The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-05
The Constitutional Amendment on the
Basis of Rep esentatiOn.

Basis OF Rep. esentation.
From the Times.
The House of Repre- entatives has passed the
resolution to amend the Constitution of the
United States chongine the basis OF representa-
ton. Hitherto that basis has been the whole
numper of free persons and three-6fths of all
others. This gave the savehOlding States a
representation of all their free persons, and
about 24O0 600 in addition Notwithstanding
their slaves to number 1000, 600. Now that their
slaves have become free persons they are all
counted, SO that the South will have LOCO, 009
persons added to their representative numbers,
which, under the present ratio, would give them
thirteen more members than they had before.
The opinion has been expressed that onetth of
the entire Colored race in tho South has peIished
during the four years of the war 1t ls SAID That
this is under rather than over the estimate OF
General Grant, and the experience on the coast
Of South Carolina certainly bears 1t out. Ii TINS
is 80 they would lose Si1 members from this
cause so that their clean gain III representa-
tion from the abolition OF slavery would be but
seUeR,
That this is an evil, so far as it goes, all will
agree. Whether it il of sufficient magnitude to
call for an amendment of the Constitution may
fairly be open to doubt. That the specific
amendment adopted by the House is the prouer
mode OF remedying the evil, no one, we think,
who examines 1t carefully VIII for a moment
contend.
The amendment provides that whenever any
State shall deny or abridge the right OF suffrage
TO any persons within her limits grounds OF
race or color all the persons of that race or
color shall be excluded from representation.
Probably no proposition before Congress was ever
more thoroughly and effectually demolished than
was this during the debate that was had upon it.
MIR. Jeuckes, of Rhode Island, was the first to
point out the fact that by necessary implication
this amendment recognized the right OF State
to deny suffrage on account OF color; and this
objection was repeated and reiterated with in-
creased emphasis AID indignation, by many lead
ing Radicals in the House. MI. Shellabarger
was especially explicit and strong in his denun-
citation of The propo-ed amendment. Mr.. Law
renee, Of OHIO, ConCuTred in tlis view, and added
other srOng objections OF his own. Mr.. SChencK,
of Ono, took the ground that it discouraged any
attempt on the part of the Southern States to
improve the condition. of their negroes or TO ad
nit them gradually TO the exercise of political
rights. Mr.. Bro0mall, OF Pennsy ylvania was very
clear and sharp in his hostility TO the amend
ment; and there were, on Monday night, not
less than fifty members OF the Union party who
were opposed to Its passage.
Yet, on Wednesday morning, when the vote
was taken, every one of these men voted tor It
from which it may be very fairly inferred that
it is utterly impossible to conjecture how mer-
bers will vote from what they may say in debate.
They all explained, however, that bad as the
amendment is they thought it better than none
at all; and that their constituents would
exact something at their hands. Our opinion 10
that constituents are much more sensible than
they are generally supposed to oe and that they
Will hold their representatives to sterner
responsibility for passing bad measure than
for passing none at ALL
The amendment embodies what is certainly
one of the most extraordinary propositions
ever made the basis OF public action. 1t pun
ishes State for attempting to improve and
qualify for suffrage portion of its people.
This was distinctly avowed TO be part of its
object by Mr.. Stevens himself What is de-
manded at the hands Of the Southern States is
ORiUeTSdt suffrage tor the entranchsed slaves
Anything short of that is not only to be Ie-
ieCted but to be punished as a crime on the
part Of State by curtailing her representation
IN Congress. If South Carolina, for example,
should see fit to admit her negroes gradually
to vote, after becoming qualified by intelligence
or by industry, or in any other way and If she
should thus admit one-half or twOthirds of the
whole number, these very voters would never
tbeless be excluded from representation in order
to punish the State for requiring qualifications
of any Sort This certainly is not the way to
promote the welfare of the negro race in the
Southern States. Its direct tendency is to pre-
vent all attempts to improve their condition and
TO keep them forever in the state OF ignorance
and degradation in which slavery has LETT them.
The amendment has precisely the same effect
in New York, excluding every colored person in
New York from being represented at all, because
only portion OF the colored race Is permitted
to vote in this State, and the very men OF that
race who have, by industry and intelligence,
qualified themselves Tor suffrage, and who now
vote at every election, win be deprived OF repre-
sentation under the effect of this amendment.
Now, whatever may be thought of the wisdom oI
any particular course of action on this subject, we
certainly claim for this State and for every other
State, the right to extend the suffrage in its dis
cretion, and according to its own ideas of public
policy, and that, too, without being punished
by Congress or the National Government fol
whatever course It may see fit to adopt. Over
that subject, according to our system of govern
ment, the State ought to be supreme.
II California thinks 1t wise TO admit the Chi
nese setters'within her borders to the right o
suffrage upon certain conditions and after Ger
tain qualifications she certainly oughtlnot to b(
deprived OF any portion Of her power in the
National Government therefor. Those whom
she permits to vote should certainly be repre-
sented, ana IT IS very novel and startling
principle to be introduced into the constitution
OF republican government, that men may b.
voters ana yet not be represented A cardina
principle OF such form of government is tina
all the inhabitants oil the country-all within
its borders who are the subjects of it's law
should be represented in making those laws
either directly by their own votes or by tn
votes Of others authorized to vote for them
But it is certainly something new to allow mel
to vote for representative of others, and yet no
to be represented themselves. And this is pre
cisely what this amendment does.
The country will regard with some surprs
the passage Of such an amendment as this by g.
large a vote and AGAINST the declared sentiment
and opinions OF so many members who had dC
nounced it. 1t was doubtless due to the cor
Viction that some remedy was required for tn
evil OF unequal representation, and to the fea
that it woOld not be remedled AT all If this pal
tcular method should be reieced. This le
very many to vote for it who dld not approve
1t IN any point, BUT who preferred this with a
ITS evils TO nUGhlug nc AL. We doubt the wIsdoI
OF Their action. Upon o serious and importar
subject as an amendment Of the Constitution
men can scarcely afford 20 peril great and funds
mental pllnct les Tor the sake OF correcting