The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-10-26

you never known a man who for many years
had differed from your views because you
were in advance of him, claim them as his
own when he came up to your standpoint"
1replied L have often. He said"so have 1, "
and went on: "The democratic party finds its
old position untenable, and is coming to
ours ; if it has come up to our position, am
glad of it You and | need no preparation
for this conversion we can talk freely on
this subject for the thoughts are familiar to
US we can be perfectly frank with each 9TH
err"
He then commenced with saying that "the
states are in the Union which is whole and in
divisible. Individuals tried to carry them out,
but did not succeed, as a man may try to cut
his throat and be prevented by the bystand-
ers and you cannot say he cut his throat be-
cause he tried to do it.
"Individuals may commit treason, and be
punished, and large number OF individuals
may constitute rebellion and be punished
as traitors. Some states tried to get out OF
the Union and we opposed it. honestly. be-
cause we believed it to be wrong; and we
have succeeded in putting down the rebel
lion. The power of those persons who made
the attempt has been crushed, and now we
want to reconstruct state governments and
have the power to do it, The state institu-
tions are Frustrated laid out on the ground,
and they must be taken up aud adapted to
the progress of events this cannot be done
in a moment, We are making very rapid
progress, so rapid / sometimes cannot realize
it it appears like dream.
"We must not be In too much of a hurry
it is better to let them reconstruct themselves
than to force them to it, for if they go wrong
the power is in our hands and we can check
them at any stage, to the end, and oblige them
| to correct their errors; we must be patient
with them. | did not expect to keep out all
who were excluded from the amnesty, or even
a large number OF them, but intended they
should sue for pardon, and realize the en-
ormty of the crime they had committed.
''Iou could not have preached the subject of
equal suffrage, st the south, seven years ago,
and we must remem Der that the changes at
the south have been more rapid, and they
have been obliged to accept more unpalatabie
truth than the north has; we must give them
time to digest part, for we cannot expect
such large affairs will be cOmprehended and
digested at once. We unjust give them time to
understand their new position.
Il have nothing to conceal in these matters,
and have no desire or Willingness to take In-
direct courses to obtain what we want
sour government Is grand and lofty struct-
ure; in searching for its foundation we find
it rests on the broad basis of popular rights.
The elective franchise is not a natural right,
Dut q pOiillCdl ElRut dul UppOStA W
the states too much power, and also to great
consolidation of power in the central govern
ment
at iutertersd with the vote In the rebel
states, to dictate that the negro shall vote,
might do the same thing for my own purpose
in Pennsylvania. Our only safety lies in al.
lowing each state 10 control the right of vot-
ing by lis own laws, and we have the power
to control the rebel states if they 20 wrong.
If they rebel we have the army and can con-
troll them by land if necessary, by Legislation
| also. If the central government controls the
right to vote in the states, 1t may establish
such rules as will restrict the vote to Il small
number of persons, and thus create central
despotism.
MY position here IS different from what il
would be if | was i'll Tennessee.
There | should try to introduce negro suf-
frage gradually; first those who had served
in the army; those who could read and write,
and perhaps property qualification for 9TH
ers say 5000 or $3.50
1T would not do to let the negroes have uni
versal suffrage now it would breed war of
races.
There was time, IN the southern states,
when the slaves of large owners looked down
upon Observation-Disclosures because they did not
own slaves; the larger number ofslave5 their
masters owned the prOuder they were. and
this mas produced hostility between the mass
of whites and the negroes. The outrages are
mostly from Notwithstanding whites against
the negro, and from the negro upon the non
slavehOidng whites.
The negro will vote with the late master
whom he does not nate, rather than with the
Notwithstanding white, whom he does hate.
Universal suffrage would create another war;
not against us. bat of races.
Another thing. This government is the
fFeest and best government on the earth, and
| feel sure is destined to last; but to secure
this. we must elevate and purify the ballot.
| for many years contended at the south that
slavery was political weakness, but others
said 1t was political strength they thought
we gained three-htths representation by it; |
contended that we lost two-ffths
elf we had no slaves, we should have had
twelve representatives more, according to the
then ratio of representation. Congress APP.
portions representation by states, not dis
tricts, and the state apportions by districts.
MANY years ago, moved, in the Legislature,
that the appointments OF the representatives
to congress, in Tennessee, should he uporqual-
fled voters.
The apportionment is now fixed until 1872;
before that time we might change the basis
of representation from population to qualified
voters, north as we'll as south, and In due
course of time, the states, without regard to
color, might extend the elective franchise to
all who possess certain mental, moral, or
such other qualifications, as might be deter |
mined by an enlightened public judgement"
BosroN. Oct. Is, 1865.
The above report was returned to me by !
President johnson with the following lndorse
ment viz:
Il have read the within communication and
a..