The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-27

COnstttutiOnal Equilibrium,
From the Tribune.
The elaborate absurdity OF Secretary Bro wn-
ing's letter on the Constitution (what else
should the Presidents redoubtable servant
write about unless it be the flag y is almost
past comment, but, as Mr.. Browning is fair
type of those narrow loeicians who conserva-
lively think that the Chinese process OF dwarf
ing nation is necessary to keepit from suicide
few of his vet unserved sophisms deserve to
be treated to death with the instrument they
invoke.
Mr.. Browning opposes all amendment of the
Constitution though II has been amended in
half-a-dozen instances. lie objects to changing
the basis OF representation, because aggregate
population is IFS true basis" Then why not
dsperse from the letter of the law the three
fifhs OF all persons ~ He thinks that these
tbree-ffths should remain as they are, because
neither untrancbised women nor foreigners can
vote, though they are included in the represen-
tative number. Yet the conviction is universal
that foreigners, under our now unamended
laws can vote after a short and needed expe-
rience of our institutions, and that women are
more or less intimately represented by fathers,
brothers, and children. The unrepresented
''three-ilths" were until lately slaves bought,
sold, and liable to be maltreated, by the very
terms of law and sale. They have no voice in
representation save through their owners, who
are not expected 70 vote against their own bar
gains.
These noiiUe citizens have not even the pros.
pect to vote which is accorded to foreigners Of
any class, unlesSwe assure 1t to them. Hence,
the nation is heartily in favor OF restoring to
the negro the fraction of two-6fths robbed from
his manhood, and erecting him into full citizen
ship. We must either DO this, and by the in
controvertlbe influences of law, interest, and
Justice, make all races friends, or we must con-
sent that the black man shall be represented by
his enemy and our owD, to his oppression and
our defeat, We cannot yield to bargain so
stupendously absurd as to make platform of
m cfon6 md
confront loyalty. If there is any danger in the
superstructure OF representation which we are
to plant on the popular basis at tue South, it
VIII be teniold more disastrous If we deny justice
at the foundation.
Mr.. Browning may mistake his own DRIFT, but
we assure him that he has been moilng back
wards in the interest OF dishonesty. Why
should he repeat the stale talk about "equili-
brium,' when, If we must know mo North
South, East, or West, but the whole country"
we must dismiss sucn antique logic as this:-
ut would be better Tor all parties and interests
and tar more hopeful for the perpetuity of the
Government, If something like an equilibrium
OF strength between the different sections of the
country could be maintained" Does our oracle
OF yesterday mean that we are still to conserve
a North and South, and draw lines between
East and West, under some notion that in
national union of commonwealths there must
be some such old-world idea as q balance of
power? The true equilibrium must every year
make the Union more national and South Caro-
lima and Rhode Island more local. and the
united and homog geneous. But we cannot do
this by perpetuating under compact utterly
violated on one side such unrlghteous advan-
tages in South Carolina as We cannot tolerate
in the much larger State OF New York. That is
not equilibrium, popular or otherwise, wherein
the south has most privileges and the North
most population. Make true equilibrium of
equal rights and exact justice towards all men,
and we shall hear little of State lines and risky
balances between North and South at the mercy
OF whatever traitor who chooses to kick the
beam.
By advice and consent of the President Mr.
Browning opposes amendments to the Constitu-
tion IN toto; but neither could have remembered
that, when a Senator, Mr.. johnson offered
amendments to that same instrument halt-a-
dozen times, and that in his first message to
Congress he suggested this very one concerning
representation which has become the body OF
the plan offered by Congress to the people. If
Mr.. Browning be right, should we not erase
every section and article which has been added
TO the Constitution? But the Constitution dit
fers from Mr.. Browning and the President. 1t
prOUides Tor its own amendment. Clearly, then,
is it not irrational to oppose amending the Con-
stitut1on, when the great instrument itself so
provides? Nays not such opposition UN-con-
Stit1aiondl?