White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1865-09-21
IMPORTANT LETTER FROM SECRETARY
HARLAN.
The Position of President John
SON on Negro Suffrage.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
WAsHINGroN. d G.. Aug. 26. IS. {

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
WAsHlNaroN. d G. Aug. 26. IS.
Hon. Geo B Eanonds. Clermont. Iowt
DEAR SIR: have just received your
LITTER Of the 2lst instant. stating. among
other thipgs. that the Union State Con-
vention hes adopted as plank IN its plat
form q Recommendation in favor of negro
snffragr: that the copperhead convention
has indorsed President Johnshn's policy
for tie reorganization Of states. assuming
it % he in opposition to negro suffrage;
that this is. in your opinion. the issue
Joined between the two parties in Iowa;
that heretofore the Union party received
valuable aid from me in support Of its
principles; that you regret, however. to
observe q newspaper report OF speech
recently made by me. which places me.
as you think, in autsgonism with its
present priuclple and policy. which gives
yon pain.
In reply. l have to say. that if your
opinion was well founded, it would be q
cause Of greater pain to ne. than to you--
self; but. / beg leave respectfully to state.
that you misapP'ehend the position OF
President johnson. and my own. as well
as that Of the Union party at large. The
real question at issue. in national point
of view, is not whether negroes shall he
permitted to vote. bnt whether they shall
derive that authority from the State Gov
ernments respectively.
President johnson maintains the doc
trine that the Constitution of the United
States does not confer on the Federal Gov
ernment the right to interfere primarily
with the question of suffrage in any State
of the Union; that the question may arise
and properly be decided bv Congress.
when Senators and memb bers present them
selves for admission to seats in that body
under the clause of the Constitution which
makes each house the exclusive Judge oil
the qualifications and elections of mem
hers; and that other clause of the Consti-
tuition Of the United States which guar.
antees to every State in the Union . re.
publican form OF Government" I infer
that if any State should adopt q law on
the subject of suffrage. which would clear
ly show the State Government to be other
than republican. it wonld be the duty of
Congress to reject applicants for seats;
and to adopt wh'tever legislative reme-
dies would in their judgment be necessary
to carry out the guarantees Of the Consti
tuition.
That the State of Iowa may take steps
to extend the right OF suffrage. is not. as
II seems to me. in conflict with this pol
icy. and. consequently. those who sup
port the policy of the President on this
suhj@c, are not in antagonism with tie
pl-tform Of the Union party of Iows.
The Union party OF that State propose
that the State shall modify its own Con-
stiiution. so as to include as electors per-
IONS who have not. nnder its present pro-
visions. the right TO vote. This. rs Prasi-
lent johnson maintains. a Stata may do.
hut that the National Government would
have no right to -eqnire Iowa. or any
other State. to modify its own Cons'itu-
tion. on this or any other subject. when
knot in cnnhict with the Constitution oil
the United States.
IL should be in Iowa when that ones
tion is submitted to The people. If 1t shall
he SO submitted by the Legislature. ]
would vote to extend the right to all class
es Of persons possessing the requisite in
telligence and patriotism 10 he intrustp,i
with n participation in the management
of public affairs. State or National. with
ont regard to their nationality. as | do
not believe that the liberty of any class Of
people can he considered safe who are TO
be permanently deprived of the exercise
Of this right
l do not disgniss these opinions; you
may. therefore. make what use of this
letter you may deem proper.
l have the honor to De, very respect.
fully. your obedient serv ant.
JAMES HARLAN.