The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1865-12-13


tiyes OF the United Status, ''lbe electors |
in each State shall have the gualihes- |
uons requisite for electors OF the most
numerous branch OF the State Iegis-
lature." After the formation OF the
Constitution, it remaiped, as before, the
uniform usage tor each State 10 enlarge
the body OF its electors, according to
its own Judgement sd, under this sys-
ten, Que State dtrr another has pro-
ceeded t6 increase the number OF It's
electors, until now universal 81 ffrage,or
something very near it, Is the general
rule. SO fixed wac this reservation Of
power in the ba6ils OF tho people and SO
unqurstioned has been tire iLterpreta-
tion of the Constitution, that during the
civil war the late President never har-
bored the purpose-eertaiuly never
ayowed The purpass-ot disregardng
it, and in the acts of Congress, duiing that
period, nothing oan be found which du
ring the continuance of hos
LiliIies, much less after their close,
would have sanctioned any departure
BY the Executive from policy which
las so un,formaly obtained. Morsov-
ar, concession of the elective fran
chise to the freedmen, by act CT the
President of the UuiIea States must
bay, been extended to all cololed men,
wherever found, and SO must have es
tablished a change OF suffrage in the
Northern. Middle and. Western States,
not less than in the Southern and
Southwestern. Such an act wJuld
have created a new class of yo-
ters. and would have been an assump-
tion of power by the President which
Gothing ia 1SeSC Constitution or laws ol
the United States wouIi have warrant
ed.
On the other hand, every danger OF
conflict is avoided when the settlement
of the question is referred % the sew
eral States. They can, each for itself,
decide on the meaus, and whether it is
10 be adopted at oucs and absolutely,
or introduced gradually and with con
ditions. In my Judgement, the freed
men, if they show patience and manly
virtues, will sooner obtain participl-
ton in the electi.s franchise through
the States than through the General
Government, even if it had power TO
intervene. When the tumult of emo
,ons that have been raised by the sud
denncss of the social change have sub.
sided, it may prove thai they will re-
ceive the kindliest usage,irom some OF
those on whom they have hcrctotor C
most closely depended. .' 'I
THE FREEDMEN MUTT BE pRoTECrRp.
But while hsve no doubt that now,
after the the close OF. tho war, it is no,
competent tor the General Government
to extend the elective franchise in tn,
sevvra, State, it is equally cloar tina,
good faith requires the security of tb.
freedmen in their liberty and thcii
property, their right to labor, and ,heil
, right to claim the inst return Of ,heil
labor. cannot TOO strongly urge /,
dispassionate treatment of this suhiyc
which should be carefn " kept aloo
from all party strife. We must canal
" avoid hasty assumptions of any nj
nraI impossibility for the two races tc
live side Inv side. in a state OF mutua
bcnefiL and rood will. The expert
, =, art involves ne !, NJ inconsistency
Ina ,b, on on tnl make thst XII.
mont N Iooo1 faith ard 70. be loo ca :.
, lv ,Ii.bsaTtene,l. The country i, Ia recl
! oflalidr ard 'tha II. edmen are in need
nf emnIoymebt culture, ana p,oteo.
,;on Whie their right OF voiuntar,
! m;orat,on and exput,iation is MOTTO b,
Questioned. | would no, advise theil
forced removal and colonization. lie
us rather encourage thcm to honorable
: and usefnl industry. where it may b.
brnefi ial 10 themselves aud 10 tn
: country; and, instead of has,y anticipa
tions of the certainty OF failure, IL
q there lie nothing wanting to the fai
o trial OF the experiment. The chang
2 in their condition is the, substitution c
II labor by contract for the status of slav
: ervy. The freedmen canupt fairly
k accused Of unwlllngness to work, 8
l. long as doubt remains about his free
/, dom ot choice in bis pursuits, and th
y certainty of his recovering his stipulal
,r cd wages. In this the interests of tn
?, employer aud the employed coiocid,
y Tue employer desires IN lis workme
spirit and alacri'y,an these canbe pc,
L mamently secured in no other way. An
if the one ought to he abl0 to cnforc
u the contract, so ought the otho
e The public interest will be best pre-
j lnoteJ, il the several States will pEovid
it dpquate protection and remedies f
le the freedmen. Until this is acoou
y, plshsd, there is no chance fer til
o advantageous use OF their labor; an
le the blaine of i'll success will not rest j