The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1866-01-31
ErOm the oincinnati Commercial }
RESIDENTS VIEWS.
CONVERSATION WITH A sENA.
TOR. y
Too NJ any Constitutional
AmendmemtSy
NO MORE NEEDED! /!
Folly Of Picking the Great Charter
ito Piecesl
RADICAL PROGRAMME IN.
VITING WAR.
Washington. Januarv 28.


The following is the substance of q
conversation which took place to-day be.
tween the President and distinguished
Senator. The President said that he
doubted the propriety at this time of ma.
king any ,furthur amendments to the Con.
%stitution. One great amendment had
already been made, by which slavery had
been forever abolished within the limits
Of the United States, and a national guar.
antee thus given that that institution
should never again exist in the land
Propositions to amend the Constitution
were becoming as numerous as preambles
and resolutions at town meetings called
to consider the most ordinary question
connected with the administration of local
affairs. All this, in bis opinion, had a
tendency to diminish the dignity and
prestige attached to the Constitution Of
the country, and to lessen the respect and
confidence of the people in their great
charter Of freedom.
II, however, amendments are to be
made TO the CONSTITUTION, changing the
basis OF representation and taxation, (and
he did not deem them at all necessary at
the present tlme, he knew of none better
than a simple proposition, embraced in q
few lines, making in each State the mum.
Der of qualified voters the basis of repre-
sentation, and the value of property rhe
basis OF direct taxation. Such q PROPOSE.
ton could be embraced in the following
terms : Representatives shall be ap.
pointed among the several States which
may be included within the Union &C.
cording to the number of qualified voters
In each State. Direct taxes shall be ap.
portioned among the several States which
may be included within this Union &C.
cording 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 tax.
alton upon correct principles.
The qualified voters were for the most
part, men who were subject to the draft
and enlistment, when necessary to repel
invasion, suppress rebellion, and quell
domestic violence and Instruction
They risked their lives, shed their blood
and spent their all to uphold the Govern
ment and give protection, security and
value to property. 1t seems butjust that
this property should compensate for tho
benefits thus conferred by defraying the
expenses incident to its protection and
enjoyment. Such an amendment, the
President suggested, would remove from
Congress all issues in reference to the
political equality Of the races. It would
leave the States to determine absolutely
the qualifications Of their own voters with
regard to color, and thus the number of
Representatives to which they would be
entitled in Congress would depend upon
the number which they conferred the
right Of suffrage.
4he President, in this connection, &c.
pressed his opinion that the agitation of
tHe negro franchise question IN the Dis.
trtct of Columbia, at this time, ,Das the
mere entering wedge to The agitation of
The question throughout the States, and
'Ods Mttmed, uncaAed fir, and calcula.
ted to do great harm. lie believed ii
'oOuM engender enmiy and strife betreen
the tDo races, and lead to a ,oar bet,oeen
them, Which ~ouM result in great injury
10 both, and.Me certain determination of
ME negro population. Precedence, he
thought, should DO given to more import
ant aud urgent matters, legislation upon
which was essential for the restoration of
The Union, the peace of the country and
prosperity Of the people.