The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-12-12

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sentatives of the United States, "ths
electors in each State shall have the dual-
ifcations requisite for electors Of the rn9st
numerous branch of the State Legiss
lature."
After the formation Of the Constitution,
it remained, as before, the uniform usage
for each State to enlarge the body of its
electors, according to its own Judgment
and, under this system, one State aftef
another has proceeded to increase the
number of its electors until now universal
suffrage, or something very near it, is the
general rule.
So fixed was the reservation of powsf
in the habits Of the people, and go un-
questioned has been the Interpretation of
the Constitution that during the war the
late President never harbored the Purs
pose-certaiuly never avowed the pur+
pose-of disregarding it j; and in the acts
of Congress, during that period, rcthing
can be found which, during the continua
ance of hostillties, much less after theit
close, would have sanctioned any depart<
uVe by the Executive from policy whieh
has go universally obtained.
Moreover, a concession of the elective
franchise to the freedmen, BY act Of the
President Of the United States, must have
been extended to all colored men, vhe..
ever found, aud SO must have established
a change Of suffrage in the Northern,
Middle, and Western States, not less than
. ,~,4 y J
an act would have created a new class of
voters, and would have been an assump+
ton Of power by the President whleh
nothing in the Constitution or laws os
the United States would have warranted.
/ Ga the other hand, every danger of
conflict is avoided when the settlement
Of the question is referred to the several
States. They can, each for itself, decide
on the measure, and wheteer it is to be-
adopted at once and absolutely, CT intro
duced gradually and with conditions. In
my judgment, the freedmen, if they show
patience and manly virtues, will sooner
obtain participation in the elective fans
chise through the States than through
the General Government, even if it had
power to intervene. When the tumult
Of emotions that have been raised by the
suaderness of the social change shall have
subsi3ed, it may prove that they will re-
ceive the Eindiest usage from some of
I those on whom they have heretofore nloss
closely depended.
! But while I have no doubt that cow,
after the close of the war, it is not COM
petent for the General Government to-
extend the elective franchise in the sew
eral States, it is equally clear that good
faith requires the security Of the freedmen
in their liberty and their property, their
right to labor, and their right 70 claim
the just return of their labor. I cannot
toostrongly urgea dispassiouate treatment
of this subject, which should be carefully
kept aloOf from all party strife. We muss
equally avoid hasty assumptions Of any
natural impossibility for the two races to
/ live side by side, in state of mutual
benefit and good will. The experiments
involves Us in no inconsistency let us
I then, 90 aud make that experiment IN
good faith, and not be too easily diss
/ heartened.
/ Tue country is in need of labor, and
the freedmen are 10 need Of employment,
culture and protection. While their
right Of voluntary migration and expatris
alton is not to be questioned, would rot
advise their forced removal and colonial
! ton. Let US rather encourage them to
honorable aud useful industry, where is
may be beneficial to themselves and to
/ the country and, instead Cf hasty antio-
patiors Of the certainty of failure, les
there be nothing wanting to the fair trisl
( of the experiment. The change 10 their
condition is the substitution of labor By
contract for the status of slavery. The
freedmen cannot fairly be accused Of uu@
willingness to work, SO long as doubs
remains about his freedom of choice id
his pursuits, and the certainty of his res
covering his stipulated wages.
/ In this the interests of the empiovef
and the employed coincide. The employer
desires in his works men of spirit aud
alacEity, and these can be permanently
secured in no other way And if the ous
ought to be able to enforce the contract,
so ought the other. The public Interest
will be best promoted if the several States
will provide adequate protection and REM
edies for the freedmen. Until this is ia
come way accomplished, there is DO chance
for the advantageous use of their labor 5
and the blame Of ill-success will rot ress
On them.
! know that sincere philanthropy is earnest
I for the immediate realization Of IS remotest
aims but time is always au eieucert in REFORM
It is one of the greatest acts on record 20 hay 8
brought four millions of people irto Freedom
! The career of free industry must be fairly