New-York daily tribune., 1865-06-29
Shall the Negro Vote Z

l. lnls great andy vital problem IN STATE mousse
hold is now by the irreversbe logic of events imposed
upon the Southern States for their consideration and
prompt determination 1t Is question upon the policy
OF which all may be permitted to speak. But ii is
clearly for the States-and the States aloneeach
for itself to determine. The Nsps fairly G, i'm to be
the exponent here Of Southern opinion aud interest.
That claim will be allowed in the South-it VIII scarcely
be denied here. Indeed it would be wrong for TO
withhold voice at this crisis in the settlement of
southern affairs and polity We feel responsibility
on this question, which long and perilous advocacy.
through than four years of intestine strife and
civil butchery has placed upon shoulders. Yet
have have no hesitation to declare our opinion on
the true way lies for the interests Of
the country and the South and tie cOnse.
quent restoration to the South of her natural political
forces III to take up and establish that policy regard
ing the black man which the statesmen OF the South
desired to incorporate nto the supreme organic law Of
the Uuon when the Constitution was formed and
lfom the accomplishment OF which they were withheld
by the Northern crafty suggestion of what Hamilton
calls the compromising oxpediont Of the Constuton.
and by the ultimate adoption OF which "expedent
the Slave States threw two fths of great
of political power and introduced into onr National
scheme of Government that idea of recurring com
promise through which the SOuh has had at each
exigeucy Of her life barter with the North that she
might preserve heI rights and us balance OF power.
The era of compromise has passed. The southern
States now at last, must be allowed to stand fairly
ard firmly their Constitutional basis. Presi-
dent johnson has declared the fixed doctrine Of the
National Government that these States as States have
lost nothing of their inherent power by the Insurgency
of persons within those Satesthat the oiiense i'd
here's TO the individual not 10 the States that the In
surgent be punished but that the State la moral
political essence incapable Of committing crime, and
by its nature beyond the reach and the effects
~ punishment. States like Millions angel, vital in
every part can but by anuhliailon. die" so We are
Instructed by this highest and therefore, most compe
tent authority. During the Rebellion. the powers Of
the Stete rested in abeyance, and armed resist
ance To the Federal authority having ceased, the
State BY its inherent force its activity,
and takes up the peculiar aad native functions of Its
ancient political existence This is sound doctrine.
common sense and is easily comprehendcd 1t clears
the atmosphere and enables us to see the surrounding
objects their real relations each other and to
tue old familiar ways TO which we would return.
On iLls question we take our staRd with Mr.. john
son. This position, protected cannot be fanked.
Now, this problem of negro suffrage TO be dis
turbng the charitable minds Of the nyeerate philau
nropc patriots Of the Republican party aud of the War
Democracy They seem to be disposed 10 settle the
matter for the South themselves In this deter
mnation II seems That 50 lar as tney are concerned
the powers Of the National Government and OF the
Southern States not To be consulted ut all. Mr.
Richard NJ. Dana, jr " of the Boston Bar the author
of Two Years before the Mast was. IN length II not
IN bre ldh the cief al the recent meeting in
Faneuil Hall ana he proclaimed taat me Ndii0nal Cor
erArlcai had the power TO sapennduce upon The
instiations OF the southern States Inc ,8yt OF
the elective franchise 10 the liberated blaek
man. In that opinion the National Admins
traton does not 20 agree with TINS orator; IN
deed the whole argument suggests tLat Mr; Dana was
trying 10 find iis way through redon with winch he
mad no preyous acquaintance. and that "A very good
sailor has been lost IN very tslAeiVe attorney Al
vice from such quarters, and ACCOMPANIED by the
Language of Intimidation and tue strut OF Olei autor
iy Will effect nothing toward attlinng the end which
this orator professes TO have ia view Again It is not
to b. concealed that the people OF the South ieel thein
selves agerieved bv such papers as The U0Tid WHICH,
pretenously and without authority or even accurate
information TO the real condition OF opinion among
the people OF the South yet persist In speaklug as
we're. friendly word for them and adyooniing what
they assume to be the southern Interest Ihe iincs
SAYS that 'the Union Of the South are almost uni
yersally taking ground against al colored suffrage
hat nd Thf UOrlI has idea that
those recently in rebellion are equally univer'
sally against negro suffrage II we take both OF these
papers 10 be true exponents Of those whose opinions
they profess to represent we would have to believe
that the South is united In opposition 10 the elective
franchise being extended 10 the negro. But such IA
not the real state Of the IL Involves only negro
snfIage-not social equality We cond mention many
Than y leading men IN the Southern states VINO
seriously consider this the day and hour when The
presefy alton and stability of southern interests mpe!
them 10 return on ths subject 70 the snent p3he! Oh
early Southern statesmen. They know and acknoV-
edge that Slavery n their States rs OF the past lhey
reluctantly accepted ths effect OF The war; Hut y d.
accept H. and are By means reluctant TO conform
their methods OF State polity 70 the changed
condition ofF public affairs. henceiorth they
enter upon new Of Southern prosperi,y.
We believe that this prosperity, yet 10 De oe'
ve'oped will 10 the future. be- as the result Of south
fruitful source Of riches 10 the whole country The Old
condition Of things. upon which rested the splendid
superstructure OF Southern power, gone pu. ~
negro suffrage the acute and well Instructed southern
statesman beholds a world on poucal power Gnu
he will under wise and fostering regulations, ca
that New World into exstence 70 redress the balance
lof the OldP' This gentlemen Of Boston. Messrs
Editors Of The World and The Tmes is the new poicy
which even now dawning though In couded majesty
along the Southern skies, and before the iu eAy o.
which may be, the Northern Lights are destined to
pale.
the States cistinetiyely and separately. We know
what the Government declares ON this subject; but.
from among those whose opinions are In unison with
President Johnsons We especially CAL attention 70 the
following from Senator John Sherman oi ONO IL LIS
recent speech at Circevile: -
Have you hr power do under the Constitution the
United ss.l Il IL PeIecy clear ss HPls. h 49, .IS poT
President Johnston maintains that they are not chsnged
so,ef Within ssse The 'tS coa.,utsn povds or three
elections OF President Of Senators and Of IL Preventative
A. be I.aurs Of stsie may elect, senator. AZ.
by the people OF the several States and the electors Of each
ost numerous branch OF the Legislature II anything
clear, III. hat eJ'omer Of "a. Cos'.f1o" mean" "'o'
each State sao uid pyescytbe uho hontd tole
| Thus much for where the power resides.
What is the nature OF this power Is IT not plai1y
to regulate By needai ana Necessary rnes ,ne ea
the right itself, The 9hf 10 vote belongs to each male
cit oftwenty one years Of age. 1t is bus by births
and he by operation OF law. becomes citizen o tne
United States and entitled to oil rights privileges and
mmuutcs through the relations Of his native State to
The National Union. The elective franchise Is his
Inherent riht-thc exercise alone Is subject 10 state
regulation Congress has the exclusive power to make
a uniform law of NATURALIZATION. By birtho by natural;
ization the relation of the citizen 10 the state ana
United States is created. The slnye trade
has been discontinued since 1905 and, there
fore We assume that the blacks in the Southern States
are nearly all natives of this country Heretofore moth
ing stood between them and taH citizenship. but their
condition OF voluntary servitude; the compromising
eynedent of the Consultation which regards them in
oJftant hut as debased by servinde below the equal
level of free inhabitants which regards the Stare as di'
vested Of twoifths Of the man. Even under this e1-
neden.r tbey bore a. political relation through their
owuers 10 society and through them represented
much i'm the mode in which infant or married woman
Is related and represented through the 1atnef Of nus.