The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-07-05
PalsehOods Examined.

There are certain lalsehOOds in relation
I'd the 'shingtou plan OF recOnstructing
the rebel states. which have obtained Wide
CIR ea.~,ion. all which seem % le accepted
NN journalists 1ni the people - - much
political gospel They are:
J. Tie assertion Tat 10 the states is left
The fixing ~ t.e qualifications ~ tie So-
.er> Who VIII establish The new order OF
things
This j. untrue on lis face In every pro-
clamation issued by the President auihari-
Lng reconstruction. that official has IN di-
iirtct and unequivOcal terms said who
shall and who shall not vote al the election
~ delegates for the Constitutional C0nven-
uons which the military Governors are
commanded 10 call. That the qualifications
named accord with the qualifications neces-
,aTy before secession, makes no difference
N,h our proposition. In his limitations OF
fhe right OF suffrage. only that which
seemed TO the President 10 be good policy
vas consulted. His right 10 iix any other
limitations il not impaired by his act.
AGAIN. II the states are only 10 be- con
suited. the President Is guilty Of an usur-
patton. Who ever heard OF a President as
suming 10 say VINO should or who should
not vote in an election for delegates 10
state Constitutional Convention
IT, Tie Iretense that the President must
in his dealing with the suffrage question in
the rebel States. be guided by the previous
avs OF those States, which do not author
.ze negro suffrage.
The truth IS that the President. as Com
mander-in-Chief deals with these States rs
conquered provinces in his military not
h.s civil capaciiy-a method OF dealing
wiki them that IS authorized by the COnstl-
tuition, which makes HIM the head of the
army and navy, but which imposes no llmi-
tau0ns except his own notions OF right aud
wrong. and Of eXpediency. The States are
AZ his mercy as much Is u prisoner OF war
Is al the mercy Of his captor and there j.
no power except that OF public opinion 10
which he Il amenable for what. within the
laws OF war and the uSages OF civilization.
he may DO. His authority is supreme a. a
military but useless "a a civil authority
The supreme Court OF the United States 30
doosIod in the OsIrp pT Galifernia .ios -
Isc>iuou, might legally and hy virtue oi his
office, appoint a military Governor for
state. Out that the naming Of a civil Gov
eruOr was beyond and outside of bis iuris-
dIctiOn. Will the advocates Of the other
view point out 10 Us the clause in the con-
StituuOn where his authority is denied
hat J. tfe language OF this instrument. OF
which We hear 30 much what but this
The President shall be COmmander-in-
Chief of the army and navy" This claus
i all that bears on the subject, and where
Is the limitation that ii contains. iOrbIUding
the exercise Of The Presidents power 10 let
whOmsOrver he pleaSes vote in these con
quered provinces until these provinces pass
from under military rule and become States
again.
III. The Constitution Of the Cnited
states does not authorize negro suffrage
This is a downright lie-probably known
10 be such by those who tell il. That H.
strument makes no distinction among citi-
Zens the white or black. ANY man
who may vote for the most numerous
branch OF q State Legislature. may vote for
President and Vice President. That's all
the Constitution SAYS on the subject. The
states mot rebel provinces subiugated and
IN al inChOate cOnditiOn) regulate that mat
ter tO suit themselves. No man in any dis
organized rebel State can vote for q mem
Der of the Legislature, because the military
power permits no Legislature 10 be held.
There are in all such States DO voters OF
amy sort, except they become such 10y the
pleasure of the military authority. u j.
competent 10 let white or black vote. unit
reorganization is effected and the State,
resume their proper relation. Then Stat,
authoIi Y cOnlr4ls. In the meantime, Tie
President, if he 80 desired might perm
every negro in the South 10 vote. and cOu'D
il he pleased. exclude every white man
and his constitutional power would be hi
warrant therefor.
II We are not correct; il the President
acting in his civil and not his military ca
pacty, and If the conquered provinces arr
really and truly States. endowed with th'
rights which the States Of the North pos
sess, and are not subject to military law
the President is an usurper and ought L
be impeached, because every one Of hi
acts in relation 10 these sO-called states !
an assumption Oi power that be does no
possess except a. d cOnquerer. II We ar
right, the responsibility Of excluding IN
blacks who can read and write, the black
who have fought in the Union army and th
blacks who have proved their ability io
9eii-suppOrt, from the polls, Is his polio
merely without compulsion thereto 10y an
constitutional or other power. II his pla
shall work well we shall be the first {
award him the credit TOR prescience tina
few have possessed. II 1t is but the begir
ming of endless wrangling and trouble le
him have the spOnsibility. y.-fhicag0 Ir
JUne