The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-02-02
The Presidents Tieic.

The following is said to be the sub
stance of conversation between PrcSi-
dent johnson and 4 distinguished Scna-
tor" relative to the constitutional amend
mcntS
The President said he doubted the
propriety at this time of making any fur
Their amendments to the Constitution.
One great amendment had already been
made nv which slavery had forever been
abolished within the limits OF the United
States. and 4 national guaranty thus "iven
that tie institution should never again
exist in the land. Propositions to amend
the Constitution were becoming numerous
and resolutions at town-mce.ing~. called Ia
consider the most ordinary questions con-
nrcted with the administration of local al
fairs. All this. i'll his opinion. had :, ten
dency to diminish the iii gnity and prestige
attached to the Constitution OF the coun-
try, and 10 lessen the respect ana conf
dcnce of the people i'll their great charter
of freedom. Ii. however. amendments
are TO be made TO the Constitution Chang
inc the basis Of representation and taxa
ton. and he did not deem them at all nee
eSSary at the present time. he knew OF
none better than 4 simple proposition en-
braccd in a few lines, making in each
State the number OF qualified voters the
basis of representation. and the value of
property the ba>is of direct taxation
Such Il proposition could be embraced IL
the following terms: Representatives shall
be apportioncd among the several States
which may he included within this Union
according to the number of qualified voters
in each State. Direct taxes shall he ap-
portioncd among the several States which
may he included within this Union accor-
ding to the value of all taxable property
in each State. An amendment OF this
kind would, in his opinion. place the ba>i,
of representation and direct taxation upo,
correct principles. The qualified voters
were, for the most part men who were
subject to draft and enlistment when ii wa.
necessary to rcpcl INVASION. suppress rebel
lion and quell domestic violence and in
surrection. They risk their lives. shed
their blood and peril their all to uphold
the Government, and give protection. sc,
curly and value to property. 1t seemed
but just that property should compensate
for the benefits thus conferred bv dctriv-
ing the expenses incident to its protection
and enjoyment Such IN 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 qualifications of their own voters with
regard to color, and thus the number o
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. ex.
pressed the opinion that the agitation Of
the negro franchise question i'll the District
of Columbia at this time was the mcr,
entering wedge to the agitation of the
question throughout the States, and wa:
ill-timed, uncalled for, and calculated tc
do great harm. He believed that it would
engender enmity, contention and strife be.
tween them, which would result in erea,
injury to both, and the certain extermina.
ton of the negro population. Precedence
he thought, should be given to more i'm
portant and urgent matters, legislation up
on which was essential to the restoration
of the Union, the peace of the country
and the prosperity of the people"