Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-07-06

South. Her actual population will then
coincide with her representative population
She will have gained, as to Federal repre-
sentation, l,60O, 900 persons. She will be
entitled, not as now to 8 members, but to
"a; and her votes for President will be in
preportion; Congress, if it intends that the
constitutional rule shall prevail, will have
TO alter the apportonment SO as to cores
pond to the new order OF things.
Now, if the negro is admitted to vote the
Constitutional rule will operate justly. For
then each voter in tho South will have pre-
cisely the same political influence as voter
10 the North. Tho unjust three-hlth pris'
ciple will have disappeared forever.
On the other hand, if color be deemed
cause of exclusion, then all the pohttcdt poo,
er 'chich IS 'oithheI ('on, the en'ancIpated
Stare is gained by the Southern White.
For though, ny law, we may deny suf-
frage to the freedman, we cannot prevent
his being reckoued among those free per
sons who constitute the basis OF representa-.
ton His presence, whether disiranchised
or mt, adds, in spite OF all we can do, to
the political influence of tho State, for 1t
increases the number OF its votes for Presl-
dent and the number OF its representatives
10 Congress. Now, somebody must gain
by this. The gain is shared equally by ev-
cry actual voter in the State. If, in any
State, the number Of blacks and whites is
equal, and if, in that State, blacks are ex-
cuded from voting, then every white voter
will 90 to the polls armed with twice the
political power enjoyed by white voter In
any Northern State. But again, this is on
the suppusition that every white adult In
the State is loyal, and therefore entitled to
vote.
Are the half of all Southern male adults
at this time, or will they be for years to
come, more than lip-loyal if even thatf L
think you will not say that they are. 1t
would surely be an extravagant calculation.
If more than half the whites in ex-insurrec-
tionary States shall actually qualify them
selves as voters, will you not find yourself
compelled to administer the Government,
in the late secession portion of the Unien,
through the agency of its enemies? One
third would be full estimate, In my judg-
ment, for the truly loyal.
| But let us assume that tDO-thirds OF all
the white male adults of the South become
voters, and that they exclude from suffrage,
by law or by Constitutional provision, all
persons of color, what would be the politi-
cal consequences under such state Of
things2 If las we may roughly estimate,)
by destruction thu eugh war and by deple-
ton Of population through emigration to
Mexico, to Europe and elsewhere, the num-
Der of whites throughout the late Rebel
States shall have been reduced until blacks
and whites exist there in nearly equal num-
bers, then, in the case above supposed, each
voter in these States, when he approached
the ballot box during Congressional or
| Presidential election, would do so ,Cielding
THREE TINES as much political Influence as
q uOter IN Northern State. This vast ad-
vantage once gained by Southern whites, is
it likely that they will ever relinquish itp
Nor, if we disfranchise the negro, Is there
any escape from some such consummatien,
except by roofing out from he Constitution
the principle that the whole number Of free
persons shall be the basis OF representation.
But that principle lies at the base of all
free government We abandon republican
ism itself when we discard it.
Thus it appears that the present expert
ment in reconstruction, if suffered to run
its course, and if interpreted as | think We
have Just cause to fear that it will be, tends
Inevitably, it may be said) to bring about
two results:
First. 10 cause the disfranchisement o.
the freedman. Whether we effect this
directly, as by provision Of law or by dis
qualifying clause in a proclamation, OIL
whether we do it by leaving the decision tt
his former masters and his old enemies
matters nothing except in fern and in word
the result is brought about with equa
certitude in either way. Passion, prejudic
and self interest concur to produce th
result
: Second. 1t establishes-not the odiou
three-ffth clause. not even merely tue-httl
clause-but something much worse tha
either. 1t permits the investiture OF th'
Southern white with preponderanec.
g political power, such as no class OF mon, in
!, democratic Republic, every enjoyed sine
:, the werld began.
d | do not-believe me in this Mr.. Pres
9 dent. overlook or underrate the gray
IS embarrassments that beset your path, tur
e as you will. call to mind the overbearin
l. influence OF passion and prejudice, and
admit that when these prevail, in exagger'
d ted form, throughout large portion Of an
l. nation, a wise ruler recognizes the TACT {
e their existence and regulates his acts accor'
c. ingly But the sway of passion and pr
'e iudice, despotic for season., has but
J. limited term of endurance, and should
70 treated as an evanescent thing 1t is tt
at transcient and unstable to furnish basis tt
1t a comprehensive system Of policy. Tender
I'd it should be treated but tnot falsely respecte
~ or weakly obeyed.
re Mercy, God-like attribute as it is, ma
8, run riet. 1t is very well, by act Of grace
or restore to pentent Southern insurgen
rp their legally forfeited rights; let usbe frien
to and fellow citizens once more, as Christian
Sc aud comfy epieip. But to suffer each
these returning Rebels, when about to ca
to his vote Tor President or for Representativ
N, of the people to be clothed with three tim
raj as much power as is possessed by. Mort
ne ern veter exercising similar right, is We
es surely, a somewhat superfueus stretch
az clemency.
ler And what manner Of men. pray you, {
i'll those whom We propose thus to select tire
ID, among their fellows-grantiug them pol
he ical powers unknown 10 democracy, ,investl
them with privileges of an oligarchl
to character? 1t is ungenerous to speak harsl
in of a vanqushed foe, especially of one. W
ON has shown courage and censtancy worthy
fri the noblest cause but the truth is the tru
var and is ever 6tly spoken. They are n
the whose terrible misfortune it has been to
,er- born and bred under system the m
ch cruel and demeralzing the world ever 81
ed The wisest OF those who have been subjec
ted to such a surrounding have confessed its
ling power. There must doubtless, said .
,nal ferson in his Notes on Virginia. be an
h.nnv influence on the manners of our