The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-09-14
Important Letter from Secretary Harlan
THE Position Of President johnson on
Negro Suffrage.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. rs, 90. }
Hon. Geo. B. Edmonds, Cyermoat, Ioaoa;
DEAR Sri have just received your let
ter of the 21st inst, stating, among othel
things, that the Union State Convention o.
Iowa has adopted as a plank IN ITS platform
a recommendation in favor of negro suffrage
that the Copperhead Convention has en-
dorsed President Johnson's policy for the
reorganization of States, assuming it to bt
in opposition to negro Suffrage; that this is
in your opinion, the issue Joined between
the two parties in Iowa; that heretofore the
Union party has derived valuable aid from
me in support of its principles; that, you re-
gret, however, to observe a newspaper re-
port of speech recently made by me, which
places me, as you think, in antagonism
with its present principles and policy, which
gives you pain.
In reply, have to say, that if your opin-
ion was well founded, it would be a cause of
greater pain to me, than yourself but. | beg
leave respectfully to state, that you misap-
prehend the position of President Johnson,
and my own, as well as that of the Union
party at large. The real question at issue
in national point of view, is not whethe'
negroes shall be permitted to vote, but
whether they shall derive that authority
from the National Government, or from the
State Governments respectively.
President johnson maintains the doctrine
that the Constitution of the United States
does not confer on the Federal Government
the right to interfere, primarily with the
question of suffrage in any State Of the
Union that the question may arise and
properly be decided by Congress, when Sen
ators and members present themselves for
admission to seats in that body, under the
clause of the Constitution, which makes
each House the exclusive judge Of the quail
ifications and election of members; and that
other clause of the Constitution of the Uni
ted States, which provides that 1.-The United
States shall guarantee to every State in the
Union, republican form of Government.
| infer that if any State should adopt law
on the subject of suffrage, which would
clearly show the State Government to be
other than republican, it would be the duty
of Congress to reject applicants for Seats and
to adopt whatever legislative remedies
would IN their Judgment be necessary to
carry out the guarantees Of the Constitution.
That the State of Iowa may take steps to
extend the right of suffrage, is not, as it
seems to me, in conflict with this policy, and
consequently, those who support the policy
Of the President on this subject, are not in
with the platform Of the Union
party Of Iowa.
The Union party of the State propose that
the State shall modify its own constitution,
80 as to include as electors, persons who
have not under its present provisions the
right to vote This, as President Johnson
State may do, but that the ma
,ional Government would have no right to
-equire Iowa, Or any other State, to modify
is own Constitution, on this, or any other
subject, when not in conflict with the Uni
ed States.
If should be in Iowa when that question
s submitted to the people, if it shall be so
submitted by the Legislature, would vote
% extend the right to all classes of persons
the requisite intelligence and pa
5riotism to be intrusted with participation
n the management of public affairs, State
u National, without regard to their nation
llity, as do not believe that the liberty of
my class Of people can be considered safe,
who are to be permanently deprived Of the
exercise Of this right.
l do not disguise these opinions; you may
therefore make what use of this letter you
nay deem proper. .g
L have the honor to be, very respectfully,
your ob't serv't JAS. HARLAN.