The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1865-12-20
CONGRESS ANDMR. SUMMER

1t is amusing to witness the " wrigling" Of
the Republican papers, when some one of Mr..
Summers wild schemes happen to intrude upon
the supposed rights of the "loyal" States.
His "piebald" jury arrangement would give to
many of the States North of us "mixed
commission" before which certain cases would
have to be tried, and in few years, by .. iu-
dlcious system of emigration, amongst the
blacks, no doubt all the States of the North
and West would enjoy the same privilege. IS
The Baltimore American "a Republican
Journal takes strong ground against Mr.. Sum-
ner's want Of practical craftsmanship on this
and other matters, and says I'D l.
"a He would make republican form of o.
vernnent one thing south of Mason and Dix
on's line, and another thing north of il. there
by keeping up sectional differences with their
perpetual and angry agitation. IF it be the
duty OF congress to guarantee ga republican
form OF government to every State" let Con-
gress pass declatory resolution as to what
constitutes republican form of government.
II that be law, the Supreme Court will saw
20, and all constitutional provisions of the
States at variance with it will necessarily fall
to the ground. So long, however, as it is a
mere matter Of opinion, there is no guarantee
that the succeeding Congress may not give
another definition to it, and thus the laws of
the country become as unstable as party tri-
umphs, and popular rights dependent upon
temporary influences To-day universal
suffrage" may be the shibboleth with which
the great measure of reform is inaueurated
and universal suffrage may be understood 10
mean that all men shall have the right Il, vote
In England, j. Stuart Mills nicely drawn dis
tinction between "manhood suffrage" and
"universal suffrage" gives wider scone to
the latter, and it is assumed thereunder that
women and children have the right to vote,
Another measure of Mr.. Summers. intended
TO regulate juries, is both sectional and mar
tial in its application, and as it affects rs in
Maryland, we take the liberty of EXPRESSING
our decided disapproval of it, The law provides
that when.one-sixth ofthe population ola State
Is colored, one-half of the Grand jury shall
be colored men, and one-half of all petit uries
m cases where cofored people are parties, shall
DO cotored men. The proportions of popula-
ton are SO arranged as to impose this iurv
system only upon States lying South of Ma
son and Dixon's line, and appears to have
been nit upon by the Massachusetts, Senator
with the express view of keeping up sectional
agitation. We may regard ourselves as for
tunate, in the hands of this political Nemesis
whose mission is to punish the delinousncies
OF the Southern States by forcing the negro
race into the ascendency: that, in SO farsas
Maryland is concerned, he considers seven HIM
dred thousand white people entitled to the
same representation on the juries as the one
hundred and sixty thousand black people
that is, for jury business, six white men are
equal to one black man. Could not Mr.. sum
aer carry out his class distinctions little fur
8her, and say that in California for instance
every jury shall be composed of four negroes ,