Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-08-02

30 votes in Congress and ~ votes IN the
electoral college based on negro representa-.
tion2 This advantage which the Rebel
States now have is monstrous, and is not to
be quietly endured. No Northern man, who
has the least respect for himself, can for
moment consent that they shall retain it,
Even if they were loyal-if they had tried
to sustain the Government instead of de-
stroyiBg it-they could have ne possible claim
to ".
They have 80 votes in Congress that have
no constituency, 30 votes as from thirty rot.
ten borougbs under the EugliSb system. And
these 30 votes just balance and set of the
80 votes sent up by 3,642,000 white people
from Ohio and Indiana.
This is gross inequality, and would seem
to have but little foundation in reason, yet 1t
was part of the original theory of the Gov.
ernment, that the States without regard to
their population, should have equal repre-
sentation in the Senate, and we are not
seeking to change it.
In order to correct the shameful abuse
and injustice l have been describing, Con.
gress has passed joint resolution amending
the Constitution of the United States, the
second clause of which provides that when-
ever the right to vote is denied in any State
to any of the male inhabitants of such State
81 years of age, and citizen of the United
States, or is in any way abridged, except for
participation in the Rebellion, or other
crime. the basis of representation therein
shall be reduced in the proportion such male
citizens shall bear to the whole number of
male citizens 81 years Of age in such State"
The, effect of this amendment will be to
exclude the negro population from being
counted in making up the basis of repre-
sontation in any State in which negroes are
denied the right of suffrage. Il assumes
that the male negroes over 2l years OF age
bear the same proportion to the negro popu
lation that white males over 81 years of age
bear to the whole white population, and de-
ducts the negro population by that proper
ton from the whole number for which rep
resentation is to be given. This will have
the effect to deduct the whole negro popu-
ation of the Rebel States from the aggre-
gate number for which representation is to
be given, and will deprive them of 80 votes
in Congress and in the Electoral College.
1t also deducts the $4,000 in Indiana,
from the aggregate population for which she
is entitled to representation, and SO in every
other State This amendment in effect
leaves the question of negro suffrage with
each State, to be determined by and within
itself If South Carolina wants representa-
tien for her negroes. she has but to confer
the right of suffrage upon her male negroes
over 81 years of age and she will have it.
And the matter is referred entirely to her
own determination, and SO with every other
State.
The principle euunciatcd by the amend
nent is this: That wherever there is race
Of people who are deemed unworthy or unfit
to receive aud enjoy political rights, they
shall not be made the basis for conferring
political rights and powers upon others.
THE PHILADELPHIA CONVENTION.
The Democratic members of Congress
have published call for National Con-
vention to he held in the City of Philadelph
ia on the l4th of August, and to be known
as the National Union Convention. This
call is formal disbandment of the Demo
cratic party. and renunciation of the name
Democracy, and an invitation for its mem
bers to meet in convention with such dissat.
isfed persons of the Union party ss can be
induced to unite with them in forming a
new organization. 1t is direct confession
that the Democratic party, indellibly stained
with treason az it is, is name too grievous
to be borne. and the cunning signers Of this
call. who are staggering under it's weight,
are striving to relieve themselves from the
dreadful burden.
The proposition to change the name is o
humiliating Acknowledgement of defeat, of
dishonor, and of condemnation, which could
have been wrung from these men only by
the direst suffering and necessity. And yet
it will not avail The new party, whatever
name or shape it may assume, will be the
same old Copperhead concern. Composed
of the same men, clothed with the same his
tory, and plotting the same dishonors and
disasters to the country.
The ''call" establishes the fact. however,
that the recent revelation to the Democracy
of this district, that the war was just and
necessary" was local in its character and did
not extend to Washington, for it makes
no mention Of the ,oar at all, and for aught
that appears in it, the authors of it never
dangerous situation of the country, utterly
ignoring the fact that there has been Re.
bellion, and innocently seem to expect that
the people will be equally dumb, apparent
" entertaining the idea of the ostrich who
believes that when his head is thrust under
the dirt his body is out of sight, But allow
me to quote passage from it:
| AT present IL States are excluded from
the National Council. For seven long
months the present Congress has persist
emily denied any representation to the peo
nle of these States. Laws affecting theil
highest and dearest interest have been pass
ed without their consent, and in disregard
Of the fundamental principle Of free gov
| ernment." .r .....t ...
Here it claims in piteous terms, that fol
seven months j States have not been rep
resented in Congress, but makes no refer
| ence whatever to the manner in which the
Senators and Representatives from those
States went out Of Congress, or the condi
tion Of those States for the five years pre-
cediDg these seven months.
1t affects 10 treat the subject as if Tho
Senators and Representatives from those
States had been rudely expelled from Con
gress without cause or fault on their part
and wickedly kept out of their seats for tn,
long period Of seven months, and very fool
ishly tries to ignore the fact that these Sen
ators and Representatives. FIVE years before
that time, and in violation of their oaths
had voluntarily abandoned their seats an(
inaugurated cruel war. 10 which, after |
costly and bloody struggle Of four years
they we're Overwhelmingly defeated. laI
Again they say:
lfAs essential to national union. we mus
maintain unimpaired the rights, the dignity
and the equality Of the States, including th,
right Of representation IN Congress, and tn