The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-06-07
THURSDAY. JUNE Z. 1850.
The Reconstruction scheme of the

haulGdA OAh1uos
Two things are certain, says the De
troit Free Press first, that if the
radicals dared to attempt to force upon
the country negro suffrage, the msjority
in Congress would have embraced it di-
rectly and Enthusiastically in the propo-
sed amendment to the Constitution !;
and second, if they desired to present a
change in the basis of representation
that would have been at all acceptable,
or likely to be adopted, they would
have placed their proposition upon the
basis of the number of voters. To have
provided that every male person born
in this country, on arriving at the age
of twenty one years, and every natural
lied citizen, shall have the right to vote
at all elections" would have presented
the first proposition in issue; and to
have said that Representatives shall
be apportioned among the several
States according to the number Of the
male population in each over twenty
one years of age, and entitled to vote
by the laws thereof" or according to
the number of the white male popula-
tion," etc, would have presented the
second proposition for the decision Of
the several States.
The first of these propositions would
have put squarely and honestly before
the American people what all the Re
publican leaders in Congress, and al
most all their organs, declare is the
real wish and purpose of their party,
and IL would have served their purpose
of keeping the Union divided for years
to come just as well as the proposition
which they now offer for the ratifca-
ton Of the several States. The second
would have laid down general prin-
ciple, applicable to all the States alike.
There would have been no invidious
distinction. A voter in Massachusetts,
South Carolina or Michigan would
have, under it, precisely the same
amount of political power in the House
Of Representatives in Massachusetts,
his relative power would not be in.
creased by female population to be
equal TO two voters in Michigan; In
South Carolina the negro population
would not add TO his power relatively
towards either Massachusetts, or Mich
igan. To merely change the relations
of a South Carolina voter TO Massachu-
sets and Michigan, and leave the re-
lations of a Massachusetts voter
precisely as they are towards
Michigan and South Carolina,
when, as now, the political power Of a
voter in both Massachusetts and South
Carolina is augmented over the voter Of
Michigan by precisely the same cause,
namely, a very much larger number OF
non-voting population IN proportion to
the whole population, is simply
scheme to despoil South Carolina and
confer additional power upon Massa-
chusetts, whose voters already have
nearly double the influence in the
House of Representatives which Mich.
gan voters possess.
The proposition now before tie Sen
ate, like every measure which has been
incorporated into the policy of the
Government by the Republican party,
is concocted IN the interest OF New
England. Since their advent into
power the Western States have been
made the victims Of their legislative
policy, ami now that the Southern
States are ready TO resume their reia-
lions to the rest Of the Union, they are
to be forcibly kept out till they shall
voluntarily degrade themselves by ac>
cepting an invidious aud partial rule Of
representation, applicable to them
selves alone, in order that New Eng
land may not only retain its hold upon
the West, but may also grasp the South
in the meshes Of its political despOtism.
The South is not only required TO de-
prive itself of its presentpower, but the
West is asked to confer upon New
England still greater power than she
now possesses. The West has and can
have no interest in taking representa-
ton from the South for the purpose of
comforting it upon the East In every
department of the Government the
East has already more than her share
OF influence. In the Senate her small
States put her in a position to com
pletely control that body, and her
large non-voting population nearly
doubles her power in the House, and
both these causes give her votes in the
electoral college 10 which neither num-
bers nor public interests entitle her
The South cannot accept this propo-
sition. Her interests might just as
we'll not be represented in Congress as
10 be thus shorn and her representa-
ton turned over to New England. She
might lust as well remain in her pre-
sent condition, and would, doubtless,
resolve TO do so rather than to be the
instrument of her own degradation.
The future would be presented to her
in no darker colors either in or out Of
Congress Out Of it, while submitting
to the DEGREES of fate, she would not
be the embracer of her own slavery
The West, if tits at all true to its
own interest, could not be indifferent
TO the increase Of the already propon-
derating influence OF New England
She must and will oppose it While
she would doubtless assent TO 3 change
of the basis Of representation from
population 10 voters, still she is satisfied
with the Constitution rs il is. She is
willing to allow greedy New England
what she nov possesses, but no more
She wishes no more amendments to
that instrument The issue which
President johnson has presented 10 the
country for the immediate admission Of
the Southern States TO their seats in
Congress as the first work 10 be done,
the West must and viii accept as the
only issue for her consideration The
nronosition now before the Senate. II II