Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-12-05


and even within a Stale a distinction of quail
fcatiCns prevailed with regard to the officers
who were TO be chosen. The Constitution OF
the United States recognises these diyersities
when il enloins that, in the choice of members
of the House of Representatives of the United
States, 'the electors in each State shall have
the qualifications requisite for electors of the
most numerous branch of the State Legisla-
ture." After the formation of the Constitu-
ton, IL remained. as before, the uniform usage
for each State to enlarge the body of its cleo
tors, according to its own judgment; and, I'M
der this system, one State after another has
proceeded to increase the number of its cleo
tors, until now universal suffrage, or some
thing very near ii, is the general rule.
SO fixed was this reseryatian of power in
the habits of the people, and SO uuquestioned
bas been the Interpretation Of the Con stitution,
that during the civil war the late President
never har bored the puapose-certainly never
avowed the purpose-of disregarding IT. and
In the acts Of Congress, during that period,
nothing can be found which, during the con-
tinnance of hostilities, much less after heir
close, would have sanctioned any departure
by the Executive from policy which has SO
uniformly obtained.
Moreover, n concession of the elective fran
chise of the freedmen, by act of the President
OF tie United States, must have extended to all
colored men, wherever found, and so must
have established a change of suffrage in the
Northern, Middle and Western States, not less
Than In the Southern and Southwestern. Such
an act would have created q new class of yo-
ters, and would have been an assumption of
power by the President which nothing in the
Constitution or laws of the United States would
have warranted
avoided when the settlement of the question is
referred to the several States. They can, acch
for itself, decide on the measure, and whether
II is TO be adopted at once and absolutely, or
introduced gradually and with conditions. In
my judgement, the freedmen, if they show
patience and manly virtues, VIII sooner obtain
a participation in the elective franchise through
the States than through the General Govern
ment, even if it had power to intervene
When the tumult of emotions that have been
raised by the suddenness of the social change
shall have subsidized it may prove that they
Will receive the kndest usage from some of
those on whom they have heretofore most
closely depended.
But while l have not doubt that now, after
the close of the war, il is not competent for the
General Government TO extend the elective
fianchiSe in the several States, it is equally
clear that good faith requires the security of
the freedmen in their liberty and their proper
~, their rigut 10 labor. and their right TO claim
the just return of their labor.
l cannot too strongly urge q dispassionate
treatment OF this subject, whibh should be
careIul1y kept aloof from all party strife We
must equally avoid hasty assumptions of any
side by side, in a state OF mutual benefit and
good will The experiment involves US in no
inconsistency; let us, then, go on and make
that experinent.n good faith, and not be too
easily dishratened. The country 10 in need of
labor, and the freedmen are In need of employ
ment, bulture, and protection. While their
Ilkut u mlgr6tlCn ana eXpattatiOu
is Eot 10 be questioned, would not advise
their forced removal and colonization.
Let Us rather encourage them TO honorable
and useful industry, where il may be beneficial
10 themselves and 10 the country; and, instead
OF hasty anticipatons of the certainty of fail
ure, let there be nothing wanting to the fair
trlal OF The experiment. The change in their
condition is the substitution of labor by con-
tract for the status of slavery. The freedman
cannot fairly be accused Of upwillingness 10
WoIk, so long rs doubt remains about his
dom Nf Oh, nj
taiEly Of his recovering his stipulated wages
In this the interests OF the employer and the
employed coincide.
The employer desires in his workmen snirit
and alacrlty, and these can be permanently
secured IN no other way. And if the one ought
10 be able 10 enforce the contract so ought the
other. The public interest will be best pro-
NOTED ifthe several States will provide adp-
Guate protection and remedies for the freed-
men. Until this is in some way accomplis he'd,
here Is 10 chance for the advantageous use of
tEeIr labor; and the blame of nl-success Will
not rest on them.
l know that sincere philanthropy is earnest
for the immediate realization of its remOtest
aims but time Is always an element in reform.
1t is one OF the greatest acts on record to have
brought four millions of people into freedom
The career OF free industry must be fairly
opened 10 them and then their future pros per.
lily and condition must, after all, rest mainly
on themselves. If they fail, and so perish
away, let us be careful that the failure shall
not lie attributable 10 any denial of Justice. In
all that relates TO the destiny of the freedmen
we need not be too an xious to read the future :
many incidents which, from a speculate We
point OF view, might raise alarm, will quietly
settle themselves.
Now that slavery is at an end or near its end
the greatness of its evil, in the point OF view
OF puchc economy, becomes more and more
apparent. Slavery was essentially monoDoIy
OF labor, and as such locked the States where
ii prevailed against the incoming of free indus
try. Where labor Was the property ofthe capi-
talIst, The white man was excluded from en-
ployment, or had but the second best chance Of
finding ii. and the foreign emigrant turned
away from the region where his condition
would be SO preCariOus With the destru ction
of the monopoly, free labor will hasten from
all parts of the civilized world to assist in de-
yeloping various and immeasureable resources
which have hitherto lam dormant
The eight or nine States nearest the Cult of
Mexico have soil OF exuberant fertility, a
climate friendly TO long life, and can sustain
6eIser population than is found as yet in any
part of our country. Aud the future inf ux Of
population to them Will be mainly from the
North, or from the most civilized nations in
Europe From the suffering that have atts nded
them curing our late struggle, let Us look away
TO The future, which is sure to bs be laden tor
them with greater prosperity than has ever
popo1y OF slave labor is q pledge that those
regions will be peopled by numerous and en-.
terprising population, which will vie with
any in the Union IN ccmpoctness, inventive
genius. wealth and industry.
Onr Government springs from and was made
for the people-not the people for the Govern
Ii'Ht. q lEtIl IL owes dllegld0ces from them
II must derive its courage, strength, and Wis
dom. But, while the Government is thus
bound to defer to the people, from whom IL
derives its existence, ii should, from the very
consideration of its origin, be strong in its
power OF resistance 10 the establishment of in
equalities. Monopolies, perpetullses and class
legislation, are contrary TO the genius of free
government, and ought not to be allowed
Here, there is no room for favored classes OF
mOnOpolies, the principle of our Government
is that of equal laws and freedom of industry
wherever monopoly attains a foothold, tits
sure 10 be r source of danger, discord, and
trouble. We shall but fulfil our duties as le-
gislatOrs by oCcordipg ''equal and exact JUS
tlce TO all men," special privileges to none. The
Government is subordinate 10 the people; but,
as the agent and representative of the people,
IL must be held superior to monopolies, which
IN Themselves, ought never 20 be granted and
winch, where they exist must be subordinate
and yield TO the Government.
The Constitution confers on Congress the
right TO regulate commerce among the several
States 1t is of the first necessity, for the MAIN
leGance OF the Union, that that commerce
ehouId he free and unobstruced. No State
can be justified in any device to tax the transit
OF travel and commerce between States. The
position OF many States is such that, if they
were allowed 10 take adyaDt tage of it for pur-