The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-03-01

Cn1nk1ng reader OF Milton PARADISE
Lost, should see this unequalled
tableaux. .. OMEGA.
Great Meeting In New York.
An immense Union meeting was
held at the Cooper Institute, New
York, on the evening of the 22d ult.
Hon. Francis B. Cutting presided,
assisted by a large number of the
most prominent citizens as Vice-Presi-
dents. Dudley Field, Esq, Mr..
Ward, Postmaster General Dennison,
Hon. Henry J. Raymond, Hon. D.
S. Dickinson, George Opdyke, Esq.
and others addressed the meeting.
An address to the people of New York
and resolutions were adopted.
The address is to the effect that the
question before the people is the
great one of pacitication. What the
country needs is repose. The con-
hict of arms has ceaeed. The con-
hict of passions which led to arms
should cease also. Our heroic SOL
diers cherish no enmity toward those
they have overcome. The only ele-
ment of disturbance is the political
condition of the freedmen. There is
no substantial disagreement among
men respecting their civil rights.
We all agree that they must have the
civil rights of any other class of citi-
zens-rights of person and property,
to sue, to testify; in short, equality
before the law. But whether they
also have the right of suffrage is
dividing the question. There, how
ever, can be no question whatever,
that under the Constitution the power
of determining who shall or shall not
enjoy the privilege of the elective
franchise belongs exclusively to re-
spective States. New York has no
more right to say who shall or shall
not vote in Virginia, than Virginia
shall say who shall or shall not vote
in New York. The elective franchise
is not natural right, but a political
trust. If it is is even true that every
person who is subject to laws, is
entitled to part in making them,
then every sojourner among us, every
foreigner. the moment he lands, is
entitled to vote. Because the blacks
had fought for the country, that does
not necessarily give them the right to
govern it, or participate in govern
ment. IF it were otherwise, every
boy from sixteen to twenty-one who
fought in the Union army should have
a vote without waiting for years of
discretion to participate in the Co
vernment to which he is subjected.
Tho blacks fought for country and
they have it. They fought for free
dom and they have it. We should
welcome our enancipated brother to
all the rights of manhood, but when
we are asked to give all men of his
race, at the moment of their emanci-
patton, the right to participate in the
Government, we must answer in the
words of one of their number, more
Intelligent than many other, white or
black: 'sThe able bodied only bear
arms-the able-minded only should
vote"
The address conlmends the Presi-
dents veto, and expresses the convic-
tion that the exclusion as Represen-
tatives from the States now unrepre-
sented in Congress of loyal men, who
were fairly elected and can take the
oath, is manifest usurpation. It con-
cludes by expressing confidence in
the integrity and fidelity to the prin-
cipies Of Andrew johnson, Of the
general doctrine Of his second mes
sage. and a readiness to support him
In all the constitutional measures for
the public welfare. The resolutions
are to the same effect, and in addition
to the approved action of Senator
Morgan and Representatives Ray
mond and Darling in sustaining the
veto.