Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1866-02-02
TIE PRESIDENT ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMEND
NENTS.


The following is the substance of con-
versation which took place to-day between
the President and distinguished Sena-
tor The President said that he doubted
the propriety, at 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 a national guarantee thus Civ
en- that that institution should never again
exist in the land. Propositions to amend
the Constitution were becoming as num-
erOus as preambles and resolutions at
town meetings, called to consider most
ordinary questions connected with the ad-
ministration Of local affairs. All this, in
his opinion, had a tendency to diminish
the dignity and prestige attached to the
Constitution of the country, and to lessen
the respect and confidence of the people
in their great charter of freedom.
If however amendments are to be made
to the Constitution, changing the basis Of
representation and taxation, and he did
not deem them at all necessary at the
present time, he knew of none better than
a simple proposition embraced In few
lines, making in each State the number of
qualified voters the basis Of representa-
ton, aud the value of property the basis
of direct taxation-sUch a proposition
could be EN- mbraced in the following terms
Representatives shall be apportiOnted
among the several States which may be
included within this Union according to
the number Of qualified voters in each
State.
Direct taxes shall be appOrtioned 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 on correct principles.
The qualified voters were, for the most
part, men who were subject to draft and
enlistment, when necessary to repell or
suppress rebellion and Quell domestic vio-
lence and insurrection. They risk their
lives, shed their blood, and spend their all
to uphold the Government and have pro-
lection, security and value to property.
1t seemed but Just that property should
compensate for the benefits thus conferred
by defraying the expenses incident to its
protection.
The President also suggested that he
would remove from Congress all issues in
reference to the political equality of the
races in the United States, and would
leave it to the States to determine abso-
lutely the qualification of their own vot-
ers, with regard to color, and thus the
number of Representatives to which they
would be entitled to in Congress, would
depend upon the number upon which
they conferred the right to suffrage.
The President, in this connection, ex-
pressed the opinion that the introduction
of the negro franchise question in the
District of Columbia at this time was the
mere entering wedge to the agitation Of
the question throughout the States, and
was ill-timed, uncalled for, and calculated
to do much harm. He believed that it
would engender enmity and strife between
the two races, and lead to war between
them, which would result in great injury
to both and the certain determination Of
the negro population. Precedence, he
thought, should be given to more import
ant and urgent matters, legislation upon
which was essential for the restoration Of
the Union and the peace of the country
and the prosperity of the people.