Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1866-11-26
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Statement.
| From the washingtos Republicss, (aswspapsr
organ Of the Adm,pissrsti.n, Nov. l9th.
Suffrage .hould b csnfssssd b. The ssasss,
that right being guarsnteed 70 saeh stats By
the constitution. Andrsv jeAnsen 10 IL f.
vor Of qualified suffrage In Tsnnsosee q .
citizen If that state. He euthosised a., In
behalf Of the chief executive Of the nation.
70 urge qualified suffrage for three classes Of
colorsd men, Of this district, in April last,
and 1t his suggestion ~ renewed the prop
osision again in July, only about one week
before congress adjuusned. We took spec
ial pains - notify several radical senators
aud representatives who wero anxious in.
quirers on the subject that tie President
was IN favor Of the plan proposed BY sbs
Republican. The radicals Wers afraid 70
touch the question, end went homo 70 theis
several states and blsckguasded the Prssl-
dent. and sad that he We opposed 70 u.
tending the right Of suffrage u. the black
man.
Andrew johnson l. 10 favor Of more for
y
that state; he suggested to Gov Shsrkly. Of
Mississippi, mere for the colorsd men Of snat
state, and requested and autheriEed us -
urge upon congress-, 1t the last session,
more for the colorcd men Of this distsict
than Charles Sumner. Or Henry Wilson. o.
any other congressman from Massschusetts,
ever urged for the colsred men Of their
state. No cclored man who fought in the
union army. or who owns property, no mat.
ter how much, can vote in Massachusetts,
unless he can read and ~iite. President
Jobn.on goes beyond at. He Il in .faror
Of granting suffrage to all colored' mea,
wherever the constitution gices him the 1,oeer
70 do il. who can read and crite, or rho
serred honoraJly in the un,on army, or pho
orn prope,fyto tie erient q t,co hundred and
.tfty dollars aud upmdrd.
The only difference between the Presi-
dent and congros ~ is, that the former believes
that, under the constitution, each state has
the right TO settle the question Of suffrage
for itself. Congress assumes the right to
impose it upon the States, constitution or no
cous, tuition.
The following 10 the Presidents letter
TO Gov. Shatkey, referred 70 above:
EXDCVIbSc OEfICBv
WASHINGTON. ID. T.,
August 10th, 1865.
Ger. W. l.. Sharkey. Jackson, Ma.:
am gratited to see that you have organ.
ized your convention without difficulty. I
hope tfat. without delay, your convention
will amend your state constitution, abolish>
ing slavery and denying to all future lcgis :
lstures the power TO legislate that there is
property in man; also that they will adopt
the amendment to the constitution Of the
United States abolishing slavery. II you
could extend the elective franchise to oil
persons Of color Who can read the constitu-
ton Of the United States in English and
write Their names. and to al persons Of color
who own real estate valued 1t not lees than
two hundred and fifty dollars. and nay taxes
thereon. you would completely disarm the
adversary and set an example the other
states will follow. This you can do with
perfect safety, and you thus place the south
ern states in reference to free persons of cal
or upon the same basis with the Tree ssaess.
heps end trust your convention vill do
this, and. as . consequence, the radicals,
Who arc wild upon the negro franchise, will
be completely foilsd IN their attempt to keep
the southern states from renewing their
relations to the union bv not accepting their
senator's and representatives.
ANpRsw JOHNSON,
President Of the United States.