The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-01-19
saHraee in the District of Columbia

~. Acot-
snHraee in the District of Columbia
Amendments 10 the Constitution
The Washington correspondent Ct
the Chicago Republican says the intrc.
ducdSn Of the subject of free suffrage
IN the District has developed a much
larger conservative element among
Union men upon this question than
people generally expected And strange
10 say, he adds, New England and
New England men prove to be the
strongest opponents of manhood suf-
frAge They look, some to intelligence
as a proper qualification, others to
property but nearly all of them desire
10 restrict rather than enlarge the suf-
trage. This is probably owing TO the
fact that their manufacturing interests
have been so often strnck down by the
vote Of the ignorant portion OF our for
eign population, that they have q real
izing sense Of the necessity of education
Is 8 basis Of government" So, after
all, it is not the rights of the colored
msn that these Saints are looking after,
but the interests Of their manufActur-
ing monopolies, out of which ~oVergrown
fortunes TO 8 few nsbobs are extracted
annually. There's comfort in the
thought that the people Of the District
may be spared a humiliation ever
through New England avarice.
In regard TO amending the Constitu.
ton, the write, in a former letter, hsv
ing expressed the opinion that neither
an amendment providing for universal
suffrage nor n providing for suffrage
on the basis Of voting population
would carry, says now "for the first oul
Union men are not yet far enough ad
vanced. As regards the second, th,
New England and other Of the oldel
States would oppose it because Of tn,
loss of political power it would entail
upon them Thus it would give Cali
fornia, with 35S,Il0 inhabitants anC
100000 voters, eight representatives
and Vermont with a population Of 3l4,
800 and 5000 voters, but three repre-
sentatiyes." Il is, therefore, proposed
to accept the proposition of Mr.. Blairt
as follows:
Representatives and direct taxes shall
be apportioned among the several State
which may be included within the Uuioi
according 10 their respective numbers, which
shall be determined by taking the who'll
number Of persons except those to whom
civil or political rights or privileges are de
MED or abridged BY the Constitution q
laws OF any State on account Of race 0
col0rl"
This amendment" he says, "woulc
leay population, as heretofore, th,
basis Of representation does not disturb
IN any n the harmonious rels
tons Of the loyal States; while it de
prives the Southern States Of all repre-
sentaIon in Congress on account Of tn
eolored population, so long as thOs
States see fit TO deny that population
the right OF suffrage" There it j
again. Not the rights and interests Q
the whole country sre 10 be ~legislate,
for, but Of sections, and against tn
poor subdued, humbled South.
The quality Of mercy is straine'
considerably by some of u brethrel
who ought TO be magnanimOusl VIII,
this desire 10 break q bruised reed
The South can never more be q unit II
Congress. Il was only the SLAYER,
question that knit the States togethe
before the war. In less than ten years
there will be no South, POLITICAL,
speaking. All the border States, wit
the exception Of Virginia, will be a.
lied with the Great West, and Virgin
with the Middle States.
The Republicans correspondent ais
comes TO the conclusion that only th
following amendment to the Constit'
ton will be adopted by Congress:
First. Reputation Of rebel and acknow.
edgment Of Federal debt.
second. Suffrage on the basis 81 all pei
som 20 whom political privileges are IL
denied by States.