The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-08-19

Letter Of John A. Kaasom.
Hon. JOHN A. KAssoN has written letter
of great length TO his 1conaitsepts Of the
Fifth Congressional District, upon matters
of public interest generally.
tWehare room but for annah port;n of Il
this morning, and shah select That portion
which seems to have direct practical bearing
upon the present political canyass, and the
action Of the members Of the Union party
in securing unity Of party action at tie elec-
ton. Mr.. KAssox, like many other mem
bers of the party, is opposed to universal ne
gro suffrage at thepreseut, but is in favor of
admitting negroes to the right Of suffrage in
the future, as they shall be prepared by in
telligence and habitual independent action to
exercise the right bene61ally to thems elves
| and the eOsntrys sas..sz3f4afs s.ff..ssfs s,s
! Mr.. K. closes his coumuhication az fol.
lows:
But can the freedman be protected In the nat
ural rights which we have just guaranteed to him.
unless also agree 70 give % him the conyen
| tional right Of the ballot? He certainly should
be endowed with any privilege necessary to pro-
tect himself in those rights. L would give she
ballot not only to the black, bat 10 the Indian, the
Chinese, the immigrant just arrived on our shores,
aud to women and children, If it Was necessary
for the preservation of Liberty and Unionl now
and forever one and insepersble.'' The whole
question torns upon the adoption Of the GREAT
AMENDMENT; for this not only secures the princi-
pie of absolute, unvesal liberty, but invests the
National Congress- with power to make al lefisla-
tion appropriate TO It's enforcement in every State
and Territory. The entire nation xuarAntees
these rights. Every Federal court will be en-
powered and required to them. Can the
ye.e Of the ye; uninforned and unlettered black
do better than this?
l also think it far better for the freedman that
instead Of conferring upon him at once all the OBJ
jects that he may desire, leave to him .omc
privileges TO work out fer himself. 1t win be
powerful stimulus to his self development 1t
will be a motive to that education he needs DO the
acquisition Of property which he has never yet
learned, 10 habits OF industry, and to every sort
which will win respect to himself and fdr his
race. have already said that portion of them
were already qualified to exercise tho right Of suf
frage. Suppose we adopt, at first, the proposition
OF that lamented, great, and wonderful wise man.
that slow but reformer Abraham Lincoln:
and admit those who have been srhooled 10 Law
and order, to regulated liberty, authority and
the obedience Of citizen, by service in he Army
and Navy and those who have the ability to read
and write. would even 90 farther, and adopt
Mr.. JeHersons proposition, which we find in the
7th volume of his published works.
The true foundation of Republican Govern
meat is the eqaal rights Of every citizen in his
person and property. and in their management
Let every man who sights or pays exer-
else his just and equal right in election" Again
he says" among men who either pay or tight !
for their country no line of right can be drawn.
At the beginning open the door TO suffrage this
far, and no farther. and you present high and
permanent inducement 10 the entire rnce for its
elevation. You give them great motive to fill |
up the ranks of our armies and navies, when the |
country needs them, and at the same time reward |
them for their past military service; and yos |
stimulate them to those habits of industry and
economy for the acquisition Of taxable property,
which so Eauch eoneern the prosperity of the
country, and in which, at present, thA; is
deficient This policy seems in itself fundament-
ally just, and has the advantage of leaving
free to follow the logic of events and the develop
ments of the future.
oUR STATE PLATFORM.
right Interpretation of our State Platform
shows nothing in conflict with these views. II
makes loyalty the "basis" of suffrage, but also
requires proper safeguards TO the purity of the
ballot box. What these safeguards are, both Mr..
Jefferson and Mr.. Lincoln have indicated and
they always to be determined by the authority
that prescribes the conditions of suirnge for both
to our own State, It also becomes necessary to
erase the obstruction from our State Constitution
a. il now exists. Inasmuch rs our State Conyen-
tion has fit to incorporate this element Of dis
cusson in its PLATFORM prior to its consideration
by the people, it has left every member Of the
Union party free to sustain il ultimately or not
after mature reflection. Not having been consid-
cred before, II must be considered after their ac
ton, and you have three or four years in which
finally to determine upon yourpoliey for your own
State. II you shall determine to strike out the
word white in order to apply the principles
above stated, you still preserve the power and the
duty to protect the right of suffrage by pr6yiding
proper safeguards for the purity of the ballot
box You may revise our entire system Of suf-
frage, ~ the result of this inquiry before the peo
pie.
see no occasion, therefore, In either event, to
apply Gny test of party allegiance, nor TO dis
nfegrate that great and victorious Union party,
which by the aid Of the most gallant aud persever
ing soldicry the world has seen, has brought
this great war to a triumphant conclusion, and
saved the honor and integrity Of the Republic.
Like true radicals looking to the permanent pros
perty of the country, let us make haste dclib-
erately, surely, that like our great leader, Lin
coin, we shall be obliged to take no steps back
ward, and shall attach to ~ the permanent conf
dence of the country. 1t is our mission 10 restore
universal prosperity, to adopt policy which shall
again develop the exceedingly important produc-
~
sured system Of free labor. The war has given .
new and perpetual Interpretation to our National
Constitution. ITenceforfh, for all time, the pin
oiples of Republican Government and Of perso&al
liberty identified under our Constitstioa.
When we examine the rev Constitutions Of the
restored States, ne shall gpArantes their "repph-
hcan form of government" " by requiring the adep
tion of the Amendment The right to Freedom.
and to make contract, involves the right to full
status in the courts for their profession and
forcement This dene we can direct Sur undi-
vided attention to the further development Of the
interests Of the whole country; to the complete
restoration, and future Of the public
credit; and % pcrpetuate the conh acncc Of the
people in orr prudence, our wisdom, and our in
tegrity. Let US continue in union among our
selves, tolerant of minor diGercnces Of opinion,
that National Union and Liberty nay become frn
BY our united labors. ~ rs IL afs.s S I
Defeat of LibeRal Ferccs.