The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-11-14
Georgia on the Howard Amendment.
p,,,o,, from, The Me,saoe Of Con. jenkins


State. and accompanying this communlca-
tion The fact that your acction upon it is
thus invoked, imposes on you an ophgatloh
to consider it respectfully.
This amendment designed, like all OF re-
cent origin. to operate especially on the
Southern States, contains several sections, 10
some of which l invite special attention.
1. The prominent feature of the first is,
that it settles definitely the right of citizen
ship in the several States, as political COM
munities thereby depriving them IN the fa-
ture of all discretionary power over the SUD-
ject within their respective limits, and with
reference TO their State Governments proper.
It makes all persons of color, Torn in the
United States, citizens.
Q The second changes the basis of repre-
sentation in the popular branch OF the Con
gress and in presidential electoral colleg-
es. 1t provides that in apportioning repre-
sentation among the States,a persons except
Indians not taxed shall be taken into enum-
Grafton, unless the elective franchise he denl-
ed in any State TO any male inhabitants, be-
ing citizens of the United States, and twen-
ty-one years Of age, or be in any manner
abridged otherwise than as punishment
for crime,) in which event the representation
shall be proportionately reduced
Whether the object in proposing this
change be the extension of the elective fran
chise to persons of African descent, nearly
all of whom are VIGOROUSLY unqualified for
it.) or a further diminution ofthe already re-
latlvely small weight of the Southern States
in the administration of the Government.
the adoption of this amendment will certain
ly force upon them a choice between those
evils. If the former be the real object, the
latter alternative must be regarded simply
as penalty for refusing it. In this view,
it is not difficult to expose the iagrant lnlus-
tice of the proposition. Let us consider
briefly how the amendment will affect States
wherein slavery did not exist prior to the
war, and how those wherein it existed. In
the former class, the selection of the one or
the other alternative will be only matter of
taste, no great public interest being involved.
If the franchise be extended. the number
thus newly admitted to the ballot will he so
small that 40 appreciable effect upon popu-
lar elections can result If refused, the num-
Der excluded from the enumeration in fixing
the ratio of representation will still be so
small, that the consequent reduction would
not he seriously felt, and in some instances
would probably be merely fractional, produ-
cling no curtailment at all. Now, look to
the other class of States. There the number
of voters proposed to be enfranchised. and
wholly unpreparet for the trust would be
immense, and the disturbance in the motive
power of Republican machinery incalculable.
There, too. on the other hand, if the fran
chse be withheld, the reduction of represen-
tation would I've vast. Is there fairness. is
there justice in proposed change so differ
entity affecting different portions of coun-
try. united under IA common Government for
the common veal Would the enforcement
of such change hy majority, it could not
harm, upon minority it must ruin, bespeak
magnanimity2
1t may he said in reply that the Constitu-
ton does not respect sectional differences
that it was designed for the protection and
advancement of personal rights. To large
extent this is an egregious error. The In
ion was originally designed mainly for the
conduct of foreign affairs and common de-
tense, leaving to the States the regulation of
their domestic concerns. The constitution
resulted from a compromise of sectional in
terests, without which it could not have
been formed. Indeed, in that compromise,
the rights and interests of the Caucasian as
affected by the presence of a very large Afri-
can population in some of the States, were
considered and adjusted. The African ele
ment, whether bond or free, was computed
alike with reference to this identical subject
representation, and alike ignored regard
ing the elective franchise.
Theuhjection now urged against the amend
ment is that it will fall upon citizens inliab-
iting one latitude like an avalanche from its
mountain perch crushing where it settles
whilst upon those of another latitude it will
alight rnfelt like feather floating in still
air.
g. The third section engrafts upon the
fundamental law new disqualification for
Office. State and Eederal-a disqualification
not the result of any act to be done after the
adoption of the amendment, but consumm,,-
ted before its conception. The act entailing
disqualification for Office consists IN having
heretofore taken an oath to support the Con-
stitution of the United States, and having
thereafter engaged in rebellion or insurrec-
ton against the same. or having given aid
and comfort to the enemies thereof" Con.
taken the oath under the circumstances set
forth, the number personally engaged in the
war, and the breadth of ground covered by
the word ''gicing aid and comfort to the enc
mics thereot," we can readily perceive the
sweeping character of the disqualification
1t is as distinctly proscriptive as if the per
sons to be affected had been ascertaiued and
their names inserted.
Let it be noted, also, that the prescribed
are all jewellers on one side of certain ge
ographical line, whilst the authors of thu
prescription have their local habitation or
the other side.
Its quite remarkable, moreover, that Their,
Is in the entire section no saving clausein fla
vor of those who. in the interval between tn,
cessation of hostilities and the adoption O
the Amendment, may have received the am
nesty of the Government. PardOned the,
may have been, but distranchised they vii
be-
You are asked to give your consent tina
such u fate he visited upon many of your hes
citizens who have long enjoyed the publ
confidence, and some of whom now fill i'm
portant public trusts Can Georgia spare al
of these from her servicel
5. The fifth and last section empowers tn
Congress TO enforce, by appropriate legisa
ton, the provisions of the Amendment |
will be commended that they are the prope
judges of what constitutes appropriate Iegi;
lation If, therefore. the Amendment b
adopted, and fractional Congress, fror
which the Southern States, chiefly intereste
in it, are excluded, be empowered ito Ell
force it by appropriate legislation" what ves
tige of hope remains to the people of thos
States Nay, more, what semblance of RI
publican Government can the true patriot
the North discern in such state of affairs
Yet, that is the point to which we seem t