The Portland daily press., 1866-04-20
THE POSITION OF GEORCIa
testimony OF ALEX. II. sTEpHENs

AoNS OF ALEX. II. STEPHENS.
AieAander II. Stephens was before the
Oons' es''ona committee on reconstruction
on wednesday, ilth inst. We give that nor.
tion of his testimony which disc,osos a., r..
ent temper OF his fellow citizens in Ceoroto T.,
Ihe examination was conducted by Mr.
Boutwell,: W Hr'
Y, What is the public sentiment of Geor-
gla with regard to the extension OF the right
OF voting to negroes?
A. The general opinion in the State IL
very much adverse to it. .'.. '77I - -.
q. Ii proposition were made to amend
the Constitution SO as to have representation
in Congress based upon voters substantially,
would they ratify such proposed amend
ment If it were made a condition precedent
TO the restoration of the State to political
power IN the Government? ....
"A 1 do not think they would. The peo-
ple ol Georgia, in my judgement, as far as /
au t1n. Ieneet or represent their opinions, feel
sraI ehgy are entitled under the Constitution
:, 'ne onlted states to representation with
out any further conditions precedent. They
woulu not OBJECT to entertain, discuss and ex-
chahSe views In the common councils of the
country win the other States upon such a
PIope:.tioi, or any proposition TO amend the
eaotnras and tba, ,1,o',iI onSe u III any OF us
If made as the ro,St;.',.. aniue Dy any changes
they feel that they are constitutionally entitled
10 be heard by their Senators and members
in the Houses OF Congress upon this or anv
other proposed amendment; do not there
fore think they would ratity that amendment
suggested as condition precedent to be-
ing admitted to representation in Congress;
'1Sa ~ "T tea's - my opinion.
Al, ,,H " snen your OPINION tnat at present
;no ;no - teop.e - 1eorgla wo9id neither De will
sast - ~ " the negroes nor con
Sa Sen: " 'ne excursion OF the negroes rom the
''I,' y, r, ,epteseh,ation
,,a,s, nc an peopie Oh Georgia, In my luag-
a,,J =, aio Psiieceiy wiling 10 nave suffrage
To,,st;.,,.;o oas,s vi representation where the
o,ast;o,, ~ Iesves II. Ihey look upon the
g,,n gs,no,', ~ u. ~ sSnrage as one belonging exclu-
s,e,y sho " tue n.a'es--one over which, under
...e ono OIns.ltu.lon oi tne United States, Con-
saes' nas ny Iurisulction, power or control, ex-
III IN ploPooln? amendments 10 the States,
anu no. In ~ exacting them nom them and
uo hot tnln5 the people oil Georgia, while they
a. are disposed, as believe earnestly, to deal
larry, Justly ana generously with the freed
men, would ne Wiling to consent to a change
in .ne Oonsututlon thai would give Congress
JuIisuiI.lon J:n over tne question oil suffrage; and
especially would they be very much adverse
TO Congress exercising any such jurisdiction
wltn0qt their representatives in the Senate
anu house Delng heard in the public councils
upon :n,s question, that SO vitality concerns
their internal policy as well as the internal
pofcy OF an the States. :" mn '"' bi.4 aol
x II tne propositlon were TO be submitted
W oSo,SSia, as one OF the eleven States now
lii:e, Ia reDeiiion, tnat she might be restored to
Ponticdi power IN the government of the
country, upon tne CONDITION precedent that
sue shouid ON the one hand extend suffrage to
sne aesrV, or on Inc other consent to their ex-
clusion rom the basis OF representation,
wouiu snc accept either proposition and take
heI place IN the government OF the country?
A. can only give my opinion: Iodo not
tnihk sne would accept either as condition
preceueht presented by congress, for we do
not Deheve that Congress has the rightful
power under the CONSTITUTION to prescribe
sue. acoholuon. II Georgla Is State in the
Union ner people feel that she is entitled to
representation without conditions imposed by
congress; and If she is not State in the
Union, tnen she should not be admitted as an
equal with the others II her admission, were
trammeied with conditions that do not apply
70 all the rest, and general, universal suffrage
were established among the colored people as
tney no. are, III wouid be by our people re-
garded as about as great political evil as
couiu Deiall them. -... ..........
@. If the proposition were to extend the
right of suffrage to those who could read. and
those VINO mad served in the Union armies,
the Statep '''Nt'' =
A. Il tbink tl,e naon,e of tbo Sto+s ,-,x,,,a
he unv;llino to do 1noia tha,, tba,, Ia,,a S",,a
20 s'..s "iis W u1 lnoie enah liiey nave uohe
Ior restoration. restricted or limited suffrage
"ouuu uo' pe ~ opJecuohapis as general OF
~ osl sai, put II S MalIer tnat belongs 10
sne States 70 Regulate. Inc question OF SUI
irage, whetner universal or restricted, Is one
OF State policy exclusively, las they believe
Individually l should not be opposed to a
proper system of restrictive or limited suffrage
to this class of our population: but. in nv
t;.s,4;o Ia - ~ SnaS Deionso, " Soi7
ssaJai shaiaIn l,'' 70 tne Ssa'es S " reuiaae ex
SNsivey, eacn lor litseii' put The people Oh
"a snaG Staee' as nave said' would not Wiling
~, think, do more than they have done for
restoration. The only view, in their opinion,
that could possibly Justify the war which was