The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-09-14
Important Letter from Sec'ry Harlan
Tho Position Of President John
son on Negro Suffrage.

son on Negro Suffrage.
Department Of the Interior, I
Washington, ID. CT, August 26, 1855.
Hon. Geo. b. Edthonds, Clermont, Iowa:
DEAR SIR:--I have just received your
letter of the 2fst instant, stating, among
other things, that the Union State Conven1
ton has adopted a. plank In its platform
a recorfimendatior in favor Of negro suf-
frage; that the copperhead convention has
Endorsed President Johnson's policy for
tho Reorganization Of States, assuming it to
be in opposition to negro snffrage; that this
il, in your opinion, the issue Joined be-
tween the two parties in Iowa; that here
tofore the Union party received valuable
aid from me in SUPPORT Of it's principles;
that you regret, however, to observe a
newspaper report Of = speech recently
made by me, which places mo, as you think
i'm antagonsm, with it's present principle
and policy, which gives you pain.
In reply, I have to say, That If your opins
ion was well-founded, it would be a cause
Of greater pain to me than to yourself; but
I beg leave respectfully to state, that you
misapprehend the position Of President
johnson, and my own, al we'll rs that OF
the Union party at large. The real ques-
ton at issue, i'm national point of view, is
not whether negroes shall be permitted to
vote, but whether they shall derive that
authority from the State governments re-
spectively.
| President johnson maintains the doc
trine that the Constitution of the United
States does not confer OH the Federal gov.
eminent the right to interfere primarily
with the question of suffrage in any State
and properly be decided by Congress, when
senators and members present themselvef
for admission to seats in that body, undei
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 tho United States which guarantees tc
every State in the Union republican form
of government. l infer that If any State
should adopt law on the subject of suf
rage which would clearly show the State
government to be other than republican
it would be the duty OF Congress to reject
applicants for seats; and TO adopt whatcv'
er legislative remedies would i'm theil
Judgment be necessary to carry cut Tho
guarantees Of the Constitution.
That the State of Iowa may take steps te
extend the right of suffrage, is not, us il
seems to me. in conflict with this policy
and, consequently, those who support the
policy of tho President on this subject ART
not in antagonism with the platform o. the
Union party of Iowa.
The Union party Of that State propos,
that the State shall modify it's own Conssi
tetiors so ~ to include us electors persons
who havo not, under its present provisions
the right to vote. This, as President John
son maintains, State may do, but thu
right to require Iowa, or any other State
TO modify its own Constitution, on this o
any other subject, when not in confiic
with the Constitution of the UnitedStates
II should be i'm Towa when that ques
ton is submitted to the people, if it shall
be so submitted by the Legislature, Iwoul'
vote to extend the right to all classes Q
persons possessing the requisite inte'N
gence and patriotism to bs intrustsd wif
a participation in the management of pub
, lie affairs, State or National, without re
, gard to their nationality, Us l do not be
: lievs that the liberty OF any class OF pee
pie can be considered safe who are to b
permanently deprived of the exercise {
this right.
Ir n
may, therefore, make what use of this let
ter you may deem proper.
: have the honor to be, very respectfully
your obeiisns servant, a.......
...H- JAMES HARLAN.