The Indianapolis daily herald. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1865-1868, 1865-11-15

= urged that c0nierring suffrage uron him shall
be made condition OF reorganization, or In
other words that the States lately IN rebellion
shall rot be permitted % resume their practical
relations with the G0vernmstt. eroept UPON
The terms Of fret conferring the riEht. AZ suf-
frage upon their freedmen. As % the manner
IN which this measure shall be accomplished
TIE friends Of it differ. Some are In favor OF
persisientiy excluding the members Of Congress
IRON the southern States, until negro suffrage
has been Incorporated into their several State
constitutions Others assume that the States
lstely in rebellion are 10 longer members Of the
Union. but have forfeited and Lost their charac-
Ter a. states, and are IN fact held e. conquered
provinces. snd. Ike unorganzed territories
which may have been acquired by The Govern
ment. are under complete control and jurissic.
ton OF Congress. which may confer suffrage
upon uhomsoever Il pleases.
The subject of Suffrage Is, by the National
Constitution. expressly referred 10 the deiermi-
nation OF the several State, and IL can not be
taken from them without a violation Of the
letter and spirit OF that instrument.
Bus without stopping % discuss theories or
questions of constitutional lsw, and leaving
them out of view, it would. in ny opinion. be
unsise TO make the work Of reconstruction de-
pend UPON condition o; such doubtful utility a.
negro suffrage.
IL is a fact so manifest that Il should not be
just emerging from tho barbArism Of slavery are
not qualified 90 become a part Of our political
system, and take part, not only IN the govern
ment o! themselves and their neighbors, but Of
the whole United States So Car from believing
that negro suffrage is a remedy for all our ma
tional lie, doubt whether 10 j. remedy for
any, and rather believe that lie enforcement by
Congress would be more likely 10 subject the
negro TO merciless persecution than TO confer
upon him any substantial benefit. BY some 10
Is thought that suffrage Is already cheap enough
in this country: and the immediate transfer OF
more than half a million of meu from the bends
OF slavery, with all the ignorance and degrade
ton upon them which the slavery Of genera.
tions upon Southern fields has produced would
be declaration 90 the world that the exercise
of American suffrage involves 90 Intellectual or
moral qualifications. and that there i no differ
ence between an American freeman and an
American slave. which NAV not be removed BY
a mere act OF Congress. VIVA; j. far more i'm
portant 10 the freedmen than suffrage Is
+ that their several States shall give them
tie night to testify in oonris Of justice.
machinery for the protection of their
civil rights provide for their education. snd thus
enable them to qualify themselves for the
higher political duties of the citizen. IL Is not
less vital TO their interests that the COnsiitu-
tonSl amendment be adopted. which not only
forever prohibits slavery throughout the nation,
but cOnfers upon Congress the power OF legsla-
ting for the protection of their liberty aud civil
rights; and these things, among others, the
President of the United States has imposed a.
precedent conditions in toe work OF reorganiza-
ton, and has declared his purpose TO hold aud
govern these States by military authority. as
in state of war, until they have been
complied with. Time, and the influence Of tho
new conditions by which they are surrounded will
elevate the condition OF one race, ana soften the
preiudices and asperities OF the other, aud will
accomplish what legislation and violent political
changes cannot. The inevitable presence OF
both races upon the same soil. the demands and
necessities of capital and labor. aud the uu-
avoidsbe community of interest, Will. IN pro
cess of time | cannot doubt, force a reciprocity
of rights and privileges The institution OF
slavery was 80 closely intertwined about the
! foundation of society ia the Southern States
+ that. when it was destroyed, society was uproot-
Ell and broken to pieces. The process OF it, re
construction is but beginning. but IL j. very
tain that the new structure will differ, m most
essential particulars, from the old. Free labor.
/ free speech and free schools. will come into it
as new and powerful elements o. change aud
progress and large emigration from the Northern
States and from Europe. bringing commerce.
manufactures and improved agriculture, will
exert a modifying and beneficial influence, tie
Il elect oil winch be oftl-trtiHiaitA
Another amendment, not only CONDUCIVE 10
| the interests OF the freedmen, but demanded by
| the rights and interests OF the white people OF
/ the North, should DC made, changing the basis
Ca representation in Congress aud the app orii1I-
ment of political power. among the several
States. The present provision in the Consiitu-
iton of the United States, concerning THE, reads
as follows: " Representatives and direct taxes
shall be apportioned among the several Stass,
IL
adding to the number Of free persons, includ-
ing those that may be bound 70 service for
term of years. and excluding Indians no. taxed,
| three iisths of all other persons The phrase,
'three-f.ths Of all other person" was pefiphrG-
site description of the slave population, and gave
representation for three ffths of their number.
By the abolition OF slavery this population j.
added to the number of free persons" and
thus increase the basis OF representation by the
addition OF two fiths.
The inequality produced between the several
States by this form OF representation, Is too pail
pablo 10 require argument. by lie operation
eight millions or white people in the Southern
States, hold. aud exercise political power, full
sixty per cent. greater than an equal number OF
white people in the Northern States. by reason
| of having in their midst four and a halt millions
of negroes. This provision was the chief com
promise which our fathers made with the insti-
tuition of slavery, aud although, through a sense
of its great Injustice. il has been impatiently &c
quiesced in by the Northern people. yet IL has
been carried out in good faith; but now that
slavery, the foundation of this compromise. has
passed away, the provision should be so changed
a 10 suit the altered condition of the country.
and do justice 10 every part of the nation. IL
il were so amended as 10 appofiiOa repre-
sentation and political power among
the several States according 10 the actual num-
Der Of male voters over the age of twenty one
years, it would be equally fair TO all. and would
put II out of the power Of the people of any
State, or class Of States, 10 increase or double
their political power by the presence in their
midst OF population which they themselves
deprive Of all political rights; aud thus an in
ducement would be presented 10 the several
States, 10 order to enlarge their power in the
government 70 confer political rights upon every
class of persons. without regard to color or
uonaity, as rapidly might be deemed COL
sistent with their true interests.
BY the census Of ls60, the fifteen slave States
were allowed eighty four "a members Of Con
gress, because OF the representation OF ihree-
hfths of their slaves, and now that the slaves
are made free, and the other two fifths added TO
their basis Of representation, they would be en-
titled TO fourteen members more. although per-
haps in point Of Law this increase cannot take
place anterior to the year 1870. Ii the negro
population was equally diffased throughout all
TIE States, TINS inequality would DOT exist, but
the fact is IL il not 80 diffused and the probs-
bility is that the concentration in the Southern
States will become greater from year 10 year by
the emigration thither of the colored population
of the North. According TO the census OF $50
the Southern States upon rrhRc basis would
have been entitled to sixty ak member. o. Con
gress, instead OF eighty-:our according TO the
existing basis.
Should such en- amendment be passeI by tie
II L
United States, before your fnal adjournmen /
would most respectfully, but earnestly recon-
mend its immediate ratification on your part
In conclusion upon this subject. ! am not Of
the opinion that the Hercuean work Of recon
struction will be accomplished a orc time by
any general and sweeping process. but that Il
will proceed State by State. a. each one shall
conform to the requirements Of the Government.
and show Itself loyal and prepared 70 resume IL
practical relations ia the Union. The condi-
tons which have been imposed upon these States
by the Presideli. are not only reasonable and
L. 49,