New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-11-19
TERMS or RECONSTRUCT ION- LETTER
FROM o. A. BRORNSON.
IL he Eliioy Of The " y. Tribmt.

1s the IGtoT OF Inc " a. 'toaH~
SIR: If l understand your platform, you propose
10 concede universal amnesty pardon 10 all engaged in the
late Rebellion exchange Impartial Suffrage that is in
exchange for franchise based distinction Of caste
or complexion This IL is most likely the Democratic party
are nearly prepared accept instead OF the Constitutional
Amendment proposed by Congress and the Sonih soon VIII be-
have no objections to either Impartial Suffrage 20 Uni
veral Amnesty the people guilty only Of rebellion -
YOU very wen know but will you permit to AK, ft il
Won propose 70 establish Impartial Suffrage by act Of Con
gress by Constitutional Amendment or by the net Of The
several State Legislatures Conventions aud, second
whether YOU give up all Constitutional guarantees sgsns the
assumption By Congress of the Confederate debt and The ~
pudistion Of the National debt
In regard 20 the fret would remark that the question Of
suffrage under the Constitution H. belongs TO the States
sversy and each decides tor itself who shall or shan not 10
voers and Congress authority egislae the subject
Amending the Constitution 90 give the authority
TO Congress would the beauty Of Federal system
destroy the equilibrium between the States and the Onion
and consolidation or the Capitalization Of the govern
mentsl power the General Government 1t would in prin
eipe completely revoutouze the Constitution Of the country
To leave the establishment OF Impartial Suffrage TO the
seyert States each for ts. Offers efficient guaranty II
all The states may adopt partial Suffrage to-day and rem
ter the Union and prohibit tomorrow all neoes dnd eoloed
men from voting and restrict Suffrage 10 White alone IL
seems TO me that Impartial Suffrage condition prses
dent TO restoration exceedingly unstatemanse, and would
gro.s shoud be distinctly recognized free and equal citizens
of the United States and the several states LET free to enan
ehse them in their own wsy and time according 10 their
wisdom and Judgment or not az they judge best
In regard 70 the second the loyal people want ample sr
sry that Congress shah repudiate the National debt
ror assume the Confederate debt You doubtless believe that
you would have this guaranty in Impartial Suffrage 10
honestly believe that Impartial Suffrage would DO just
good ss 10 guarantee all and II lie probably the same belief
that nduces several Democratic journals accept your plat
form The vote Of the South would hardly be changed in
single locality by the enfranchstnent Of the emanepad
dave, You talk Of the freedmen constituting large por
ton Of the loyal people Of the Souh but once sure Of their
freedom they win be loyal or as dsoya ss is the dominant
White class and no IL seems TO me arrsnt
nonsense 10 talk about the loyalty dsOysy Of people
whether White or Black who have for generations been
held IN slavery, and who five years ago had never
had country or domicle As rule II Judge from all
past experience the coored people If cpanchsed viii vote
according to the advice of their former masters or the socially
dominant class IN their respective States Poor ignorant with
out social position and without any Poconing OF political