Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-12-19
What is Impartial Suffrage P

An able correspondent of the New York
Times, who signs himself ''Veteran Obser-
yer, presents the following searchingqueries
relative to the ambiguous phrase sofippant-
ly used by the Radicals, Impartial Suf
fage"
'It is most unfortunate for much of our
political and religious discussion that we do
not understand the leading terms in the
same sense, or do not understand them at
all. 1t keeps us apart often when we ought
to be together, and when really we mean
the same thing.
Impartial suffrage is thrown out as an idea
to be discussed. What does it mean p
What kind of impartiality? Is it impair
TALLY in numerical voting only? Is it i'm
partiality as to qualifications? Are there
to be any qualifications? IF so, what?-
Is impartial suffrage to be applied to sex,
shall women be excluded? IF applied to
color shall blacks be excluded? If blacks
are to vote, shall they vote without proper
ty, education or character? Or shall they
have the New York qualification of two hun
dred and fifty dollars? You see at once
that no more indefinite term was ever used
than this of impartial suffrage The very
first thing to be done is to settle what it
means. 1t has some able advocates, and if
they expect their theory ever to succeed,
the best they can doforitis to define itclearly
and give it practical form.
Then the people may possible see enough
good In it to adopt it. But one thing I can
assure the theorists on suffrage with certain
ty, that this American nation, remarkable
for It's common sense, never will rush into
any great revolution in suffrage till it is ac-
curately defined and well understood. No
such question entered into the elections, and
Congress will not act upon it till they are
instructed by the people. Let me put aside
enc delusion at once, The great Central
West, radical enough for anybody, viii have
nothing to do with changing the basis of
reconstruction offered by Congress in the
amendments till time enough has elapsed
for the South to give it the fullest consider
alton and the people to examine with care
any other plan proposed
The Tribune may advocate Its pet doc
trines, and Massachusetts elect its negroes,
and rebels reject the amendment, and Wen
dell Phillips utter his rhapsodies, but they
viii not induce the West to abandon the po-
sition taken at the elections, on the amend
ments to the Constitution till the question
has been submitted to their calm considera-
tion and another Presidential election. The
question of admitting nearly 100000 ignor-
ant and totally unlearned men into can
vass for the Presidency is vast question, a
gigantic problem, which requires the decen-
cy Of delay to insure it successful solution,
Team hardly think that those who talk of it
have realized its magnitude. The right to
vote is trust given by the whole body of
the community, and the fact that we have
already conferred it on most unfit persons is
no reason why we should continue that dam
gerous policy
b. The. Radical press are all out for ST.
NON CAMERON, for United States Senator,
as successor to Edgar Cowan- In New York
State the Radicals are advocating the cleo
ton Of Horace Greeley to the position of
United States Senator. The only great diff
ference in the two men is, that while Gree
ley is honest in his political opiniens, which
he has slways adhered to, Simon Cameron
iseyerything and nothing at all, simply for
peeuniary gain He has belonged In turn to