New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-11-27

About 20 start for some weeks s0JOurn III the
West whence cannot readily and constantly confer
with the general public wish to leave my contribu-
ton to the general mass of suggestion and criticism
touching the true bases of National restoration and
concord so plainly set forth that it cannot be mis-
quoted nor inexperienced.
That have long held the main foundations OF a
genuine, enduring resetement Of our disturbed and
upturned National structure TO be UNIVERSAL
AMNESTY and IMPARTIAL SUFFRAGE, must be
tolerably we'll known. II only remains TO
be said that | commend them not as re-
ciprocal concessions but as common benefits. l
trust our great differences arc to be composed and
ended by no grudGng, higgng compromise-no pea
nut dicker 1t is essential to the North that the
South should be thoroughly tranquEed and re-
assured it is essential to the South that her principal
body of Agricultural Laborers-her peasant cutivaors
should live and labor in contentment based on per-
feet trust that their rights Of person and property
their earnings and their homesare as secure and IN
violate as those Of the proudeSt magnate in the land
There is no Northern, no Southern interest in the
promises, but common interest OF the whole Ameri'
can People,
lam for Universal Amnesty-so far as immunity
from fear of punishment confscaton IL concerned
even though Impartial Suffrage should for the present
be resisted and defeated did think it desirable that
Jefferson Davis should be arraigned and tried for
treason; and il still seems to that this might prop
erly have been done many months ago. But it was
not done then; and now | believe it would result
in far more evil than good II would rekinde passions
that have nearly burned out or been hushed to sleeps
it would (earfully convulse and agate the Southi 1t
would arrest the progress Of reconciliation and kindly
feeling thore; it would cost large sum directly and
far larger indirectly; and-unless the jury were scan
dalousy packed-it would result in management
or no verdict can imagine no good end TO be sub
served by such trial, and-holding Davis neither
better nor worse than thousands Of othcrs-would
have him treated as they are.
hope to see Impartial Suffrage established by very
general consent. Many will favor it because they
hold it emnently wise and just; others because they are
tired Of contention about negroes, and wish to put an
end 20 it, And the one simple. obvious mode of taking
the negro out OF politics is just to treat him as man
lie will cease 10 be object of special interest or
championship from the hour that the law dsregards
the immateiial circumstance OF his color aud treats
him only as q human being.
trust the States will generally accord TO Blacks
the COMMON IRulS VI mduuVOu uAcnptNk4AN w s"'
Nation and Of each Others and trust they will agree
TO place those rights under the protection of the
Federal Constitution. This may not, in one sense,
be necessary; yet II is best 70 leave no loop to hang
a doubt upon" The whole country needs absolute
peace and rest. / am very willing that each State
should impose moderate pol-tax on every citizen,
and allow no one 10 vote who shall not have season.
ably paid this tax. hold that lunacs, idiots, Grim
inals Migrants and public paupers, have no natural
right TO vote and that they ought not to be enfran
chsed. If there be negroes-as presume there are
who choose to prowl over the country, begging and
stealing think these should be allowed to vote
But every honest digent, industrious, useful citizen
however lowly ought to be a voter aud that State
is weakened and imperiled which excludes any such
from her electoral body.
dislike the suggestion Of an Intelligence" basis
for suffrage Let us not be deluded by false analo.
gies and vague distractions In State where each
child grows up within sight Of free school.houses
wherein he is more than welcome TO be pupil it is
perfectly reasonable TO prescribe that those only who
can read may vote. Where half the people have not
only been denied all public facilities for education
but have grown up under laws which made teaching
them crime, the case is very different. Establish
common schools in the South, aud you may fairly
prescribe that no one shall vote after 1876 who does
not know how to read. But do not put out mans
eyes and then punish him for blindness.
1t would be morally impossible to enforce fairly
and uniformly an intelligence test in the South. Just
think Of Mayor Monroe with his chief Of police and
first marshal sitting a board on the eve of an
citing election to determine how many and which Of
the Blacks Of New.0reans were 80 literary as they
should be TO make them voters Fancy the Copper
heads of Southern Maryland passing on the literary
pretensions Of their late slaves, from whom they
feared defeat in an exciting political contest The
bare attempt 10 enforce such test at the South
will manifestly nAame and distract that entire region.
/ trust it will be forborne.
commend Impartial Suffrage as required by the
true interest of all concerned; yet cannot admit
that it is matter in which the North has no rghtul
concern. The Blacks are portion not merely of the
Southern but Of the American People. They played
an important and benefcent part in our great Civil
War; We cannot ignore the obligations spnnging
from our necessity and their loyalty. / hold that
honor and good faith absolutely constrain those who
trumphed in that struggle TO take care that their
humble supporters and hackers shall not be made TO
suffer for taking the side Of the Union. To say now,
in view Of the recent past Let the Southern negroes
have such rights only as their White (late Rebel
fellow citizens shall sec fit to accord them" would
be ingrattude and perfdy such as might well invoke
the ghtnings Of heaven. No matter at what cost,
we of tho North must take care that the Southern
Blacks are not left at the mercy of that daboc spirit
which manifested itself through the late maSsaeres of
Memphis and New-orleans.
"But there is The Federal Constitution in your