The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-02-02


thst the dispatch had the 49, e
the President, 'he having revised he
statement, approved it, and directad ;,
10 be sent to the Associated Press"
ne facts give the dispatch the i'm.
portance ofan emana ton direct from
the pen or lips Of the President W.
therefore republish it, as follows
AAe EEesiaent-saidLhai he d-oubtsa-tb.
Propriety at this 1inc Of mskn6g sr.45=
thes a~nendlnents 10 the Consitntieo a.
great amendmeRt had alreadv been msEs
oy which slavery had forever been sbai'
lsheo within the I9It Of the United State
ahu a national guaranty thus given that
'uSlon should never again exist in
the land Propositions 70 amend tba Cow
stitution were becoming ss nUmerors
preambles and resolutions at town mae,i,-.
called 70 consider The most ordinarv ouaS-
IONS connected with the admiai.trstf11 or
local an4lrs, Aii tits, IN his op;nion bs6
a tendencEt to diminish the divnity-~15
prestige attached fothe constitutlon ~ =
country and 10 Lessen the rpsppct sn5 rsa
nde1lce OF the people in their great thhrter
OF ireedom- Il, however, amendment are
70 DC made 10 the Constitution ehangino
me OASIS Of representation and taxation fand
ne ala not deem them at eli necessary at
tne present timeA he knew Of Bone better
than a simple proposition embraced in !
few lines making in each state the numbe-
ot'qusithed voters tho basis Of represeufa-
tien, andthe value OF, property the basis Of
erect taxation. Such 3 proposition could
De embraced IN the followiuc terms.
hepreseotatiVeT-sha be apportioned
among the several States which NAV be- in
Guided within the Gnion- according 10 ,he
number Of qualified voters in each state.
Direct taxes shall be apportioned among
the seyeraf States which may be included
WITHIN ms Union according 70 the value Of
ell taxable properly IN each siate.1
An amendment u this kind wonld- in hi.
opinion, place the basis Of renres-3tst;o
and direct taxation upon correct pripcip,es
The quathtd voters were for the most part
men who were subject 10 DRAFT and enlist
ment when II was necessary TO repel inva-
sion suppress rebellion snd Queil domestic
violence and Instruction. They risk their
lives, shed their blood, and ~periltbeir all
TO uphold the Government aud CIV p.o;ee-
ton, security and value to pr perry. /
seemed but Just that property Ahould COM
pensGte for The benefits thus conferred BY
defraying the expenses incident TO its pro-
lection SOD enjoyment. such an amend
ALNaHN N-I AE"AAAAA A-E0 hALEENLLuu HnUAu
remove from Congress all issues in reference
10 the pol'tiesl equality. Of the races. 1t
would leave the States 10 determine abso-
lutely the qualifications Of their own voters
with regard 90 color, and thus the number
Of representatives. 10 which they would be
entitled in Congressw-u ld depend upon the
numbers upon -which-they conferred the
right Of suffrage.
The President in this connection, ex-
pressed the opinion that tto situation or the
negro franchise question in the District Of
Columbia 81 this time vas the mere enter
ing wedge 10 the sgitHtion Of the question
Throughout the States, aud was fii-timed,
uneailea for, ard rsirttiaied to- do great
harm. He believed tlat it would engender
enmdty, contention aud strife between th e
two races, and leadto a war between them,
which would result IN great injury TO both
and the certain. determination of the negro
population, PreeedsBes, he thought,
should be given 10 more important and
urgent matters, legislation upon which was
essential for the restoration OF The Union,
the peace Of The county and the prosperity
Of the people
The President is, therefore, opposed
to further amending the Constitution
at this time; but would, t. deemed
polite, assent to n on the subject of
representation snd taxation.
lie ~deprecates the attempt to intro
duce negro suffrage in the District of
Columbis; and, of course, will veto any
bill providing for its introduction.
The foregoing dispatch draws the
following remarks from the Cincinnati
Gazette, January 81;
Since writing the article in these columns
on the amendment 10 the basis of represen-
tation. we have been advised that the state
ment in our dispatches yesterday, of the
substance Of the Presidents conversation
with a Senator On a~meD5nents 10 the Con-
stituiion was an authorized one. In tins
The President declares himself favorable TO
an amendment apportiouing representation
upon voters and taxation upon property.
We hope the deliberations Of Congress Will
come 10 this complexion.
TIM various propositions introduced to
smend the Constitution, do not imply so
many changes. Many Of them are differ
mt yavs OF doing the SINE thing. On
this change Of representative basis, there
are a number Of diilereat methods. II can
not be expected that mems minds will be
alike. Deliberation will sin down these
amehdmeuts TO a few. Many of those in
troduced are improper, and seem to ne IN
ignorance Of what the COpsptutlon really ~
IL used 20 be the Democratic saying that
| the Constitution was formed by compro-
mise, and could be maintslued only BY com
promise meaning that 10 order TO hs pre-
| setved II must DC continually changing.
This WAS merely the d~ceir5ne OF bed IA tn F;
for if a compromise is 10 be comprised, lt Is
simply q delusi6n.
nm such an event Is this war Is not a
trivial occasion for amending the Constitu-
on ifi "a clearly necessary.
Ne are obliged to say, however, that we
have looked with sotne concern atthe num-
her Of amendments proposed, ard at the
moor eatimate OF the Constitution ms Il IL thst
| some of them display. What is needed Is
| - nc.reing Of the Constitution IN its let
~ on5 s6irfi. rather than amending. The
ta5orm IN The basis Misrepresentation Is need
| "a and that IN tsxaton should 80 with Il.
Bcvond that we have serious doubts 81 me
n 6p-ietv Of amending the Constitution.
We believe that Congress has, oy me on
stitution as II Is, the power TO prevent The
So. nom ~disfranchising the people, and
~ Guarantee 10 every person the equal pro
,.c75,, AZ law. and 10 the citizens Of one
500 eaual rights in ell the States. We
h.l;o,o averv negro code. North or South,
WHICH mates different laws for the backs
Unconstitutional, and that the United states
tourts will 50 declare whrn they HdminisieF
Inc law. We believe that EhAtsYer the
| Constitntion declares OF personal rghls ~
rrrries he rover 10 enforce; therefore we
regard The second section Of Mr.. sumner
emqnripuion amerdmeut unnecessary aud
preludicAai
We do not believe any nmendineni heees
narv 10 forbid the peginentof tie rehe.
! debt. for the courts OF the United states VIII
stop the collection Of any taxes Tor such pur'
pos.s. nor DO We believe thut the nstltu'
lion would stop such payment, u the Gov
eminent und courts snou d iail mic tnt
hands of those who would be willing TO make
IL. In short. W belicFs much Is the fresi
dent does on the tubiect OF amendmeni a =
we think that what . required Is the bold
and faithful Administrations 1t the power
that Congress aud the other department.
have, rather imam cumulauYe anepdmenl'
ur the c Institution.
As 20 negro suffrage, "a - not 3 va TO ths
pseihcauon OF the Ia c iusurgent snsses, MOI
IN luct Is any suffrage. What they need Is
-royernment anpab e aud will 70 protect all
c.ssses OF people, aud Co administer law il
ihe Yeople show tbe.r htuess Tor suffrage