The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-10-25

time to digest part for we cannot eX'
pect such large affairs will be eOmpre.
hended and digested at once. We must
give them time to understand their new
position.
L have nothing to conceal in these
matters, and have no desire or willing
ness TO take indirect courses to obtain
what we want.
Our government is a grand and lofty
structure; in searching for its founda-
ton we find that it rests on the broad
basis of popular rights. The elective
franchise is not natural right, but a
political right. | am opposed to giving
the States too much power, and also to
great consolidation of power in the
central government.
If 1 intertered NTH the pote in the rebel
States. TO dictate that the negro shall
Uote, might do the same thing for mig
oaOn purposes IN Pennsylvania. Our only
safety lies in allowing each State to con-
troll the right of voting by its own laws,
and we have the power to control the
rebel States if they go wrong. If they
rebel we lave the army, and can control
them by il, and, if necessary, by leg
islation also. If the general government
controls the right to vote in the States,
it may establish such rules as will re-
strict the vote to small number of per-
sons, and thus create u central despo-
tism. .o.
My position here is different from
what it would be if was in Tennessee.
There / should try to introduce negro
suffrage graduollyj first, those mho lad
serred In the army; those WhO coutd read
and aorite, and perhaps apr0perty gatdt-
ifcdtiOn for Others, sag $500 or $3.50.
1t will not do to let the negroes have
universal suffrage now, it would breed a
war of races. #ra
There was time in the Southern
States when the sldUes Of large oWners
looked dorm upon nOn-st0veo'Uners be-
cause they did not o,0n sl0ves; the larger
the number of slaves their masters owned,
the prOuder they were, and this has pro-
duced hostility between the mass of the
whites and the negroes. The outrages
are mostly from nen-slaveholding
whites against the negro, and from the
negro =. upon the non-slayeholdine
whites.
The negro will vote with the late mas
| ter whom he does not hate, rather thai
with the non .slaveholding white, whom
he does hate Universal suffrage would
create another war, not against us, but 6
war of races.
Another thing. This government is
the freest and best on the earth, and
feel sure is destined to last; but to secure
this zoe must olepate and purity the bal
lot. for many years contended at the
South that slavery was political weak
ness, but others said it was political
strength they thought ape gained three
ffths representation 6y it.; i c0atendeo
,oe lost taOojJths.
If we had no slaves we should have
had twelve representatives more accOr
| ding to the then ratio of representation
| Congress apportions representation b,
States, not districts, and the State ap
portions by districts.
Many years ago moved in the Leg
islature that the pportionment of rep
| resentatives to Congress, i'm Tennessee
should be by qualified voters.
The apportiOnment is now fixed unit
1872; before that time we might change
the basis of representation from popu.
lati0n to qualified voters, North as well
as South, and in due course of time, ttt
States, Uith0M regard to color, migt
eTtend The elective franchise to all aDhC
possessed certain mental, mora, or Such
other qualifications, as might he deter.
mined by an enlightened public judg-
nlen.
THE PRESIDENTS ENDORSEMENT
Boston, Oct. Is, 1885,.
The above report was returned to me
by President Johnson with the follow
ing endorsement.
GEORGE L. STEARNs.
/ have read the within communica-
ton and find it substantially correct.
l have made some verbal alterations.
A, j..