Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-01-29

1ae following is the substance or CONVERSE
Istion Whichtook place yesterday between the
President aad dl,tingui h {. Senator, as 'ele--
ped North by the agent Of the Associated
Press .,-a-.~o
! The President said thai he doubted he pro
prIety at this time OF making further amend
ments to The Constitution. One great amend
ment had already been made, by which slavery
had furever been abolished within the limits ot
! the United States and national guaranty tFiiAs
/ given that the institution should never exist II
the land. Propositions to amend the ConsF!tu-
( ton were becoming as numerous as preamoles
! and resolutions at town meetings called to con
slider he ,nest ordinary questions connected
with the administration OF local affairs All
this, in his opinion, had tendency to dlmin-
| ish the dignity aad prestige attached 10 the
Constitution OF the country, and to lessen the
respect and confidence OF the people IN their
| great charter of freedom If however, amend
men5s are to be made to the Constitution,
changing the basis ct representation and taxa-
ton, land he did not deem them at all necassa-
r. at the present time, he knew Of none better
than simple proposition, embraced IN a lev
! lines, making In each State the number OF quail
fed voters the basis Of representation, and the
value CT property The basis OF direct taxation.
Such a proposition could be EN- :caceG IN the
following terms:
Representatives shall he spportioned among
the severa! States which nay be Included with
ia this Uniou according to The number OF ou9l;-
fed voters in each State.
"Direct taxes shal! be aplrotioned among The
several Stat es which nay be included within
this Union according to the value of ali agabe
property in each State.
An amendment OF this kind would, ia his
opinion: place the basis Of represc citation and
direct taxation upon correct principles. Ihe
qualified voters were, ioG the most part, men
who were subject to draft and enlistment when
it was necessary to 1epel invasion, suppress re-
bellion, and qucll domestic violenca and iosur
ractloD They risk their lives shed their blood
and peril their all to uphold The Government
and give protection, security, aud value TO
property. 1t seemed but just thai properly
should compensate for the benefits thus confer
red by defrayIng the EXPENSES lncldent 10 It's
protection and enjoyment.
Such an amendment the President aiso slg-
eested, would remove from Congress al! Issues
in reference 70 the political equah1yot the races
L would laave the States TO determine Also
Iutely the qualifications of their own voters
with regard 10 color: ADD thus the humber OF
representatives to which they would Ue entitled
in Congress would depend upon ti1e nnmter
upon whom they conferred the right Of suffrage.
The President, III this connection: EXPIRES ed
The opinion that the agitation q the negro
franchise question in the District Of Columbia
at this ,nle was the mere enteting- wedge to
agitation Of the question throughout the States
and was Timed, uncsl'ed for, and calculated
TO DO great harm. He believed thar it would
engender emily, contention, and strife between
them, which would Jesuit III grea5 injury to
both and The cert2iu ext4rniraton Of the re
gro population. Precedence be though, should
be given 10 more important and urgent matters
legislation upon which was essential for the
restoration Of the Union, The peace Ct the
country, and the prospe;isy Of the people.