American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-10-04
NUMBER ID.

po"er 10 iegislate Tor them for the Ter
ritories are not under the Constitution ex-
cept SO far as the express power to gov
ern them is given to Congress. They
would be held in territorial condition
until they are fit to form State Copstitu-
tions, Republican in fact, not in form onlys r
and ask admission into the Union as new
States. If Congress approve of their
constitutions, and think they have done
works meet for repentance, they would
be admitted as new States. If their Conl
stitutions are not approved of they would
be sent back, until they have become wise
enough so to purge their old laws as to
eradicate every despotic and revolutionary
prlnciple-zuptil they shall have learned
to venerate the Declaration of Independ,
enee. do not touch on the question of
negro suffrage If in the Union the States
have long ago regulated that, and for the
central government to interfere with it
would be mischievous impertnence. If
they are to be admitted as new States. thew
must form their own Constitution, and no
enabling act could dictate its terms.
Congress could prescribe the qualifications
of voters while a Territory, or when pro-
ceeding to call Convention to form
State government. That is the extent of !
the power of Congress over the elective
franchise, whether in territorial or State
condition The President has not even
this or any other power to meddle in the
subject, except by advice to Congress--
and then on Territories. Congressy to be
sure, has some sort Of compulsory power
by refusing the States admission until
they shall have complied with its wishes
upon this subject Whether those who
have fought our battles should all be al
lowed to vote, or ouly those Of palor
hue, | leave to be discussed in the future,
when Congress can take legitimate cogni-
zanee Of it There are about A ,000,000 Of
freedmen in the South The number of
acres Of land is 465 100000. OF this
those who own above 200 cores each mum
Der about 10000 persons, holding in the
aggregate together with the States-about
394 ,000, 900 acres. leaving for all the 9TH
ers below 200 each about 1000, 600
acres. BY thus forfeiting the estates Of
the leading rebels the government would
have 394,000,000 of acres beside their
town property, and yet nine-tenths of the
people would remain untouched, Divide
this land into convenient farms. Give, if
you please, forty acres to each adult male
freedman. Suppose there are 600, 900
Of them. That would require 10000.
900 of acres, which deducted from 394,-
100000, leaves 354 100000 Of acres for
sale, Divide it into suitable farms, and
sell it to the highest bidder. / think it,
including town property, would average
at least 40 per acre. That would pro-
duce $3.50, 100000. Let that be ap,
piled as follows, to wit ~ III
l. Invest $500, 900, 900 in six per cent.
government bonds, and add the interest
semi-annually to the pensions of those
who have become entitled by this villains
Gus war.
2. Appropriate s2OOOOO,oOO to pay
the damage done to loyal men, North and
South, by the rebellion. a-
3. Pay the residue, being s3,O4O,00
900, toward the payment Of the national
debt, aa
Our war debt is estimated at from three
to four. billions of dollars In my judg-
ment, when all is funded and the pensions
capitalized, it will reach more than fouE
billions. @
The interest at six per cent,
only (now much more) .,..S240, 100000
The ordinary expenses of l5
our government are........ 120, 100000
FOR some years the eXtfaor-
dinaFy expenses ofonr ar ~
my aud navy will be.".g llO,O00,000
------------ ------
Total. $40 600, 900
Four hundred and seventy millions ID
be raised by taxation Our present
heavy taxes will, in ordinary years, pro-
duce but little more than half that sum,
Can our people bear double their present
taxation2 He who unnecessarily causes
it will be accursed from generation to
generation. Itis fashionable to belittle
our public debt lest the people should
become alarmed, and political parties
should suffer. have never found it wise
to deceive the people. They can always
be trusted with the truth. Capitalists
will not bo affected for they cannot be
deceived Confde in the people and you
will avoid reputation. Deceive them,
and lead them into fale measures, and