The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-27


The proposition to substitute impartial sui
bage and universal amnesty for the Constitu
tional amendment, as the basis of restoration
appears to be received with little favor at tht
South. The amendment Is denounced as deroga
tory to the honor of che Southern people, anc
the application of an intelligence test alike t
10 white and black is secuted as a device fol
aisfranchising the poor whites. Qualified negro
suffrage and universal white suffrage woulC
suit tolerably well, because the number of en-
franchised freedmen would be very small. Blu
the impartial doctrine is repudiated as vehe
mently as would be universal suffrage for black
and white alike The Mobile Advertiser states
the Southern case upon this subject with re-
fTeshng candor in an article from which VIC
quote the folloWing:--
The trouble is that in the Southern states where
white sufraVe Is universal, we cannot have tnpor-
ttQG negro suffrage as it Is had In Massachusetts
And the that in the latter Sato ,ohae sut-
trage is qualified, and the same quaihcaton Is ex-
tended TO both races II the radicals would COM
promise with us ON this question, and allow the
blacks of the South the same qualihed suffrage as IS
allowed them in Massachusetts. It would be
cessIon on our part OF lite or no practical moment
for the reason that out of black population of three
millions, there would be found only few hundred
that coulo become qualified voters, and there Is
no doubt those votes would be governed at the
South asd not at the North. But, unhap-
pily, this is not impartial suffrage for 1t dis
criminates between white and black suffrage, and
q compromise on that basis On the other hanu,
when people, like those of the South, are in pos
s;cIaU oD ~ the aSisiatnre sotS enongb -, ro So ~
take any OF 1t from themy So that If the South
woulo consent to yield its traditional prejudces so
far as TO accede to qualified black suffrage tor the
sake of dspeling the gloom of the olitica present
which hangs like a pail upon her energies social
AND commercial, and OF peing restored to her
ancient rights in the Federal Union, the diff.
Guilty we have presented would seem to be insur-
mOuntable."
ho Il 1,,4
journals that have condescended to discuss the
suffrage question. They are not averse to an
entranchisement of freedmen-that would prac-
tically amount to nothing but they are de.
Cidedly averse to qualification rigidly applied
20 both races. And as it is certain that the
North will listen to no terms of compromise
that imply any distinction as between while
and black in respect of citizenship it would
seem to be idle to dwell upon the impartial
suffrage proposition as condition of restoration.
There are, of course, other qualifications than
that OF intelligence. For many reasons, that
test Is open to serious practical objections, 1t
ls no guarantee of moral fitness, in the first
place, and in the next its application would be
capricious and uneven. property test as
now acted upon with reference to colored citi-
zens in this State, is preferable, because indi-
eating certain degree of thrift, and being
moreover, susceptible of direct proof Or the
payment of specified tax or specified amount
Of taxation, might be still better because more
likely to secure the admission of larger class
while excluding the idlers and wanderers
But either OF these methods would be as objec-
n9naole to the South as the intelligence test
which the Mobile Advertiser had more espe-
claily IN view. For the same obnoxious prin-
ciple OF impartiality-of equality OF right IRE.
spectlve OF color-underlies the whole. The
South has learned something, perhaps, but it
has not yet learned that the foundation of its
political structure must hereafter be justice.
To universal suifroge, probably the North
would be as strenuousy opposed as the South.
The danger of investing with political power
the whole body of freedmen, fresh from the
semi bar barous ignorance and degradation of
slavery, is too obvious to be overlooked. Our
own experience of universal suffrage has not
inspired confidence in its sagacity or safety; and
beyond a handful of extremists, there are few
who would entrust the ballot to the great mass
of colOred citizens in the Southern States. Let
them be dealt with iairly subject them to no
disqualification from which white citizens are
exempt; but at least let some check be imposed
that shall guard the franchise from the abuses
incident to the universal principle.
Nor should we forget that the very men who
have advocated universal negro suffrage as a
condition precedent OF restoration, are no longer
content with the demand. Wendell Phlios is
perhaps the man best entitled to speak in
behalf OF this section of extremists, and he de-
clares plainly that great deal more than negro
suffrage must be had, though how mush more.
or exactly what is not apparent In an address
at Philadelphia on Thursday last he is reported
to have said that ''tbe object of anti-slavery is
the advancement Of the colored man, and that
the Southern States shall be held until it is
what it means more than universal suffrage Is
evident from the context. "Grant the negro his
absolute rghts"-Mr Phillips went on to say
(which means his advancement to the same
footing as the white Rebels.n The Same foot.
ingn in what regard? Is there to be the Same
footing" touching properly to be reached through
the conhscatlon process, or what? That the in,
cendiary who prefers this new and underlined
demand contemplates eXactions of an indefinite
nature, cannot be doubted. For the Philadel.
phia Press makes him to have asserted that
I'VE have the power now OF making the torture
under the harrow"-whateyer that may signify,
1--WE may be obliged to continue it for thirty
years" ne ADDS "or perhaps not more than
three.n 1t is difficult sometimes TO avoid the
conclusion that the man who utters language
so outrageously nonsensical, has sacrificed his
reason to his ianatlcism. Even Phillips how.
ever, has his uses. And his violence and
sayagery Will not be entirely destitutelof utility
II they remind the North OF the worthlessness Of
universal negro suffrage as means of satisfy
ing the anarchists. Their great desire is to pre-
vent the restoration of the Union. They
clamored Tor negro suffrage as a means to that
END, and as soon as impartial suffrage is talked
about as something that mig hit be rendered prac.
ucal, they Invent otherrequlrements by way of
completing ''the torture under the harrow
Reviewing the aspect ofthe suffrage question as
that II is unavailable as basis of restoration,
AS contriyanee for satisfying the extremists
1t has ceased to be available. Their appetite
iGr h vengeance will be satisfied with nothing
snort OF torture Tor three or thirty wears As
a form OF compromise it is manifestly as dis
tasteiui to the South as the plan presented bv
congress and approved By the governing States
ta Ana sance the South rejects all overtures, in
turh, anu resents as an otfense all proposals
looking to the eXaotion of conditions theTe'is
no motive 70 an abandonment, postponnment
or modification OF the amendment as ssncfloned
by the Republican party
Besides, the amendment moro G,Ily .sotioAos
the moderate demands of the North thar INV
other measure that has yet been suggested II