The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-09-24

South carolina.... 7os,7os l
Total gain. ........-......'
The total gain of the southern states wouiu
be only eight representatives, after 1870 anu
toithom any amendment would give the soo'h
about the same number in proportion 10 It's
actual voters as New England has, VIE one
representative to every 10000 votes cast al
the presidential election of 1860, the Ias'
one in which the south participated. Inc
fact is that New England and the south arc
more equally represented according TO me 'e''
atiue number ottheir voters without the pro-
posed amendment than they would be II that
amendment should be ratified.
The foregoing compilation is based on the
apportionment of 1860, but when the next APP
portionment ia IN ade it is likely the south, IN
stead of gaining, will lose number OF hef
repres entatives, because the north has been
| increasing much more rapidly In numbers
and has suffered much less by the devassa-
| tions of war.
| To show that this talk of he radicals about
| their desire to have voters equal in all parts
of the Union, is complies farce, it is only
necessary to state that while the greatest in
equality exists between New England and
the west, the proposed amendment Will DO
nothing to rectify it, It's not to be tolers-
ted for "A moment that fifteen voters III the
south shonld have equal power with sixteen
| in New England bat it is all right for six
teen in New England to equal twenty five In
Illinois, or thirty two in Kansas, or thirty
| nine in California, and no amendment is
thought necessary to change this glaring IN
equality!
Massachusetts and Wisconsin have not far
from the same number of voters. yet the for
mer has ten, while the latter has but six rep
rsssntatiyes. 1t takes thirty-nine votes IN
California to be equal to nine in Rhode Is
land. On an average there are IN the west
25,O 900 voters to representative, while in
| New England there are but 10000. Do the
radicals think a voter in the west should not
have equal power with voter in Massachu
sets, as we'll as South Carolina? Why not
legislate to rectify the inequality in regard
TO the one as we'll es in regard to the other
Why was it not proposed to make UOterS the
basis OF representation, if that was the pur-
pose ? The reason is that to deprive New
England of any of her representatives and
give them to the west would not have been In
harmony with the radical programme. The
present mongrel proposition just suits them
for by 1t the power of the south will be cur
tailed while that of New England will re
main untouched.
The great aim and object OF the proposed
smend ment undou btsdly is to force the south
TO grant votes to the negro. The radical,
had not pluck enough to come out square fol
forcing negro suffrage on the southern states
but devised the present proposed amend
ment and they hope to effect in this Gun
, ming and cowardly manner what they hav,
neither courage nor honesty to come befor'
the people with it openly. They think, ant
= this amendment is founded on that presump
4 tioD, that it is perfectly proper tor Massachu
sets to have the benefit of representing il
congress thousaI DIS of foreigners whom sh
refuses a vote, while the south must be pun
ished by the loss of representatives for deny
ing votes to her negroes. And this propose
p
efforts to gain our Irish feiiow-citizens I
their support The democrats and conserva
tives, fortunately, are cid fashioned encug
e to think foreigner as good - negro.
r The only remedy against this inequality
}. to equslize the whole system the votin
t basis, striking down all constructive represer
l. tation, and not seek to substitute one dnt
J. quail system for another, as the propose
o amendm ent does.
d With these facts before them, can the il
= telligent voters of the west 3e deceived b
r the cry that the proposed amendment equal
zes the power of a vote in all parts of tn
q country? The assertion has not the shador
D. of truth, and any man who votes the radios
il ticket votes to force this monstrosly unius
{. unequal system upon the west, depriving hS
IF of her equal voice in the government.
Let him 81 back, now, 10 the beginning
p this article and read what Mr.. Seward sal
j. and then say whether the faith of the rerul
n. loan party and the faith of the governmer
is shall be forfeited or whether the pledge OF II
A. nation, to restore the Union, shall be kept
n If so the let him vote against every radio
10 who is up for Office.