The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1865-12-09

the United States the elector in each State shall have
the qualifications requisite or electors of the most
numerous branch Of the State Legislature. After
the formation of the Constitution 1t remained. as
before the uniform usage fF each State to enlarge
the body of its electors, according ~ its own judgment;
and under this system, Sttc after another has pro-
cecded to increase the numb ~ its electors until now
universal suffrage soethinsyery near it, is tho gene
raj rule So fixed was this ervatioL Of power in the
habits of the people and uHestoned has been the
Interpretation of the Constitution that during the civil
war the late President never the purpose-cer-
tanlv never avowed the purpOOf disregardng it; aid
in the acts of Congress- during that PERIOD nothing
be found which, during the continuance Of hostilities
much less after their Close wosd have sanctioned any
departure by the Executive frr policy which has 80
uniformly obtained Moreover concession OF the cleo
tive franchise TO the freedmen by act OF the
of the United States must ve been extended to all
colored men, wherever foun end so must nave esao.
hshed change of suffrage iI e Northern Middle and
Western States not less than c Southern and South
western Suoh an act would ce created new class OF
voters and would have boon sumption OF power py
tie President which nothing pe Constitutlon or laws
of the United States would ba -" ailEetl.
On the other hand, every dc ger of conflict is avoided
when the settlement of the q o2 Is referred 10 the
several States They can itse decide on the
measure and whether it il g be adopted at once and
absolutely introduced gr. oily and with conditions
III my Judgment the freedme( Il they show patience
and manly virtues, will soone btan participation IN
the elective franchise throug eS States than through
the General Government evei II 1t had power to inter-
yene When the tumut of ero5ns that had been raised
by the suddenness of the social change shall have sub
sided it may prove that they WI receive the kindest
usage from some of those I'm they have heretofore
most closely depended. -
But while ha We no doubt ts now after the close Of
the war; it s not competent che General Government
TO extend the elective fanchiscn tile sever States it
equally clear that good aitl requires the security of
the freedmen in their liberty S3d their property, their
right to labor and their yht claim the just return OF
their labor. cannot too strongly urge d.spassionate
treatment OF this subject whic.should be carefully kept
noof from all party strife we must equally avoid hasy
assumptions Of auy natural hapossibty for the two
live side by sde in stc of mutual benefit and
tency let u.s. then go and aake that experiment in
good faith and not be easily sheartened The country
Is in need of labor and the freedmen in need of
rloyment, culture and proectin While their right OF
migration and expa alton is not to be ques
toned, would not advise tlfir forced removal and
Let rather encourage them to honor
ahlesand useful industry whe it may be beneficial 10
themselves and to the countr and, instead OF hasty
anticipations Of the ceraintyof failure let there DC
noting wanting to the fair trof the experiment. The
change i'll their condition is thu substitution of labor by
oymtract for the status of slavery The freedman can
not fairy-be accused of unwilngness work long
as doubt remains about htSeclom Of choice in his
pursuits and the certainty Of IS recovering his stipu
lated wages. In this the interCt OF the employer ana
the employed coincide The employer desires in his
worknen spirit and alacrty, SD these can be perna-
nently secured in no other wa hnd Il the one ought
10 be able to enforce the conts2 oushs the other
The public interest will be b2s promoted II the several
States viii provide adequate pr lection and remedies for
The freedmen. Until this is, IN nme ssy accomplished
there is chance for the advantageous use OF their
labor and the blame of succs Will not rest on Il M
know that sincere philanthropy is earnest for Lie
immediate realization OF its rEotest ams but time Is
l,ways an element in reform 1T is one OF the greatest
acts on record to have broughfour millions of people
INTO freedom The of fr.ndustry must be fairly
open to them and then their fure prosperity and con-
lition must, after all rest mdifly on themselves II
hey fall and perish away lus be carefal that the
aiiure shall be attributable TO any denial of Justice
In all that relates to the destiny OF the freedmen we
need not he too anxious to red tho 1utre many Incl
lens which, from a speculative point OF view, might
raise alarm, will quietly settle themselves.
Now that slavery is at ed, or near its end, the
greatness of its evil in the point OF view Of public econo
ny becomes moro and more .appatent. Slavery was
ssentially monopoly Of labor, and as such locked
he States where it prevailed against the. incoming
II free industry Where labor the property of the
capitalist the white man excluded from employ
nent, had but the second best chance OF finding it,
nd the foreign emisrant nirned sway from the
egion where his condiuo.t would be so pre-
arious. With the destruction Of the monopo-
v free labor will hasten from all parts OF the civiliz
zed world TO assist in developing various and immea
urable resources which have hitherto lain dormant
The eight or nine States ne rest the Gulfsof Mexico
ave soil Of yuberant fertility climate friendly to
aaS 12S7l fSe=a ~ 5, 4 ~ = II. !:
naux of population to then1wiu be manly from the
~ or from the most cultivated nations in Europe
rum the suerings that have attended them during our
ate struggle let US look away to the future which is
re to be laden for them with greater prosperity than
las ever before been known. The removal Of the mo-
opoy of slave labor is pledge that those regions will
e peopled by numerous and enterp ising popula-
ion which will vie with any in the Union in compact
css inventive genius, wealth, and industry.
Our Government springs from and was made for the
eople-not the people for the Government To them
allegiance from them 1t must derive its courage
trength and wisdom. But, while the Government Is
hus bound to defer to the people, from whom derives
existence it sLohld from the very consideration of
origin be strong in its power Of resistance to the
establishment Of inequalities Nono2olies perpetui-
les and class legislation are contrary TO the genius OF
rec government, and ought not to be allowed Here,
here is no for favored classes or monopoes the
principle Of Government s that OF equal laws aud
atfai
oothold it is sure to be source OF danger, dscord.
nd trouble We shall but fulfil duties as legisa
ors by according equal and exact justice TO al men,
pecal privileges to The Government Is subOrdi
ate 10 the people; but the agent and representative
the people it must be held superior to monOpolies
which, Ia themselves ought never to be granted and
which, where they exist musb subordinate and yield
o the Government.
The 5cstit..on confers on Congress the right to re-
uate commerce among the several States It IS OF the
rst necessity for the maintenance Of the umon tna
hat commerce should be free and unoostructea. 40
ate can be justified in any device to tax the transit o
ravel and commerce between Statee Inc posnon
# many States is such that If they were allowed TO 'a
dvxntage OF 1t for purposes Of local reveEu inc COIN
nerce between States might be injuricusly burdeped,
n even virtually prohibited. L is best while the
ry is still young and while the tendency to dangerous
nonopoes Of this kind is still feeble, to the power
# Congress so as to prevent my selfish mpediment to
he sree circulation of men aul merchandise tax on
ravel and merchandise, in their transit, constitutes one
# the worst forms of monopoly and the evil increas
ID II coupled with denial Of the cnoce OF route "heh
he vast extent of our counrr considered it plain
hat every obstacle to the free circulation o commerce
between the States ought to be sernly guarded against
~ appropriate legislation, within the limits OF The Con-
ttution.
The OF the Secretary Of the Interior expaina the
condition of the public lands the transactions OF the
Patent Office and the Pension Bnrea, the management
If our Indian affairs the progress made in the colstrc-
ion of the Pacific railroad and furnishes information
reference matters Of local interest in the District o,
Columbia 1t also presents evidence OF the successiu!
+o lrt provisions of