Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-06-29
- 9TTT y " rTIT0O
NUMBER E]EI,Rl5.l 1.sorg,

bilO oLlOhC vi DhtOlO udS ClFdICu away dIu
time hasbeen given for reelection, that this
decision has been fortunate one for the
country, they receiving the like benefits
from 1t with those who opposed theppin the
field and in the cause, My observations
lead ma to the conclusion that the citizens
of the Southern States are anxious to re-
turn to the self-government of the Union
as soon as possible; that while Reconstruct
ing they want and require protection trem
the Governments that they are in earnest
id wishing to do,what they thinkis required
Dby the 5oYernment--netu humiliatlng 10,
them as citizens-and that II such course
was pointed Dat they would pursueit In
good faith. 1t is to be regretted that
there cannot be "a greater lcomming{
ling atghtbis time betyeen the ,,citi7
zens OF the two sections, and par
ticuarly of those entrusted with tAelaaeir
making pOwer.nj Secession. as a, practical
doctrine ever to be resorted to, II almost
utterly abandoned. 1t was submitted ITO,
and failrd before the ordealo battle, Nor
can the undersigned imagine why, II itsTe-
Vival Is anticipated as possible, the COM y
nittee have not recommended an,amepd7
ment to the Constitution guarding against
IL in terms. Such All amendment, 1t canf6ts
bedoubted, the Southern as well as NORTH
ern States would cheeIfully, adopt. The
omission of such a recommendation Isl
stilutional right is thought by the majority, b,
OF the committee to be practically ere
thing Of the past, as all tLeipfoof taken by
them shows it to be inJthe opinion of all the Z,
leading Southern men who vhitberto enter
tanned II. The de, oIalion around them; the
hecatombs of their own Slams the stern I
patriotism OF men ofithe other Statt E, exhibr
tied by unlimited expenditure Of treasure
and of blood, and their love of the Union
81, parn fartfl lNfln nEa1 Nh.Ay l.,
they will hazard all to, maintain It, have
co vino d the people Of the South that as
practical doctrine secession is extlnguisht Il ii
forever. State secession, then, abandoned,
and slavery abolished by the Southern States
themselves, or with their consent upon OF
what statesmslike ground can such States
be denied all the rights which the, ,Constir
tuition secures to states of the Union? All
admit that to do so at the earliest period is
demanded by every consideration of duty
ana pulley, and none deny that the actual
interest OF the country is to great extent
involved in such admi sion. The staple pfo-
Guctions Of the Southern States are as im-1a
portaut to the other Statesas 10 themselves.
Those staples largely enter into the wants
of all alike, aud they are also most inn z
portant 10 the financial credit oftbe Govern d,
ment. Those staples will never be pro-
dured as in the past, until real peace, rest
ing as it can alone rest on the equal and
uniform operation of the Constitution and y
laws Oh all, is attained. To suppose that q
brave and sensible people will give an Un-
divided attention to the increase of mere'
material wealth while retained in state Of B
practical interiOrity, and degradation, is
merely folly. They desire TO be again III
the Union, to enjoy the benefits of the Com
sttution. and they invoke you to receive
them. They have adopted Constitutions
free from any intrinsic objection, and have
agreed to every stipulation thought by then
! President TO be necessary for the nrotec- !,
tion and benefitOf all and, in the opinion
of the undersigned, they are amply sufflL
| cient. Why exact as preliminary condi- 4
tion to representation, nIOTe2 What more
| is supposed advisable? First, the repudia-
tiOn OF the rebel debt; second, the denial OF
all obligations to payfO Ormanumitted slavess
| third, the inviolability Of our own. debit,
If these propositions are deemed necessary,
| they cam It be defeated, if the South were
disposed to defeat them, by the admission
into Congress Of their Representatives,
Nothing is more probable, in the Opinion Of
the undersigned, than that the South would
adopt them but those measures the COM
mittee connect with other cOud tions,s
which we think the people of the South
will never adopt. They are asked to dis
iranchise.a numerous class oftheir citizt ns. 7
and also to agree to diminish their repre- ,
sentatiOn in Congress, aud, of cour.e, inthe
electoral college, or to admit to the erigtTt Of
suffrage their colofed males of tweHty-oneD
years of age and upwards, a class now in a ,
condition OF almost utter ignorance, thus
placing them on the same political footing
with white citizens of that, age. O For ?
reasons so obvious that the dullest may
discover them, the right is mot d.
| rectly asserted OF granting suffrage to
the negro. That would be obnoxious
to most of the original States, SO
much so That their consent was not to be
antici ated. But the plan proposed, be-y
cause OF the limited number Of nggrOes in
such States, will have no effect on their
representation. and it is thoug It may there's 3
fore be adopted, while in Che Southern ,
) ates 1t will materially lessen their num-
ber. That such States will assent to tile a
measure can hardly be- expected. The ef-
feet, then, if not the purpose of the measure
is forever to deny representation to such
States, or, iftley consent to the condition,
to weaken their representative power and
thus probably secure continuance ofsuchT
party in power as now controls the legis-
ation of the Government. The measure,
in its terms and It's effects, whether de.
| signed or not, Is to degrade the Southern [
States. To consent to it, will be toconsent to ,
their own dishonor, The manner of pre-
senting the proposed constitutional amend
ment, IN the opinion OF the undersigned. Is
impolltici and without precedent. The ]
several amendments suggested have no.
connection with each other; each, il adopt
ed, would have its appropriate effect If the
others were rejected, and each, therefore
should be submitted as q separate article.
without subiectingi Ii to the contingency Of
rejection If the States should refuse to Tati-
| fly the rest, Each by ITSELF if.an advisable.
measure, should be submitted to the peo-
pie, and not in such aconnection with those
which they may think unnecessary aud
dangerous as to force them to reject all.
The reputation of the reUel debt, all obli5o
| cation to compensate for the loss of slave
property, and the einviolabiiityofihe debts
of the Government no matter how con-
tracted, are provided for by some of the
sections OF the amendment We have n0
doubt that these measures would meet the D
approval of all the States; but these 60 |
State can sanction without sanctlonip0
others, which we believe will not be done
by. the Southern States nor by some
of the Northern States. sdiTo onfOfcet
negro suffrage upon any State, by means OF 4,
the penalty of a loss of part of its reDre--
sentation, will not only, we think, be linz
posing a adisparaglhg provision, but igSir-d
tnally to interfere with the clear righthofi
each State to1 regulate suffrRgeI for. itself /,
| without the control of the GoYernment al
| the United States. Whether that e6nfr0lh
be eXefted directly or indireetl N wifi KSy