Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1866-11-29
IMPARTIAL SUFFRAGE.

This is the catch-plraSo Of most Of the Radi
cal presses and orators, which means that th'
negro is to be granted the right Of suffrage
without regard TO the opinions or wishes Of the
several States in which the negro population
is most numerous, and in some cases outUum-
hers the whites. The most ralid of the party,
such as Wendell Phillips, oppose the pending
constitutional amendment because it leaves the
question of suffrage with the States, where it
properly tclongs-the penalty fornot invest
ing the negroes with votes being curtaiment
Of representation in Congress.
There would he no difficulty on the part 81
Che ten excluded States in adopting the first
and second sections of the amendment, if they
were not coupled with tie degrading thirds
ton. which asks men to vote themselves and
their ucighbors infamous, and put this record
oriuiamy in the organic law. Them0st of the
excluded States have already, of their own &C
cord. provided that the freedmen shall have all
the rights pertaining to white men, thcprotoc-
ton Of life, liberty, and property, except the
right Of suffrage. and even that boon may G
accorded to them, if let alone, ON the ground
that taxation and representation were the
grounds upon which our revolution was based
and our republic established.
Persons may be citizens and vet not be voters; ;
females for instance Where they hold proper
ty they are taxed, and are counted in making
up numbers for representation, but they are
not allowed to vote; yet who viii say that the
women Of our country every where are not far
better qualified to vote than the uneducated
negro
The preponderance Of the South in the couu-
ellis Of the nation seem to be dreaded by the
Radicals and therefore they want to put in the
negro element. This would be an absurd fear,
if it really existed, but it is sheer aGe,taion if
not mere sectional spite. Under any mode of
representation after the year 1870, whether
part or the whole Of the negro population be
counted, the South viii be in decided minor
ity.
1t was not by the number, but by the quail
ty Of the representation in Congress, that the
South 50 long maintained an ascendency, and
so long gave tone to the legislation and policy
Of the country. The absurd doctrine of rota-
ton in office did not prevail in the South in the
matter of craftsmanship. When man Of tai
onts and proper requirements was sent to Con-
grcss he was kept there through a series of
years, not only until he acquired parliamentary
knowledge but had also attained a national
reputation, and the influence incident thereto
If the dominant party really desire recoucil-
iation, and return of prosperity, to the whole
country, let them withdraw the 81 section, and
then they may ask with some degree Of conf
dence for a concurrence in the other PROPOSE
tons. But it is evident they neither expect
nor desire the South to adopt the amendment,
so that they may elect President of their own
party, and thus secure the spoils for four years
thereafter.
Impartial Suffrage" indeed Negro suf-
frage is what they want, in order that import
ed Northern men of their own stamp may be
chosen, and men to the manor born" may be
set aside