White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1865-11-09

tried to get ont of the Union. and we op-
posed it, honestly. becauss we believed il
to be wrong; and we nave succeeded in
putting down the rebellion. The power
Of those persons who m,de the attempt
has been crushed, aud now we want to
reconstruct the State Governments, and
have the power to do it. The State in
stitutions are prostrated, laid oct on the
ground. and they must be taken up and
adapted to the progress OF events this
cannot be done in q moment. We are
making very rapid progress-so rapid
sometimes cannot realize it; it appears
like dream.
We must not be in too much of hur-
ry. 1t is better to let them reconstruct
themselves than to force them to it for
If they 60 wrong. the power is in our
hands, and we can check them at any
stage. to the end, and oblige them to cor.
rect their errors. We must be patient
with them. did not expect to keep out
all who were excluded from the amnesty.
or even large number of them but
intended they should sue for pardon. and
so realize the enormity of the crime they
bad committed.
You could not have broached the SUBJ
ject of equal suffrage. at the North. seven
years ago. and we must remember that
the changes at the South have been more
rapid, and they have been obliged to &C.
cept more unpalatable truths than the
North has. We must give them time to
digest a part; for we cannot expect such
large affairs will be comprehended and
digested at once. We must give them
time to understand their new position.
have nothing to conceal in these mat
ters, and have no desire or willingness to
take indirect courses to obtain what we
want.
Our Government is grand and lofty
structure; in searching for its foundation
we find it rests on the broad basis of pop
ular rights. The elective franchise is not
a natural right, but political right.
am opposed to giving the States too much
power. and also to a great consolidation
Of power in the Central Government.
If I interfered with the vote in the reb-
el States, to dictate that the negro shall
vote. might do the same thing for my
own purposes in Pennsylvania. Our on.
ly safety lies in allowing each State to
control the right of voting by its own
laws. and We have the power to control
the rebel States if they 60 wrong. Il
they rebel. we have the army. and can
control them by it, and. If necessary, by
legislation also. II the General Govern
ment controls the right to vote in the
States. it my establish such rules as will
restrict the vote to a small number oil
persons, and thus create central despot-
ism ESQ
| My position here is different from what
it would be if | was in Tennessee.
There should try to introduce negro
suffrage gradually first those who had
served in the army; those who could read
and write, and perhaps propsrty quail
6cation for others. say 5000 or $3.50.
1t will not do to let the negroes have
universal suffrage now. 1t will breed q
war of races.
There was a time in the Southern
States when the slaves of large owners
looked down upon non-slaveowI be.
cause they did not own slaves; the larger
the number Of slaves their masters owned,
the prouder they were. and this has pro-
duced hostility between the mass of the
whites and the negroes. The outrnges
are mostly from on-slaveholdipg whites
against the negro. and from the negro
upon the non-slaveholding whites.
| The negro will vote with the late las.
ter whom he does not hate. rather than
with the non-slaveholding white, whom
he does hate. Universal suffrage would
create another war, not against us, but a
war Of races.
Another thing: This Government is
the freest and best on the earth, and.
feel sure. is destined to last; but to secure
this, we must elevate and purify the bal.
lot for many years contendel at the
South that slavery was political weak
ness. but Others said it was political
strength. They thought we gained three
fifths representation by it; l contended
that we lost two fifths.
If we bad no slaves we should hive
! had twelve representatives more, accord
ing to the then ratio of representation
T Congress apportions representation by
States, not districts, and the State appor.
tions by districts.
Many years ego moved 10 the Legis.
lature that the apportionment of Repre-
i sentatives to Congress, in Tennessee.
should bs by qualified voters. sd
The spportionment is now fixed until
1872; before that time we might change
the basis Of representation from popula-
ton to qualified voters, North as well as
South. and in due course of time. the
States without regard to color. might ex-
tend the elective franchise to all who DOS
sessed certain mental. moral, or such 9th
or qualifications, as might be determined
by an enlightened public Judgment: q
THE PRESIDENTS ENDORSEMENT.
i BosToN, Oct. Is, 1865.
The above report was returned to me
by President johnson with the following
Endorsement. G. L. STEARNs.
i have read the within communication
and find it substantially correct -.
i have made some verbal alterations.
i - - a. J,