Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-04-26

------<SNe<------.---
Testimony Of Hon. A. 81. Stephens, Be-
fore the Reconstruction Committee.
We find the following synopsis in our
exchanges of theotestimony Of. Hon. A. p.
STEPHENS, before the Reconstruction Com.
mittee: ...~..
aHe said that though the people of Geor
gia might retain their original viewa upon
the abstract right of secession, that the :rss
suit Of the war bad changed their opinions
ss to the policy, He said that the emanci-
patton of the negroes was acqaiescsd in,
and thatth negroes, since their minds had
been disabused of the idea of getting land
from the United States Goyernment,, we're
doing better, As to s'negra sufrage;" he
said: .-.r-s.4.:-. .s.~.. -
He did not tbinkt the people would -ratify q
proposition uf representation as a pteeedent
condition to the restoration of the States to
political power in the government ghsg
feel now that they, are entitled under tha
Constitution ofihe United States to repre-
sensatioa without further conditions. They
would not object to exchange and, discuss
views in the common councils of the CONG
try with the other States Hpen any PROPOSE.
sioa to amend the Constitution, or change
any of its features, aad they would abide
by such change, if: made as the Constitution
provides. They are willing, he thought,
co. leave the. basis of ofrepreseDtatieR' where
the Constitution leaves it; and while they
are disposed TO- deal fairly aud generously
With the freedmen, would not" be- willing 10
make and change in, the Constitution that
would give Congress Jurisdiction, oyer. the
question, Of suffrage, and especially would
they be .aVerse to the exerciseof such juris'
diotion .uurepFesented, 10 Congress, and
with no advice in the counsel. He-did not
believe. the people would accept as condi'
tiou precedent either to extend suffrage to
the negro or to exclude him from the basis
of representation, because they hold that
Congress has no right, under the Constitu-
ton, to prescribe anything of the sort. If
Georgia is a State in the Union, she is ca
titlad to representation; if she is not an
equal, then she could not be admitted as an
equal, and at the same time to be trammel-
ed With conditions not applied 70 all the
rest OF the States ofthe Union alike. General
universal suffrage among the negroes, as
they now are, would be regarded as about
as great political evil as could befall the
people of Georgia
Question Would they extend safFags
to- those who could read, and to those !wht
had served the Union as soldiers?
He thought the people would be unwif
ling to do more than they had done fol
restoration. d. Restricted or limited suffrage
would not be SO objectionable ; but it is a
matter for the State alone to regulate-s
question exclusively of State policy, as they
believe. The emily view, i'd their opinion
that could justify the war which was carried
on by the Federal Government against them
was the idea ofthe indivisibility of the Uni
on that those who held the administration
for the time were bound to execute the laws
and preserve the integrity of the country
under the Constitution, This having been
accomplished, and those advocating secession
and reserved sovereignty of the States hav'
ing abandoned their cause, aud the admin
istratiou triumphant in maintaining its idea.
upon which war was proclaimed and waged.
and on which alone it could, be Justified al
all, the people of Georgia supposed theil
State was Immediately entitled to all hel
rights under the Constitution. That Wal
his opinion, and he thought they would be
ing permitted to enjoy the full measure o
their constitutional rights. The people ex
pected, Immediately on the abandonment O.
the Confederate causes, to be broug hit bach
into their practical relations with the gov
ernment as previously constituted. He
thought the question Of suffrage was one
for the States to determine.
Question by. Mr.. BoutwelL-Suppose the
States that are represented in Congress- land
Congress itself should be permitted to take
its place in the government of the country
except upon its assent to one or the other o.
the two propositions--to extend Suffrage Of
to exclude the negro from the basis of rep.
resentation, as suggested-ia it then youl
opinion that under such circumstances the
State ought to decline?
Witness.-You mean the States now rep
resented, and those only7 Questioner.-