Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1865-08-25
1HE pREsIpENI,s POLICY.

+ Those who wish to know and under
stand the policy of Mr.. ) ohnson upon the
question of negro suffrage as part OF the |
scheme of reconstruction, may md that
policy plainly stated in his address made
Some weeks ago to the South Carolina
GeIegation. In that address he told these
gentlemen that It was their duty to look
St facts plainly and squarely, and to regu-
LATE their plans for the future with direct
rafarence to accepted and unchangeable
truths. The States OF the Union had not
changed their political relations by their
rebellion; but were all States OF the Union
now. as they had been before the repel-
lion. but rebellion having for time sus-
nended all regular political functions
| there. it was now but just that ia taking
measures for a resumption of the legltl-
mate government in those States, they
/ should so act as TO correspond In an
| things with the great changes that had IN
/ the meantime been wrought IN the gener-
/ al policy of the country One OF these
changes was the total abolition OF slavery
! and the elevation of the emanclpated AT
ricans to the condition of freemen. Any
and all action by the people OF the sever
Al States. in the matter of restoring OF re-
Il constructing their State governments,
inst he ouided bv this leading fact, and
Il 10 the extent that the people should dew
ate in their form of government and laws
, fixed and universally accepted policy SO
emphatically pronounced by the people
at the November election, they must ex-
pect that their action would pc repu0la-
ted. He quoted for them the clause Of
the Constitution which accepts the quail
| fcation of voters as fixed by State author
t itv. as the qualification of voters Tor rep,
e resentatives in Congress, and notlheo
f them that. having the exclusive right tC
0 prescribe the qualification of their voters
It was their duty in that particular as II
It all other particulars, to consult thaL sen
timent which the rebellion had mage uni
: versaI in the loyal States. He turthel
toi5 tbar that with the initiation of thest
State Governments his function IN tina
o matter ceased; it then became question
# for the people of the State on the on
hand and ofCongress on the other, am
unless their action was such as to WI
n the approval of Congress, their State ac
u ton would be nugatory; and, instead .
the civil government they so anXlousi
id sought, they must necessarily contlhue,
,e he governed by the military power, Al
mSIsticalIv warned them that SLAYER
is IS gone as an institution. There was u
hone that the people of South Carolin
would be admitted into the Senate or tn
House of Representatives until they ha
:" afforded evidence by their conduct
this truth"
as In this declaration OF the IeSaue
a ma7 be found the true indication OF tn
ar policy of the Administration, He malr
h. tains infexibly that under the, ConstltI
tion as it now stands, the people OF eae
sc, State have the exclusive authority to e;
nd tablish the qualifications of voters, z Z
to refuses, peremptorily, all appeals that
should interfere with their exercise.
IS that right. But while coneedlng tn
d. point. he is also conscious that the excl'
Or siye power and authority OF admlttlI
he Senators and Representatives to seats
ire Congress is vested by the Constitution
ell the respective branches of the Nation
he Legislature; and in that fratern9l splI
- which leads him so earnestly in the wol
ere of restoring NATIONAL peace and harmon
wn he warns these people of the lnsurge
States who are about to organize new go
5he ernments, and to ask representation,
the National Congress, that though tn
he have the constitutional power to NIX the
domestic laws as they please, there IS u
der the present circumstances, anoth
to power, having an equal constitutional a 2
out thority, to approve or reject them.-C u
cdgo Republican.