Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-10-30

felt and their interests are cared for, precise
ly because they are counted in fixing the
relative weight Of the communities to which
they belong in the legislative assemblies, al
though their voices are not directly heard in
determining who shall represent them.
RELATIVE STRENGTH OF THE STATES.
1t is not true, as is constantly alleged, that
the relative strength of the States which
were in rebellion will be increased by the
results of the war if they are not allowed
representation in the National councils. The
present ratio Of representation is adjusted by
the census of 1860, and cannot be changed
until after the census of 1870. Till that
time, therefore, the relative strength of the
several States of our country must remain
precisely as it was under the census of 1860.
After the census of 1870 the position and
relative strength of the Southern States in
Congress and the Electoral College will both
be diminished, even if the non-voting black
population be included in the basis. In 1859
three-fifths of all the black population of
the Southern States was counted. The
census of 1870 will show the whole of the
non-voting black population to be less than
the three-tfths Of 1860.
NoN-vOTING BLACKS AND FOREIGNERS.
Nor is it true that vote in the South will
outweigh vote in the North, if the nom
voting negro population be included in the
basis of representation. If the proposed
amendment be adopted all the non-voting
| black population of the South will be ex-
cluded, while all the non-voting unnatural
lied foreign population Of the North will be
counted. The great prepOnderance of I'M
naturalizeG, and consequently non-yoting
| foreigners, is in Northern and Northwestern
States. They and their families number
hundreds Of thousands perhaps millions,
and vet they are all counted in fixing the
rate of representation. This is right. | do
not object to it. They help TO make up the
strength and productive wealth OF the State,
and ought to be computed in fixing its po-
litical power. But if it is right to count a
non-vOting population in one State it is
equally right to count it in another; and if
counted in one and not in the other, it gives
the one an advantage over the other incom-
| patible with the equality of the States and
of dangerous and revolutionary tendency;
while the unnaturalized, non-voting popula-
ton of the one section of the country will be
constantly increasing, the non-voting black
population Of the other section, by obvious
causes not now necessary to be mentioned,
will be as constantly decreasing 1t would
be better for all parties and interests, and
far more hopeful for tie perpetuity of our
government, if something of an equilibrium
of strength between the different sections Of
the country could be maintained.
DIsFRANCHIsEMENT.
The third section of the proposed amend
ment DISTINGUISHES the great majority of the
educated men of the States which have
been in rebellion, and excludes them from
any participation in the affairs of the State
and Federal Governments, the entire con-
troll of the government of those States will
be placed in the hands ofs meagre minority
of the men at all quail flied for such control,
and they, as general thing, not oft the most
intelligent and capable classes. No such
sweeping and indiscriminate prescription is
remembered since the days of PHILIP IL of
Spain.
1t is not to be expected that in this age
and country, and with our race, majority
of the educated men of ten States will long
submit to be excluded from all share in
making and administering the laws by which
their lives, liberties and property are to be
judged without the constant presence and
pressure of force adequate to coerce Obedi-
ence. The adoption of this amendment will
involve the necessity of maintaining an army
to enforce it, which of itself would be dan
gerous to liberty, and add greatly to burdens
of taxation already grievous.