Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-09-15
THE POSITION OF PRESIDENT JOHN.
SON ON NEGRO SUFFRAGE.
AbN AAe AAhAA4i
No. 519 MARKET STREET,
BENNETT & Co,

SON ON NEGRO SUFFRAGE.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, WASH
1NGToN, D. c., Aug. 49, 1s65.-Hon. George
b. Edmonds, Clermont, Iowa-Dear Sir -
have just received your letter of the 21st
inst, stating, among other things, that the
Union State Convention of Iowa has adopted
as plank in its platform Il recommendation
in favor of negro suffrage; that the copper
head convention has endorsed President
,Iohnson's policy for the reorganization of
States, assuming il TO be 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 has
derived valuable aid from me in support of
its principles that you regret, however, to
observe a newspaper report of n speech re-
Gently made by me, which places me, as you
think, in antagonsm with its present princi-
pies and policy, which gives you pain.
In reply, have to say that if your opinion
was well founded it would be cause of
greater pain TO me than TO yourself but
beg leave respectfully to state that you mis-
apprehend the position of President John.
son, and my own as well as that of the Union
party at large. The real question at issue,
in a national point of view, is not whether
negroes shall be permitted to vote, but
whether they shall derive that authority from
the national government or from the State
governments respectively.
President Johnson maintains the doctrine
that Ithe Constitution of the United States
does not confer on the Federal government
the right to interfere primarily with the ques
tion of suffrage in any State of the Union /;
that the question may arise and properly be
decided by Congress- when Senators and
members present themselves for admission
to seats in that body, under the clause of the
Constitution which makes each House the
exclusive judge of the qualifications and
elections of members and that other clause
of the Constitution of the United States
which provides that 'the United States shall
guarantee to every State in the Union re-
publican form of government. l infer that
if any State should adopt law on the sub
ject of suffrage which would clearly show
the State government to be other than repub-
lican, it would be the duty of Congress to
reject applicants for seats, and to adopt
whatever legislative remedies would, in their
judgment, be necessary to carry out the
guarantees of the Constitution,
That the State of Iowa may take steps to
extend the right of suffrage is not, as it
seems to me, in conflict with this policy, and,
consequently, those who support the policy
of the President on this subject, are not in
antagonism with the platform of the Union
party of Iowa.
The Union party of that State propose
that the State shall modify its own Constitu-
tion, SC as to include as electors persons who
have not, under its present provisions, the
right to vote. This, as President johnson
maintains, State may do, hut that the ma
tional government would have no right to re-
quire Iowa, or any other State, to modify its
own constitution, on this or any other sub
iect, when not in conflict with the Constitu-
ton of the United States.
If should be in Iowa when that question
is submitted to the people-if it shall be 80
submitted by the Legislature-I would vote
to extend the right to all classes of persons
fSpnSooAlB lnC ltQulnllN luNflllBtntN anu pt-
triotism to be entrusted with participation
In the management of public affairs, State OF
national, without regard to their nationality,
as do not believe that the liberty of any
class of people can be considered safe who
are to be permanently deprived of the exer.
else of this right.
do not disguise these opinions; YOU may
flPratOrn mnRa MI
may deem proper.
have the honor to be, very respectfully
your opedlent servant, JAS. HARLAN.
-ess-t-
BE Your Own RIGHT HAND MAN.-Peo
pie who have been bolstered up and leyeret
all their lives, are seldom good for ANYTHING
in crisis. When misfortune comes. theJ
look around for something to cling to or lear
upon. If the prop is not there, down the,
go. Once down, they are as helpless as can
sized turtles, or unhorsed men in armor. ant
cannot find their feet again without assis
tance. Such silken fellows no more resembl,
self-made men, who have fought their way t,
position, making difficulties their stepping
stones, and deriving determination from de
ieat, than vines resemble oaks, or splutterinl
rush-hghts the stars of Heaven. Efforts per
sisted in to achievements, train men to sell
reliance, and when he has proved to the worl,
that he can trust himself, the world will trus
him. We say, therefore, that it is otherwis
TO deprive young men of the advantage
which result from their energetic action, b
boosting them over obstacles which the
ought to surmount alone.