The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-12-14
MHEELING WEST VA. FRIDAY MORNING DECFNBFR l4 1886

tSNtS - - Oil VIC states pAb llSelI III IL u
attitude to defend one of its most cher
lshed doctrines. 1t was thus, not by
| choice, but by the tactics of the opposi-
ton, made gradually to assume an at
utude OF seeming hostility to that other
cardinal doctrine, impartial suffrage.
But the opposition did notoccupy the
ground from which the Democracy
were driven. At no period of time, in
no State, in no party convention ever
held,' has the political party opposed
10 the Democracy, by whatever name
that party may have been called, advo-
Gated the principle of impartial suf-
frage. The present Radical party, a
party which aims at the Capitalization
rather than the pOpulariZation of the
government, has not done it; but, on
the contrary, has taken great pains to
be understood as standing in an atti-
tude ofOppOsition to impartial suffrage.
IT IS doing this very thing now. What
| Is called the congressional plan" does
not embrace this all-important princi-
pie. 1t does not base, nor attempt to
oase, representation on taxation, but
on the other hand expressly provides
| that a large body of people NAV be ex-
cluded even from the basis of represen-
tatiOn, Notwithstanding that they shall
De made to pay taxes. It is therein an
tl-democrattc. 1t is in direct antagO-
nismt to the traditions of the Democracy.
but entirely consistent with the cen.
trallzation theories of ancient Federal
ism, to which theories the present Rad.
lcal party has succeeded by direc
line of inheritance.
On the other hand it is seen, that the
Democratic party in times past has
stood IN a positive attitude upon this
genuine Democratic principle. This
attitude is forcibly illustrated by the
history of that party in the State OF
New York, and especially in the Con-
stltutional Convention of that State in
lS2l-in the midst of the Missouri agi-
tation. Suffrage in that State, as in all
others, depended originally upon a
property qualification, applicable i'm
partially to men of ali sorts. The
form of government was perhaps less
Democratic than in any other of the
original States. Comparatively few
othces were elective, and immense pow
er and patronage were centralized in
racy sought change; the Federalists,
were opposed to any change. AT length,
the Democracy gaining sufficient
strength in tho legislature, the uues-
| ton of constitutional convention was
submitted to the people and was affirm
ed by an immense majority. Having Il
majority of the convention, the Democ-
racy against a united Federalist Oppo-
sltion, abolished the property qualifi-
cation as tC white men, but n sufficient
number of doubling Thomasses voted
with the Eederalists to prevent its
abolition as to black men. The prin-
clple, however, was not lost. Taxation
as basis of suffrage was still retained,
and to compensate for the property
qualification of negroes, which was no
longer required of whites, the follow
ing clause was inserted in the constitu.
ton of New York, and remains in it to
this day:
And no person of color shall be sub
tect to direct taxation, unless he shall
be seized and possessed of such real
estate as aforesaid"
Thus was the principle of "no taxa
ton without representation" reaffirmed
by the Democracy in the great State of
New York. Impartial suffrage was
still cOnteuded for by the great BODY of
the party in that State, and was only
partially overcome by accessiOus to the
Federalist opposition; but in lieu there
of, it was provided that no man who
did not have the right to vote should be
liable to pay taxes. In the State of
New York to this day, the pronerty Of
negroes under the amount of S25O-the
amount which qualified them to vote
IS exempt from taxation. And this
fundamental rule was made by the
Democratic party, even after the anti
| slavery agitation had become disturb
ing element in politics.
The history of that party in other
States might also be cited to show that
its former advocacy of this great prin-
ciple was an active advocacy, and not "A
mere passive one. III one of the new
States, the qualifications of suffrage
prescribed by Democratic cOnstitu-
tional convention, are such as forciblv
illustrate the absurdity of different
rule. In Minnesota, 'persOns of Indi-
an blood who have adopted the lam
I 4 IL
ton, are admitted to the right of suf-
trage. Certainly, Indians are not
"white men," Why admit them anv
more than persons of negro blood who
have adopted "the language, customs
and habits of civilization" This clause
in the Constitution of Minnesota was
made ground of opposition to her
admission by Northern opponents of
the Democracy, and by one or
two Southern Democrats = espa-
cially by Mr.. A G. Brown, of
Mississippi. But it was supported by a
majority of the Democratic party, For
it was urged that Indians liable to be
taxed, are counted in the basis of repre-.
sentation, and therefore that it was un.
democratic to exclude them from the
elective franchise. This is true Demo-
cratic doctrine. Negroes also are ex-
cluded in the basis OF representation
not any longer as property, but each in
ulNluudl AlElcaH' as the Iull unit and
not as Il vulgar fraction of man, Be-
ing included in the basis of representa-
tion, they have, under the Democratic
doctrine, the right to voice in the Sc
lection of representatives to be chosen
upon that basis. Negroes, also, as
other freemen, are subject to taxation.
They are thereby made integral mem
bers of the community or State, and
have right, upon the Democratic basis
as affirmed in all but one of the original
States, to ii voice in the government of
the State. If excluded from this right,
in whole or in part, the Democratic doc
trine, as laid down in New York, is
that such whole or such part ought to
be exempt from taxation.
1t is thus seen that the doctrine of inn
partial suffrage is one of the earliest
and most essential doctrines of the
democracy. 1t is the affirmation of the
right of every man who is made a par
taker of the burdens of the State to be
represented by his own consent, or vote
in its government. 1t is the first prin-
ciPle upon which all true republican
government rests. 1t is the basis upon
which the liberties of Ampripa will ba