Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1865-08-05
The Right Of Suffrage.

The var Aaa produced great MisfortuneS,
LG, ag!ong Ihua there Is noge Nhteh more
serlously thvea,ens the fu,dTe OF the Amer-
lean prople than the tendency It has deNel.
oped award u disregard Q! Constitution!
provisions and legal cnscimeA On tue
one hand ,hu rebellion WAS OF itsGU y dl'
rect assault upon law, aId !'s Continuance
couli not but weaken the respect Tor oblles-
,ons once thought satrod. To Ee-e2tGe!Ish
the authority OF the General GeVeraTneIt
freu. numbers nf The people Of the north
we're ready 10 overlook the Importance o:
careful! regard 10 the laTtulness OF the
means employed to that end, !: ia the
houndGa iu;y Uow VI every ma" occupying
position in wh!eh he can eSerels. CON
trolling iaGpcnce, to use his best e"dcarors
to bring this nation back to that vc2eration
for and Close adherence - the spirit and
,e,,o. oi the Constitution Eul thc laws that
once charartsri7o,. the tiliIoRs Of the Uni
ted states. But wc do not sec that The i'm.
portaEce Of this duty has become apparent
10 many Of those regarded as tho leaders
OF public opinion. Too largea number oi
these persons arc nov EdvOca;inga u policy
for fixing the qualifications Of sufraSes IN
the Southern States, which is 6lame'rca.Iy
in opposition TO the Intent and the PLAIN IAN
guage Of the finiGmenta! Law of the uni-
ted States. The var has been supported 10
sustaiU the Constitution, hut &c haze reG-
con to fear t;l.t tho yalub Of that ins.TG-
meat IS not yet appreciated, "hS3 We pe.-
ce.ve ;hat j: is aisrcgardet dur!ns tue MA.
moments Of peace. What is our national
Government worth il it is Aot 10 continue
D government Of laws?
Il will do no harm. TO look at this qres-
ticn dispassionatCly and square!y. The
lately rebellion, States arc yet in the IN
ion. The sc;s Of secession could not divide
the federation, rs they we're unconSiitution-
al and void. Our citizens are entitled TO
their privileges and rights as citizens OF
tho United States; are amcnablc to the laws
o! the country; are ugdeT the rcsponslbi!i-
ties they impose and have the aan!e Claim
to be represented III the National Congress
as the citizens of Massachusetts or Illinois.
There is nc gainsayinS this. Il Is cur !cg1!
npsition and one We must defend az tho
American citizen should always defend his
rights Whatever were the constitutional
rights Of Louisianians before tho war they
still remain to u.s. AS to their internal af-
fairs the scvera! States Of the Union are
independent and sovereign. They have ex-
elusive power to prescribe the qualifications
of voters and State officers.
The Constitution Of the United States
fixes this as plainly as it decides anything
II is one of the rights not delegated to the
General Government when the Constitu-
ton was formed, nor has it since been sur
rendered Hitherto the General Govern.
mcnt has never attempted to exercise it,
Il ia proposed to make the effort TO 40 so
next winter in Congress. In advanc", We
earnestly and Indignantly protest against
it. We regret this proposed Infringement
OF constitutional! provisions, as unJuStaLa-
BILE interlopns
whether tho negroes shall or shall not
vote in Louisiana, is for those who have
legal title to the elective franchise here to
decide. Our citizens have had certain
views on the subject of entranchiscment,
and they can hardly be uprooted in day.
Hitherto our sutfragans have been me \, ieee
born and coming within certain restrictions
as to residence and color. If these rG!es
arc to be changed, the people Of Louisiana
alone have authority therefor.
When VIC ask to be permitted TO exercise
our legal rights, we do not request favor.
We make plain demand. Wo do 30 in the
hone that peace aud harmony may prevail
permanently in this land, and that now
career Of sectional party warfare may not
divide again people who should DO dero;'
ing themselves to the cultivation Of fra
terral spiri, Throughout the nation. There
are objects Of sufficient Importance which
call for the attention Of those occupying
The places os statesmen, without another
national political struggle over the co!ored
race Leave the question Of suffrage where
the Constitution leaves it, with tho people
Of the States, and it will be settled without
that new disslnsion which every patriot
, must deprGcatc.
The Times las sustained the Natioual
Constitution since the first day of its pub
lication. II will aim to coatinue that cup
port OF all times, with reference to the
rights of the Sta,cs, as we'll as with regard
TO those of the nation. We believe ;hatwe
comprehend the policy of President John
son on this question, that it ID broad, ma
tional, and based upon the strongest con.
stilutional grounds, In this belief we have
given our adhesion TO his official declara.
tons concerning suffrage il the States late
" in rcbellioD.-E 0. Times.