The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-02-16

Hon Charles Summer, Of Massschu-
sets. has submitted to the United
States Senate an amendment Of the
Constitution, striking out the provision
Of the ID section OF the let article, pro
viding for The appointment Of Repre-
sentstives, and submitting another az
follows;
Representative 30 Congress shall
be appointed among the several States
which may be included within the
Union, according % the number Of
male citizens Of age, having in each
State the qualifications requisite for
electors of the most numerous branch
OF the State Legislatures. The actual
enumeration Of such citizens shall be
made by the census OF the United
States
Under the Constitution as it now
stands, if slavery IS abolished, instead
OF three ffths Of the negro populstion
in the South being enumerated in the
apportionment of representation in
the popular branch Of Congress, the
whole Of them would be counted. This
would increase the number Of Southern
Representatives in Congress We pre-
sumo that it is not this increase Of rep
resentation that has induced Mr. Sum
ner - submit his proposed amend
ment He cannot fear or feel envious
Of this little addition to the strength
of a subjugated people in the National
legislature New States are being
added too rapidly, and swelling too
greatly the current Of Northern power
in shaping the destinies Of the nation,
10 allow him TO entertain such feelings
for a moment The real object of Mr.
Sumner is, We suspect, TO secure for the
f.eemen Of the South the right of SUI |
frage. he reasons, doubtless, that the |
Southern people, rather than be shUrn |
of a portion Of their representation,
would make the negro voter. BaI
may be not be reckoning without his
host? The question Of suffrage is one
which the States must determine for
themselves. aud they win do IL. ,Ua.5asl
Are there uo injurious resaltsl TO be
apprchended from the adoption Of this
amendment in come OF tho ol3 States
there is a preponderance-of the female
sex This preponderance, whioh gives
those States additional strength in
Congress, would be an element Of
weakness. The increase Of male emf
grafton, sure u follow the close of the |
war, would stiIl further Increase this
preponderance; and reduce the repre-
sentation Of the States in question.
Furthermore, IN ali Of the present /
free States, there aye large numbers Of
foreigners, not naturauzed and oonae-
quendy nouvoters They are now |
enumerated in spporGoning represen
tation. Under the amendment, they |
would be discarded This would still |
further reduce the represent alton of /
Northern States But might it not
lead to 4 greater evil still, By prompt ]
inc political deuagogues and oharla-
tans, IN the State Legislatures to dis
regard the policysof the Federal Gov
eminent, and confer the right OF suf-
frage on all immigrants from foreign |
countries so soon as they arrive 2 We
hsve no doubts upon the subject The
lust Of office and Of power makes men
unscrupulous, and we should coon |
have q revision Of State laws on the /
subject Of suffrage, not TO promote the !
interests or welfare Of the freedmen /
for they will mostly remain on Southern
soil-bdt TO take advantage Of the for !
eign immigration. We would not
have the elective f-ancise 50 cheap
enad