Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1865-12-15
OLD SERIES,


towards the four millions Of inhabitant.
-aon the var has called into freedom. have
engAged nv most seriOs- consideration.
Tn tbe propriefy Of attempting 10 make the
freedmen electors by the proclamation Of
the Exeestase. took for nv council the
Constit1ti0n useh the interpretations Of
that Instrument ey its authors and their ron
temPorsrle-. and reo~nt legislation by Con-
gress- When. az the Ers, HsOvement lo~ar,l.
independents. the Congress Of the United
States instructed the several Stale. 20 in.ti-
tuie governments % their o~n. tb-, l-ft
each State 70 decide for itself the -onditioos
for the enJoyrnent Of the elective fran-hise
During the period ofthe COafederacy. there
continued 90 exist very great diversity in
the qualifications Of electors in the several
Siares and even within 4 State a distinction
Of qualifications prevailed wifh regard to
the Ofhcrrs ~bo were 90 BE- chosen. The
Constitution % thc United States recognize.
thcse diversifies When IL eaioin. thar. m
the choice Of members Of the House OF R~D-
rcs~ntatives Of the United States. the
electors IN each State shall have the qaaIi-
hcRtions requisite fyr electors Of the most
numerous branch Of the State Legislature. -
After 'h~ formation Of the CoasiitutiOa u
remained. a. before. the uniform usage fcr
each State 20 enlarge the body Of electors.
- - N~h lAtA- lAEftA ANNtA NINtIFT
this system. one State after another ha. pro
ceedcd 10 increase the number of its elec-
tors. until nov universal sssfrage. or SOM
thing very near if. i the general rule SO
hxed vas this reservation % power in the
the habits of the people. and 80 unqgeSiiOn-
I'd has been the Interpretation of the Con-
sthgiion. that during the cixil var the late
Prcsident never harbOred the purpo-e-cer-
t.inly never Asoved the Porpose--of disre-
garding "a; and in the acts Of Congress.
during tha, period. nothing can be found
Shich. during the confingance ofh0stiiiiics.
much less after their close. would have sane
toned any departure by the Executive from
q policy which has 80 uniformly obtained.
Moreover. q concession Of the elective fran
chise 90 The freednien. bv act Of the Presi-
dent Of the United States. must have been
eStcnded % al colorcd men. wherever
found. and 50 mus; have established a
change % suffrage in the Northern. Middle.
and Western States. not less than "a The
Southern Ald Southwestern. Sash an act
would have created a new class Ol sofers
snd would have been an assumption u Pow
cr by tie President which ooihins IN the
Constitution or laws Of the Uaited State.
would have warranted.
ZACH STATE SHOULD SETTLE rag QUEsTrON.
On ibe oiht-r hsni. every danger Of con-
hict j. avoided When tie -fti~rn-nt Of tn
question J. rrfrrr-d 90 the several States
They can. earh for .tsrif. d-cide on the
measure. and -h-fher " - 90 be- adopted az
once and Absolutely. or iutr1duoed gralual-
" and With conditions. In nv Judgment.
the ireesitnen. u they sho~ patience anl
iaanly Sirtuss. will 20. nsr obtain a pariici-
paiIon m the elective frAnchise throaah H..
states Than through the general govern
nent. even II h h1d power % intervene
Nhcn the tuuiulf Of emotions thar have been
raised by the s1ddenncss Of the social
change shall have sobsided. q nav prove
that they wiii receive the kindiissf usage
from some ofthose on whon they have here
toiore most CLOSELY d~peudcd
SECURITIES FoH FEEEDOx REQUIRED.
Bot While have no doubt that nov. az
ter the close Of the var. % - not conpetent
FOR the general government % extend the
elective Franchise in the several States. it -
equaiiy clear hat good faith requires the
security Of the frcednien in their hoerfy
and their property. their right 20 labor.
and their right 10 claim the Just return Of
their lahor. ! cannot too strongly urge a
dispas-ionais treatment of ihi. ssbiecf.
Which shOaid he casefully kept al0of from
all party STRIFE. We must equally avoid
hasiy assumptions Of any natural Impossible
Wy N".' 'N. NNN' NANFH I'D i've HNNlH MN 20 IN-
a st=se Of fnutual benefit AMI good viii
The eNperiue..t involves ~ IN 30 incostsis.
tsnes let us then 20 on and make thaf rx-
Pef luis nt in good faith. and DOT b. too easi-
ly dishcarfensd. The country is in need ol
labor. and the fee'lrnen arr IN need of em-
Ployncnf. culture and protection.
rHE QUESTION: 90 COLONIZATION.
While their right % VOLUNTARY migration
ar srpatrisfion .. not 90 o. questioned.
would not adsi-s th-ir iorc,.i removal anf
COLONIZATION. Let us raiiler encourars
thcm fo honorable and useful ind isfrr
shere % may b. benehsial % fbrnlsslrr. a-,sl
o. TIE country snd. instead of hasfv antiri.
rafiors of tie certalnfy of fai.ur~. let th~re
u nothing wanting o. fhe fair tfial ~ thr
experiment. The change IN their condition
D. fhe Substitution % labor bv ronfrsrf for
the sta;as Of slavery The fr~s,lnan car
nof fairly % accused of unvillineness 60
sors. 80 long a. doubf remains ai.out be
irecdom 81 choioc in his pur.uifs. a,si thc
CERTAINTY of his recovering BE- stirulaie. .
sagcs. In this TIE inierrsfs of the sfupiov-
er and che employed coincide TIE en-
pIofer desires on be sorkmen spifh anI
alaoruy. ard these caa BE- permanently So
cured In M other ray AID or the one
ought o. b. ahie fo enforce the c0ntrarf. -
ought fhe ofher TIE pshEc interest vii
D. b-sf promoted. f th- several States wiu
: provide adequate protection and rsrneii-,
4 iDr ih- iree1men Intl this b. ia sorne
? uaF -rromphshed. there 10 no chsnoe 90
Co. adssnisgeuus zee of their Labor and
/, o. biaaie Of iii-saccess sil not rcst ou
2 ibeu
. soo~ thst sincere phiisrftropy is ar.
. nest for the ifnrned.sic rraiizstion a ifs 20.
hottest aias bet fhe fins b. aissys IN eie
nent in r,iorm. u - ou@ of the gr.atss
acis on record to have brourhf iour rniiiion
of people irfu freedom he ra~rar of r..