The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1866-02-07
The Suffrage Question.

There are many aspects 10 The Su.irag,
T question Il IS both asserted AMI denied
thar political rights are al,onai rights: bn-
American citizens ought noi ,o commit
themselves to the negative of tle PROPOSE
lion. The principle Of our Institutions az
/ firms that government exists by the consent
the governed. II this proposition is true.
1t is not easy to show that there is "a higher
claim to political rights and principles than
the consent Of those who already enjoy it,
The right may be withheld from those to
whom it belongs, but il Is IN violation Of
iu lee.
The right Of impartial suffrage in The
ale -.tei states is proper one TO consider
As .Ia not ouly Of right, but ofexpediency.
Ilr Democratic press assert that the pass
a@e of the equal suffrage bin for the Dis
-gict Of Columbia, is a mOnstrous iunoya-
tion upon the rights OF the citizens Of that
District, because ~ 900 votes were east
AGAINST the question, and none for it. But
the late census shows that there are "a COO
colored citizens in the District The right
of suffrage having been withheld from them
There was 10 opportunity FOR them to give
an expression of opinion. What would
have been the result If ali could have voted
upon the subject both, whites and blacks
The 'rae point from which 10 consider this
question i the National welfare II Con.
moi J. 4
two thousand colorel citizens or Missouri
from The same number, the comparative
wrong is no, felt in the body polite. The
same rule would not hold true is regards
Mississippi or South Carolina, where the
ola h lar outnumber the whites. In these
states 20 withhold this privilege from vast
majority ofthe population converts repuh-
lican form OF government into an actual
iespotsm and retains in state laws a prin-
cipie antagOnistic 10 the very existence OF
our form of government. In the one case.
where the colored population is small. it is .
simply a disgrace 10 tho atate which with T.
holds the right hut is not dangerous 20
ong as the power of the elective franchise
IS IN The hands of large majority. and the
l0n-voters are few. In 4 national point Of
view however. where the colorod inhabl-
ance are majority OF the population of
my state, and especially in state where
he whites as a body have been in collision
With, and have sought the destruction OF
he National Government, the question is.
restored to former rights, whether the
.eaple Of these states viii heartily adhere
e.. ~na sustain the government, a condition
uite indispensable TO National welfare.
there may De- danger in granting impartial
utirase IN the rebel states, but is not the
anger much greater with partial suffrage
The whole subject is one for dispassonate {
borough delheration; not one Tor the dis
Fay of passion or the use OF invective
hIch means nothing. In the District OF
oumb.a, Congress has met the question
roperiy. They considered the question of (
arial suffrage. exercised by a large mi
GRITTY of her citizens. rebel at heart. As
in~erous. and looking not only to tue ,
'ieiy OF the Capital. but Jealous Of nation $
honor abroad. have given the colored a
AN his Just political rights. and vlndica- @
d the honor OF the Nation before the
viized world.