Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-01-30
FROM WASHINGTON,


TEE PRESIDENT 5 VIEWS ON THE PROPOSED AMEND
MENT TO THE CONSTITUTION.
WASHINGTON, JAN 2S-The following is the sub
stance of a conversation which took place to-day
between the President and distinguished Senator
The President said that he doubted the proprety
at this time OF making any further amendments 10
the Constitution. One great amendment had al
ready been made, 10y which slavery had forever been
abolished within the limits of the United States, and
u national guarantee thus given that that instilu-
ton should never again exist In the land. PROPOSE
tious tn amend the Constitution were becoming as
numerous as preambles and resolutions at town
meetings. called to consider the most ordinary ques-
tions connected with the administration OF local al.
fairs. All this i'll his opinion, had a tendency 10
diminish tue dignity aud prestige attached ~ tLv
Constitution of the country, and 10 lessen the
pect and confidence of the people III their great
charter OF freedom,
If, however amendments are to be made to the
Constitution, changing the basis of representation
and taxation, land he did not deem them at all ne.
cessary at the present time he knew of none better
than simple proposition, embraced in 4 few lines,
making, i'll each State, the number OF qualified yO
tiers the basis OF representation, and the value Of
property the basis OF direct taxation Such a pro-
position could be embraced in the following terms
Representation shall be appOrtioned among tue Sc
veral States, which may be included within this
Union, according to the number Of qualified voters
in each State. Direct taxes shall be apportOncd
among the several olAtca, WHICH may bc lUCluutu
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 at representation and direct taxation
upon correct principles. The qualified voters were
for the most part men who were subject to draft and
enlistment when it was necessary to repel INVASION
suppress rebellion and quell domestic violence and
insurrectOn. They risk their lives, shed their blood
and peril their all to uphold the Government, and
give protection and security and valve TO property
il seemed but just that property should compensate
for the benefits thus conferred, by deirayng the eN-
penses incident to its protection and enjoyment
Such an amendment, the President also suggested,
would remove from Congress all issues in reference
to the political equality of the races. 1t would
leave the States to determine, absolutely, the qua-
cations of their own voters with regard TO cOOr and
thus the number of representatives to which they
would be entitled in Congress would depend upon
the number upon which they conferred the right OF
Suffrage.
The President, in this connection, expressed the
opinion that the agitation Of the negro franc hise
question in the District al Columbia, at this Time
was the mere ent6rlg wedge to the agitation OF the
question throughout the States; aud was ill.timed
incalled for and calculated TO 90 great harm. lie
believed that il would engender enmity contention
and strife between the two races, and lead to war
between them winch would result in great injury tn
both, and the certain extinction of the negro pOpn-
lation Precedence, he thought, should he given to
more important and urgent matters, legislation upon
which was essential for the restoration of the Union
the peace of the country aud the prosperity OF the
people.
ENLARGEMENT OF THE POWERS ~ san fHEEDMEN'S
BUREAU-EFFRCT or NiNtNG FREEDMEN POSSES
sorry RIGHTS OF THE COAST NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
40 NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. THE DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA BY COMMISSloNERS-THE BASIS OF
REPRESENTATION PROJECT.
Correspondence OF the Baltimore sun.
The bill to enlarge the powers of the frecdme0's
bureau, which passed the Senate by u strict party
yote-37 to l0-appears to have been passed without
that consideration which Was due to it great po-
litical and financial measure. This is shown by Tie
fact that eighteen Senators voted to recall the BILL
letter from Governor Orr OF South Carolina, in re-
gard to the fifth section might have had some lnin-
ence in the Senate had it been produced in time
IL will be laid before the House, where it will have
no influence whatever upon fixed party majority.
Had the section, as originally drawn giving the
lands the coast OF South Carolina for thirty
miles inland to the freedmen i'll fee simple, stood, 1t
might have encountered veto, but the grant IN the
form of pOssessory right, for three years amounts
practicall eto the same thing. II may ba taken for
granted that this bill will become law, and that it
will delay and defeat reconstruction iOran indefinite
time.
Other laws are to hO passed which will carry ont
the principles established by this BILL even in case
the seeded States be represented and the bureau
and the military he withdrawn.
Tie people of this city are as unanimous in favor
of Senator MoTls bill as they were against the no.
gro suffrage bill. This unanmity may defeat the
measure, for Congress is in no humOr to give the
District anything III the character of boon. Int 1t
is said here that the proposed government of the city
by Executive commission is to be adopted as conf
promise between Congress and the President Oh the
suffrage question.
There is no reason to doubt that the project re-
ported from the reconstruction committee will pass
on Tuesday next, Many amendments or substitutes
for it have been suggested, and will he voted upon,
but no one will combine as many votes in the House
as the committee project. 1t will cut oil, for the
next generation at least-f il really become tie
paramount law-such representation as the late
slaveholding States have had under the thTeeltlls
rule 1t is hardly to be supposed that the States Will
ratify it.
THE RETURN OF SECRETARY SEWARD AND PARTY.
WASHINGTON, January 23.-The United States
steamer, DE Sofa, Captain Walker, arrived at WASH
ington about four o'clock Z. NJ. yesterday, direct
from Havana, and landed Secretary Seward MI ana
Mrs. Frederick A. Seward ana Miss WHARTON Mrs.
Stewards sister at the maynard. The party nrSt
visited ST. Thomas where they were received by the
Governor Secretary Seward held levee on the
De Sofa, receiving all the captains oil the vessels IN
port and the principal officials.
The De Soto next stopped at santa Cruz, where
the party were hOnOred with special dinner by the
Governor. She then visited san Dom ngo, where
they were received by the President OF the Domn-
c an Republic. They then proceeded TO Polt.au-
Prince, where President Geilrard paid them every
possible mark of distinction On arriving at llavan-
na, tie CaptanGeneral rendered them the use OF has
palace. outside of the city, which was courteoasly
declined on account of the abort time allowed 10
stop
The Captain. General provided magnificent ban
ouet. after which the party serenaded at their
hotel. Secretary Seward held levee at the hotel
receiving all the officials and numerous citizens in
Guiding about five hundred students and the profes
sors of the Havana University, also the French OH!
GERS in port. They left Havana on the s5d Instant
and returned much improved in health, having
greatly enjoyed the whole voyage.