form of govern
ment. If thas be law, the Supreme Court will
say go, and all constitutional provisions of the
States at variance with 1t will necessarily fall
70 the ground 50 long, however, as it is
mere matter of opinion, there is no guarantee
that the succeeding Congress may not give an
other definition to IL, and thus the laws of the
country become as unstable as party triumphs
and popular rights dependent upon temporary
influences. To-day universal suffrage" NAV
be the shibboleth with which the great meas.
Gre OF reform is inangurated, and universal
suffrage may be understood to mean that all
men shall have the right to vote. In England
J. Stuart Mills nicely drawn distinction be-
tween 'mdnAood Suffrage and ''Hnirsrsai s,f-
SrdSe," gives a wider scope to the latter, and il
Is assumed hereunder that women and chill
dren have the right to vote.
"Another measure Of Mr. Summers, intended
TO regulate Juries, is both sectional and partial
IN Its application, and as il affects US in Mary
land, we take the liberty Of expressing our
decided disapproyal Oft. This law provides
that when one-sixth of the population OF a
State 10 colored, one-half of the Grand jury
shall be colored men, and one-half of all
petit Juries IN cases where colored people are
parties, shall be colored men. The proportions
OF population are so arranged As TO impose this
jury system only upon States lying South of
Mason's and Dlxon's line, and appears 10 have
been hit upon by the Massachusetts Senator
with the express view of keeping up sectional
agitation. We may regard ourselves as for
tunate, In the hands of this political Nemesis,
whose mission is to punish the deIinQ ueneies
OF the Southern States by forcing the negro race
into the ascendancy: that, in so far as Mary
land IL concerned. he considers seven hundred
Thousand white people entitled to the same
representation on the juries the one hun
dred and sixty thousand black people
that Is, for jury business, six white men
are equal to one black man. Could not Mr..
sumner carry out his class distinctions little
further, and say that in California for instance,
every jury shall be composed of tour negroes,
and one white man. We are afraid that in his
eagerness TO establish an aristocracy of color,
he forgets some OF the lighter shades. We be-
Heye IN Massachusetts, which State has the
honor TO be represented by this Senator, that
there is no disability for jury service on ac-
count OF color; but Notwithstanding the ad-
yanced state OF public opinion, and the subli-
nation Of political faith on the negro question,
we have never heard of q negro being put
upon the Jury The sheriff may summon him
If he viii, but, as general thing, the sheriff
will not.
Now, what can be more ridiculous or really
more damaging TO the interests OF the freed
men than this persistent forcing of impracti-
cable and unwlse meas ures-this attempt TO
give an impossible status to the negro race by
legislation
1.-THE freedmen have rights which ought to
he proiected-yaluable rights, which open the
way Tor them TO advance themselves We
wish 20 see their rights secured to them, and
not imperiiled by dreadful reaction To be
brought on by disgust at the foolish measures
OF those who claim 70 be their especial cham
v.in