New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-21
SHALL WE HAVE PEACE

A very large minority of the People OF the
United States have incurred the pains and
penalties of treason. They waged for four
years a bloody, devastating war, whereof the
avowed, ruling purpose was the disruption oil
our Union by the withdrawal of twelve or fii-
teen States therefrom. For this, they fought
bravely, obstinately, persistently; but at length
they were signally, thoroughly beaten. Their
Confederacy was utterly crushed out by mill
tary force, so that they now recognize as sove-
reign the Federd power that they fought to
overthrow And now they find their way back
to the position of equality and power in the
Union DISTRACTED by their treason and the Ma
tional or State action consequent thereon.
Thus, those who aided or sympathized with the
Rebellion are expressly DISTINGUISHED by the
State Constitutions of Maryland and Missouri,
as they were disfranchised by State law in
Kentucky till their Copperhead friends obtained
power there and repealed the act. And one act
of Congress excludes those who have been
Rebels from seats in either House, while another
precludes their appointment to Federal offices
generally.
On the other hand there are -Four Millions
Of our People mainly Southern, who have till
recently been enslaved and benghted, and are
to-day generally poor, uneducated, restricted
TO the least lucrative and least honored employ
ments, and very generally scorned and despised
To this race, the rights OF Manhood are but par
tally and grudgingly accorded: they are denied
by most of the States any voice in framing the
laws and choosing the rulers they must never
theless obey, or in levying and adjusting the
taxes which they are yet required to pay.
Now, that this is radically wrong and OPP
pressive, is truth affirmed in the abstract by
all sections and parties-quite as loudly BY our
political antagonists as by us. Thus, the late
Indiana Democratic State Convention unani-
mOusly
"Resolued, That we declare il TO be just principle
that TAXATION and rspresesaon should Together that
property of every description. whether houses lands
merchandise Government bonds, should bear It's fair
share Of taxation and that there should be no favored
classes"
Here is basis Of principle affirmed which
seems TO us broad enough for all to stand upon,
and to protect the essential rights Of all. The
Indiana Democracy like the Democracy of
most other loyal States, truly affirm as "a just
principle" that taxation and representation
should 90 together" and that there should
be no favored classes" They affirm this in the
interest Of their brethren of the JEFF. Davis per.
suasion; but a sound principle is not invalidated
by the fact that particular application of it
seems dstasteful. 1t is right that the late Rebels
being in the Union, taxed by its authorities and
under obligation to obey its laws, should have
a voice in making and modifying those laws;
and it is even more palpably right that the
Freedmen-whO have never been traitors, and
who are intensely lOyal-should also have o
voice and vote in shaping the Government under
which they live. Hence we insist on UEIvER-
SAL AMNESTY with IMPARTIAL EYFRANCHIsR.
MEyr as the true, broad, solid basis of public
policy calculated to restore TO this long dis
tracted land the blessings Of fraternity, con.
tentment, and prosperity.
! Our Northern Democracy object TO this broad,
consistent application Of their own cherished
principle. Taxation without REPRESENTATION is