New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-05-29
sUFFRAGE IN THE SOUTH.
The Sun settles offhand the entire question
of the Nations duties as to the political rights
of the Freedmen as follows:

Of the Nations duties as to the political rights
of the Freedmen as follows:
"The peoole OF State have the right to regulate
their domestic institutions In their own way snb)ect
only to the Constitution of the United States Inns
the true doctrine and the only one compatible Win tne
spirit Of free institutions. Inc right OF tne North
ern States 10 determine questions OF franchise mas
been disputed interfcred with by the enera
Government and there is no excuse Tor policy cur
cuated to discriminate against particular States Inc
only pretended argument adduced for interference by
the Government in this respect 49, that men who nave
been active participants in the Rebellion WILL under the
old policy have the power exclude from the right of
suffrage the Freedmen who have never acted the Part
Of disioyalty. And this IL argument at all A feel
ing of sympathy for the Freedmen is natural and proper
but the maintenance Of governmental principles Is par
amount to all such considerations III the G0verhmeht
has the power to make class OF electors In virginia
il has the same power In New'fork. IL IL san
enfranchse the who recently slaves. II can
also enfranchise those Of the color in this state
who are debarrcd by the property qualification The
whole principle Of Legitimate state nights Is involved
In this question 1t does follow that because the Gov
eminent and the loyal people deny the right OF state
or body Of States. to sundeI the I mon that STATES
have no sovereign rights Mt ALL Admit the authority
Of the Government 10 regulate questions O FRANCHISE
and the States at lose their identiy-ther iuhc
tons swallowed up by the Government. III Is NOT
presumabe that RsJe will have any voice In the re-
Mobilization Of the Southern States. Every voter wiz
probably be required to take oath OF ieaty to tho
Government and when that is done he II Union man
endowed with all the attributes OF Tree eector IL ne
sees fit 10 oppose the enfranchisement OF class that
have exercised that privilege. be has perfect
right to do So and If the negroes are by tins means Do
barred, that is simply their misfortune
of course this is one view of the subject,
and in part sound one. Its fault is an insufh.
cient apprehension Of the facts. Let w try to
enlarge the area of The Suns vision by few
opposite suggestions:
We will suppose the authority of the Union
fully restored and acknowledged, the Whites OF
the South generally restored to citizenship,
each taking the oath of allegiance, and the Con-
stitutional Amendment adopted. Now the ma
jority Of the White voters, having been Rebels,
say quietly TO each other ave will make
these negroes smart for their dsloyalty to the
South in hci Great Struggle;" and proceed ac-
cordingly to enact that no negro testimony shall
be taken against White, even in al action
against the White for assaulting, manning and
robbng that negro or for grossly abusing his
wife or daughter. Let it be further enacted
that every negro child may be bound out by any
magistrate to serve White master for so long
as the magistrate shall see fit; and that any
negro who has no settled abode, no legitimate
and gainful calling, may likewise be dlycsted oil
his liberty. Eve are not supposing improbable
tiles. since Union Legislature in Tennessee
has done very nearly all this.) Let US suppose
that. by such nefarious legislation. the great
body of the Southern Blacks. including thou
sands Of Union soldiers, shall be systematically
reduced TO virtual bondage TO their late Rebel
masters, and constantly tainted by them with
this recompense for their devotion to Yankee
predominance. what would The .Snn say
Would il hold that the Union had done It's full
duty by its late defenders. and that there was
nothing for them but TO grin and bear their fate
We entirely concur in the suggestion that IT
is infinitely better Oh all hands that the States
should deal exclusively with questions OF SUI |
frage, provided, they will deal righteously, or
so rs not to be intolerably wrong. We greatly
desire, vet cannot confidently hope, that the
States will so act in the premises that the
Nation may honoraby and justly let it alone.
There is much yet 10 be done, at the North as
well IA at the South. 10 consummate true
reconciliation and to bring the country back to
fraternity and settled tranquility. There must
be iorbcarance, generosity and Il large-hesrted
cancellation. The yenomous fools who fancy
that the provost marshal and the hangman can
do all that remains undonc to pacfy the coun- !
try are respectable in numbers only, and even
their numbers are daily diminishing. But it |
will not do to say to the defeated but still vim
dictive Rebels of the South. Take the oath of
allegiance, and then you may do with your
late slaves as You will only that you must
not in name rcenslayc them. You make the
State laws, and so have them completely in your
power" Yet that in essence The Sun does
say, to our equal surprise and regret.