The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-01-12
Proper Basis Of Representation.

From the adoption of the Constitution In
l7S9, up to the rebellion-when the slave
states Withdrew in body from both houses of
Congress-the southern states were allowed
representation in the popular branch of the
national legislature for three-fiiths of their
"black cattle !" Kind of property in human
form, but property still, without the recog-
milton of any human right. sd su
Now that this kind of cattle has been abol-
ished, and the three or four millions of thi,ids
have become so many free, human beings,
with the ordinary rights belonging to humani-
ity, the question is whether, in making up the
basis of representation for the reconstructed
or reorganized Union, states recently In re-
bellion are to have premium allowed for
their treason, by counting fre.ffths instead of
three ffths of this black population, thus Civ
ing to those states some fifteen or twenty more
representatives in the House than they were
allowed-with the same population-before
the rebellion; and, of course, adding to their
relative political power by the same number.
II the emancipated blacks were enfranchised
and thus allowed to vote, it would be perfectly
fair to allow them to be counted in making up
the basis of representation, but the PROPOSE
ton OF the Democrats and conservatives" Is
to increase largely the political po,oer of the
South without any increase in the number of
those scho are to aoield that porsr, thus Civ
ing to one white man in South Carolina as
much power in Congress as is welded by two
or three citizens of Maine or any other North
ern state This Is Democracy, according to
the practical definition of fto-day-Democrac
according to the developments Of the slater
day" political saints.
A remedy for this fragrant inconsistency Is
admitted to be demanded by all who do not
expect, In their political party relations to pro-
ut by it. Some proposed, as the easiest reme-
dy, to insist upon the removal of all restric-
tions upon suffrage based upon caste or color,
as condition precedent to the readmission of
the late rebel states to their normal relations
within the Union. Others proposed to make
the number of legal voters the only basis Of
representation, so that the political power of
any state in Congress shall be proportionated
to the number of those who WELD that power
The principal objection to this theory, perhaps,
Is that it would be a reversal of the principle
on which representation has been based from
the start, and further, that it would furnish
motives for endless schemes Of corruption In
regulating conditions of suffrage so as to gain
political power.
1t seems to us the resolution offered by Mr.
Blaine of this State,-foreshadowed in the
recent speech Of Judge Spaulding of Ohio.
Is in exactly the right direction. II
proposes to adopt gross population as the
basis of representation, but in reckoning this
population to exclude from it those who ara
disfranchised on account of race or color
The Chinaman in California who is allowed no
voice in the State because of his race, and the
Freedman Of the South who is equally dis
ffanchised because of his color, would not swell
the population upon which representation
would be based. This would in fact introduce
no new element into the Constitution, for that
already excludes "Indians not taxed" su
We agree with the Boston Journal that the
whole question is full of difficulties "If" says
that paper, "the Southern negroes could now
"be admitted to the ballot box on any plan ap-
preaching fairness, the whole trouble, Of
"course, would be at an end. But suppose
"nothing of the kind is done-then shall the
Reconstructed rebels have twenty members Of
Congress, soon to be sweled to thirty, on the
"score of negro population totally disfran-
"chised? That is not to be thought Of The
"proposition to base representation on voters
J "alone, though great reform on the present
Nstate of things, would work somewhat unfairly
sbetween the loyal States, on account Of
@their disparities in the non-voting elements
sof population. Mr.. Blaine's bill apparently
aavoids this, by still retaining the population
'basis, only excluding those who are denied po.
'litical rights by their respective States on ac-
count of color or race. but we are confident
that the rightmeasure will be adopted, wheth-
"erit proves to be Mr.. Blaine's or some other.'
We notice that the argus, with its usual
zeal for the wrong, and disregard of facts, says
this proposition of Mr.. Blaine "wiD save to
"New England its present representation
"while it will take twenty-seven from the
; .South and give them to the West" Loyal
men would not object, we take it, to see pow
er thus transferred from disloyal to loyal
section, particularly on so just basis, but the
Argus, with its usual disregard of facts, has
stated what is not true. From Its opn col
umns, of the same issue from which the above
remark is quoted, we copy the following-n
its Washington dispatches to show how