The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-03-13

The Presidents Constitutional Amendment.
5dA In spite of the dust raised by adroit politi-
clans, about taxation without representa-
tion, and other bugbears, the American people
North and South see clearly, that altera four
I years war the conquered party cannot be restor-
edsoits former place and influence in the ma
tional government, without some satisfactory
assurance of its disposition to keep the peace.
In the words of Mr.. Fessenden, the rebellious
States Shave been SO disconnected with the
general government, that they have no right
Sto representation and in order to acquire
that right, they must apply to Congress and
furnish the necessary proofs that they are
"ia condition to claim the rights of States
Gin the Union" -,gi s,x ,..;,so-.,. ,...-.- 4
"A repub lean form of government is one of
the first conditions to be required OF these
States. We have seen that a local aristocraey,
funded upon slavery, is incompatible with
the peaceful working Of our government. We
have been compelled to abolish slavery, We
shall fud-we already see-that a local
aristocracy, founded upon distinctions ofrace,
is equally inconsistent with the spirit of our
institutions g We demand of the Southern
States a republican and not an aristocratic
form of ofgoyernment, as primary condition OF
their restoration. We demand for all their
citizens equality before the laws. qtIo,s OF E.
The strongest guaranty for the permanence
ofsuch conditions as may justly be required Of
the Southern States, viii be obtained ifthese
conditions are incorporated. in. the national
Constitution. 1t was natural that the various
opinions of members Of Congress should find
expression in the shower, of amendments to
that instrument, which were offered at the be-
ginning of the present session. The Presi-
dent, in his famous conversation with Sena-
tor Dixon, objected to- the number of these
amendments IS tending to ederogate from the
sanctity of the charter of our national liber-
ties. With admirable consistency, Mr.. John
son proceeded in the same breath to offer
an amendment of his own, which we notice
Blaine's amendment was lost by the combined
vote of the Copperheads who resist any
amendment and of the Radicals who refuse to
admit the right ofany State to abridge the cleo.
tive franchise on account of race or color
The Presidents amendments offered by Mr.
Dooittle, after the defeat of Mr.. Blaine's
proposition, involves a radical change in the
/ apportionment of representation providing
that representation shall be proportioned to
the number Of male electors over twenty-oue
wears of aue uualifiad hy Stata laws to elect
members of the most numerous branch of the
State Legislature. 70 The tendency of such
regulation is but too obvious. 1t is to breal
down all proper safeguards of the ballot-bo,
by offering increased influence in the nationa
councils as the price for admitting to the poll;
every available sojourner in the several States
Its tendency in the Southern States would b
to induce the early admission of the negroes
without regard to qualification, to the electo
raj privilege. II this tendency were in the
| right direction, it yet leaves much to chanc'
and the changeable minds Of men. But it 1
| not in the right direction. What is wanted il
a Republican form of government, assurance
of equal laws for ALL, That blacks and white.
alike, In the Southern States, should be al
lowed to vote when duly quali6et is what w
have right to require. The question of quail
ifcation, with population SO long studiousl,
kept in ignorance, ought not TO be prejudged
We are not satisfied with a plan which ignore
all qualification and applies whatever of slim
ulns is in it, to secure only the largest number
OF voters. q2u l.5fii fe Won aT1 strt,sl.5.aig r