The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1866-02-01
PRESIDENTS, VIEWS.

Conversation with Senator ---T0O
Many Constitutional Amendme nts. -
No More Needed Mt tPrescnt.-Folly of
Picking the Great Charter to Pieces.
The Radical Progromme Inviting War.
WAsHINGroN, January 2S.-The fol-
lowing is the substance of q convcrsa-
tion which took place to-day between
the President and a distinguished Sen
ator. The President said that he doubt
cd the propriety at this time Of max
ing any further amendments to the
Constitution. Ono great amendment
had already been made, by which sla-
very had been forever abolished with
in the limits of the United States, and
q national guarantee thus given that
that institution should never again ex-
ist in tho land. Propositions to amend
the Constitution were becoming as nu-
mcrous as prcamblcs and resolutions
at town meetings called to consider the
most ordinary question connected with
the administration of local affairs. All
this, in his. opinion, had tendency to
diminish the dignity and prestige at
tached to the Constitution of the coun-
try, and to lessen the respect and con-
fidenco of tho people in their great
charter of freedom.
If, however, amendments are to be
made to the Constitution, changing the
the basis of representation and taxa
tion, (and he did not deem them at all
necessary at tho present time he knew
OF none better than simple PROPOSE
tion, embraced In o few lines, making
in each State the number Of qualified
voters the basis of representation, and
the value of property the basis of di-
rect taxation. Such o proposition
could be embraced in the following
terms Representatives shall be ap-
pointed among tho several States
which may be Included within tho
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 the taxable property in
each State" An amendment of this
kind would, in his opinion, place the
basis of representation and direct taxa
tion upon correct principles.
The qualified voters were, for the
most part, men who were subject to the
draft and enlistment, when necessary
to rcpcl invasion, suppress rebellion,
and quell domestic violence and insur-
rection. They risked their lives, shed
their blood and spent their all to up
hold the Government and give protcc-
tion, security and value to property.
1t seems but just that this property
should compensate for the benefits thus
conferred by dofraying tho expenses
incident to its protection and enjoy
ment. such an amendment, the Pre-
sidcnt suggested, would remove from
Congress all issues in reference to the
political equality Of tho races 1t would
leave tho States to determine absolute
ly the qualifications of their own voters
with regard to color, and thus the
number Of Representatives to which
they would bo entitled in Congress
would depend upon tho. number upon
which they conferred the right of suf-
fragc.
The President, in this connection, &c.
pressed the opinion that the agitation Of
the negro franchise question in the Dis
trict Of Columbia, at this time, rds the
mere entering redgc to the agitation Of
The question throughout the States, and
irdS W.timed, mcdiied for, and cdlculdt-
ed TO d6gredt harm. lie believed it ,r0uld
engender enmHy and strife Jetpeen the
t,ro races, and ledd to a wdr bet,reen
them, ,rhich could result in great injury
to both, and tho certain determination Of
the negro population. Precedence, he
thought, should bo given to moro i'm
portant and urgent matters, legislation
upon which was essential for the rosto-
ration of tho Union, the peace of tho
country and tho prosperity of the poo
plc,