The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-05-03

read and those who had served in the
Union armies, would that modification
affect tie action of the State Il. |
think the people of the State would be
unwilling to do more than they have
done for restoration. Restricted or
limited suffrage would not be 80 objec.
tionable as general or universal, but it is
a matter that belongs to the State to
regulate. The question Of suffrage,
whether universal or restricted, is one
Of State policy exclusively, as they be-
lievc. Individually, l should not be
opposed to a proper system of restricted
or limited suffrage to this class Of our
population but, in my Judgment, it is
a matter that belongs of right to the
States to regulate exclusively each for
itself. but the people Of that State, as |
have said, would not willingly, think,
do more than they have done for resto-
ration ; the only view, in their opinion,
that could possibly justify the war
which was carried on by the Federal
government against them, was the idea
of the indissolubleness of the Union I;
that those who held the administration
for the time were bound 20 enforce the
execution of the laws and the mainten
ance Of the integrity of the country un-
der the Constitution and these that was
accomplished, since those who had as
sumed the contrary principlo-the
right of secession and the reserved SOW
ereignty of the States-had abandoned
their cause, and the administration here
was successful IN maintaining the idea
upon which war was proclaimed and
waged, anG the only view in which they
supposed it could be justified at all
when that was accomplished-I say the
people of Georgia supposed their State
was Immediately entitled to all hel
rights under the Constitution. That is
my opinion Of the sentiment of the peo
pie of Georgia, and do not think they
would be willing to do anything further
as condition precedent to their being
permitted to enjoy the full measure Of
their constitutional rights. | only give
my opinion of the sentiment of the peo
Pile at this time. They expected that
as soon as the Confederate cause Wa
abandoned that Immediately the State
would be brought back into their prac
tical relations with the government a
previously constituted That is wha
they looked to- They expected tha
the State would Immediately have thei
representatives in the Senate and in tn
House, and they expected it in goo'
faith as loyal men, as the term is fire
quently used. mean by it loyal t
law, order, and the Constitution, to SUP
port the government under the Const
tuition. That was their feeling; the
did what they did believing it was bes
for the protection of constitutional libel
ty. Toward the Constitution of tn
United States, as they construed it, tn
great mass of our people were always &
much devoted in their feelings as an
, people ever were toward any caus
/ This is my opinion. AS l remarke
t before, they resorted to secession with
| view OF maintaining more securely thes
= principles, and when they found the
we're not successful in their object,
= perfect good faith, as far as | can jud!
a from meeting with them and conversir
!. with them, looking TO the future devC
i opments of their country, in its materi
. resources as we'll as its moral and int
n lectual progress, their earnest desi
q and expectation was to allow the pa
struggle, lamentable as it was in its !
c suits, to pass by, and to cooperate wi
J. the true friends of the Constitute
d with those Of all sections who earnest
n desire the preservation of constitution
4 liberty and the perpetuation Of the g
N ernment in its purity. They have be
ot a little disappointed in this, and are
as now. They are patiently waiting, he
n. ever. and believing that when the P
g sious of the hour have passed away t
le delay in restoration will cease. I'll
think they have done everything Il
b. was essential and proper, and my juc
N ment is that they would not be willing
ht do anything further as condition +
ne cedent. They would simply rem
ne quiet aud passive.
Id Q. Does your own judgment appr
he the view you have given as the opin
,ir of the people of the State ? A.
"a own Judgment is very decided that
on question of suffrage is one that belo
mt under the Constitution, and wisely
We too, to the States respectively and
Id clusively.
mt Q Is it your opinion that neither
lot the alternatives suggested in the a
full ton ought to be accepted by the pee
re. of Georgia? A. My own opinion
; a that these terms ought not to be offt
lat as conditions precedent. In OF
,ut words, my opinion is that it would
if best for the peace, harmony aud p
en- perity of the whole country that Il
ual should be an immediate restoration,
ere immediate bringing back of the st
not into their original practical relati
- II