The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-03-15

at all times to discuss the acts of their
public servants, and especially when
grave public questions are depending
Inc present is a time which demands
such discussion, both because the ques-
tons now before the country are of
great magnitude in themselves, and be-
cause different views prevail in the leg
islative and executive departments of
the Government. We hope these differ
der to promote final agreement the
people should interpose with an express
sion of their own opinions. The issue of
the war, glorious to our arms, and more
glorious for the freedom which it
brought, leaves upon our hands the great
task of pacification. This is the first
question. Every other is subordinate to
1T. All attempts to pervert the occasion
to purposes of party, on whichever side,
are unworthy of just men and danger
Gus to the public welfare. What the
country needs is repose. The conflict
of arms has ceased; the conflict of pas
sions, which led to that of arms, should
cease also. The alacrity with which our
heroic soldiers have returned to peaceful
pursuits is not less honorable than their
victories. They cherish no enmities to-
wards those whom they have overcome.
AGN ulu my ASHl 1OI NcLScaHce, Dul
for the Union, the Constitution, and
the enforcement of the laws" They
now want a firm and lasting peace; not
merely a cessation of med-hostilities,
but public tranquility. They want and
we want all the channels of business to
re-opened and the whole people left free
to repair the waste of war, and to regain
their places, if they come as loyal citi-
zens of one country, with one constitu-
ton, and one destiny. The element Of
disturbance, and, as we think, the only
one, is the political condition Of the
freedmen-the late slaves whom we
have emancipated by the great constitu-
tional amendment. There is no SUBJ
stantial disagreement among loyal men
respecting their civil rights. We all
agree that they must have all the civil
rights of any other class of citizens the
rights Of the person and property, the
right to sue and to testify in short,
law. But whether they shall also have
the right of suffrage is the dividing
question. Those who insist that they
should have it do SO chiefly on these
grounds: Some Of them say that the
elective franchise is a natural right;
that every person has just title to par
ticipate in the enactment of the laws by
which he is governed. Others say that
the blacks aided in the suppression of
the rebellion, and therefore should be
endowed with the privileges of partici-
pating in the government of the coun-
try which they helped to save. Others,
still, maintain that the suffrage is the
only safeguard of the colored race for
the preservation of their freedom and
civil rights. On The other hand, these
propositions are denied aud two other
considerations are put forward: First,
that in respect to the States, whether
those lately in rebellion or those which
have over been loyal, the Federal Gov
crnnent has no right to interfere with
the question Of the elective franchise );
and second, that in respect to the Dis
trict of Columbia and the Territories,
which are subject to the legislation of
Congress, the question il one Of eXpe-
diency, depending upon the circum-
stances of each particular case-the
elective franchise being not right, but
trust-and that wherever great num-
bers ot the blacks are in an ignorant
and dehased condition il would be I'M
wise and dangerous to admit them to
the suffrage. These arc the opposing
theories; and ii cannot be denied that
the Judgment which men Will form up
on them depends much upon their thoo-
ry u government. They who believe
in the democratic republican theory in
herited from the fathers viii guard with
scrupulous fidelity the rights of the
States ;is they We're reserved by the
Constitution. Il will be remembered
that the tenth amendment of 1hat in
s,rument declares that I" the powers not
herein delegated to the United States
by lhe Constitution, nor prohibited by
il 20 the states, are reserved to the
States respectively or 10 the people. y
There can be no question whatever that
She power OF determining " no shalla and
who Shall not enjoy the elective fran
cllise belongs exclusively 10 ,he Tespec-
Give states. New York has no more
right to say who shall or shall not vote
in Virginia than Virginia has to say
who shall or shall not vote in New York.
Over the District ofColumbia the power
Of Congress is no doubt plenary, but it
is a power to be exercised, not only for
the inhabitants of the District, but for
die whole country. Our Congress, our
President orr Judges our Cabinet