The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-01-30
2irhmond 1ispattlr,
The Presidcnt'S View. oil Amendments 10 the
Constitution.

The following telcgraphic dispatch from
Washington TO the Baltimore .S,tn, giving the
substance of 4 conversation which took place
last Sunday (as the statement i, but we pr J
sumo it was on Saturday. between the Presl q.
dent and n distinguished Senator, is 50 impor-
ttEt, as containing All undoubted exposition of
the Presidents views, that we give it promi
nent place in our editorial columns:
WAsHIyGToS, January @5.-The following IS
the substance of Il conversation which took
place to-day between the President and dis
'ingulshed senator:
The President said that he doubted the
proprlety nj this time OF making any further
amendments to the Constitution. One great
amendment had already been made by which
slavery had forever been abolished within the
limits OF the United States, and n national
guarantee thus given that that institution
should never again exist in the land. PROPOSE
tiouS to amend the Constitution were becoming
rs numerous as preamblcs and resolutions at
town meetings called to consider the most
ordinary questions connected with the admin
istraton of local affairs. All this, in his
opinion, had tendency 10 diminish the dig
nifty and prestige attached to the Constitution
of the country, and 10 lessen the respect and
confidence of til" people i'll their great charter
Of freedom.
If however, amendments are to be made TO
the Constitution, changing the basis of repre-
sentation and taxation, iand lie did not deem
lntlu III dll necessary III int present lIl.i lie
knew OF none better than simple proposition,
embraced in 4 few lines, making, in each State,
the number OF qualified voters the basis of
representation, and the value of property the
basis of direct Taxation. Such II proposition
could he embraced i'll the following terms -
Representation shall be appOrtioued among
the several States, which may be included
within this Union, according 10 the number Of
qualified voters in each State. Direct taxes
shall be apportioncd among the several States,
which may be included within this Union,
according TO the value OF all taxable property
in each State.
An amendment of this kind would, in his
opinion, place the basis Of representation and
direct taxation upon correct principles The
qualified voters were, for the most part, men
who were subject to drat: and enlistment,
when ii was necessary to repcl invasion, sup
press rebellion and Qucll domestic violence and
inaurrcction They risk their lives, shed their
blood and peril their all to uphold the Govern
ment and give protection and security and
value 10 property. II seemed but just that
property should compensate for the benefits
thus conferred by dcfraying the expenses Incl
dent TO its protection and enjoyment Such an
amendment, the President also suggested,
would remove from Congress all issues in rcfe-
renee TO the political equality OF the races.
II would leave the States 10 determine, abso-
luttlv, the qualifications of their own voters
with regard 10 color: and thus the number of
representatives 10 which they would he emit
tied in Congress would depend unon the NUM-
her upon which they conferred the right OF
suffrage.
The President, in this connection, expressed
the opinion that the agitation of the negro
franchise question in the District OF Columbia,
III this time, was the mere entering wcdg" to
the agitation of the question throughout IT,"
States and was ill-timcd, mcall"d FOR. and
TO do great harm. He believed that
il would engcuder cumity, contention aud
strife between the two races and lead TO u war
between them which would result in great