Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-06-06
From he Boston courlsr. !
Negro suffrage an the ssuth.

hGRrO >ot2tn.
The peculiarly, glory aud beauty Of our Union.
l., that i. i governed by written constitutions
and laws no where else does such q system
prevail. Great Britain, which il next and freest
in ia form and principles Of government, has no
written constitution. and the people there depend
for their liberty upon declarations Of rights aud
acts OF Parliament
Another popularity il that We have Coustitu-
ton for the Union aud Constitution for EACH
Of the several States. forming two systems which
work out the highest good Only when confined
within their respective spheres The great mat
tiers OF national coucern By the people en-
trusted to the General Government. The con-
troll Of things local IL reserved by the people TO
the local Governments. Aud by al amendment
of the Constitution of the Union proposed BY our
own State Of Massachusetts,, 70 avoid all mistake,
il was declared that all power not expressly
granted the General Government was re-
served to the people.
Our attention has been directed 20 this dis
tinction Of powers and 20 the Limitation Of those
OF the General Government hy the consideration
in various quarters, of the question. whether in
the States lately. but now no 10 longer. rebel
lious the blacks shall have the right of suffrage
Now this Is strictly a local question, 10 be de
cided by the people Of the State where il arises
The qualifications OF voters here in Nassachu-
sets have been often changed. Formerly resi-
dence, freehold estate Of the annual income OF
ten dollars, or property Of the value of two hun
dred dollars, was necessary. Then a change
vas made. and again another change was male
and now residence aud payment of a tax are re
quisite qualifications
la making these changes we never asked the
consent of the General Government. When the
State of Illinois provided In ts Constitution that
face blacks should not vote, Congress was not
fo1
raised in Congress.
The control of the States over this matter /.
not only made clear from the fact that il ha:
never been surrendered aud has by each Stat,
| been exercised. but i; also happens 20 be ex
pressly recognized in the Constitution of the
| United States The first article second section
says that electors of Representatives to Con
gress, lin each State shall have the qualifca
tons requisite for electors of the most nuuer
Gus branch OF the State Legislature. Well, now
each State iixes who of It's citizens shall vote in
the choice Of members Of it's Legislature Th,
matter IS beyond question. IL can hardly b,
discussed. II person chosen to be Represen
tative in Congress from a State, presents himscl
with proof OF his election by those who vote o
members of the most numerous branch of th,
| Legislature OF his State, by what authority shall
be be refused his seati II we 20 by that Con
| sttGtion which we have been fighting for. h,
must be admitted YOU don't like The Con
stitu,lon. change II il you can But that Il
something else. While it exists. let not re
ject IT. authority.
President Lincoln said Secretary Seward said
| President johnson says, all we'll balanced poll
ticians OF all parties always said, that there wa
uo such thing as State going out OF the Union
SAYS President Johnson: Oncc a State, Away
a State II so, then there is no taking Stat,
| back That which did not go out cannot com,
back Then there can be no debating OF term
on which State may DO received All our agi
iation of the question whether the freedmen shal
or shall not vote in the States where they reside
is in fact assumption and interference with wha
is none Of our business. Massachusetts,, which
originated the amendment declaring that al
| powers not expressly granted away are reserve,
to the States, should be the last 10 intern eddie
in local matters Of other States