Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1866-02-01
Important Declarations.


We ind the following important authorized
statement in the editorial columns Of the Ma
tionGl E,telligeReer, and in other papers, trans
mittcd by the agent Of the Associated Press
The President has taken ground from which he
is not likely to he driven, and in which he will
be sustained by every true Union man in the
country. The Radical Disunionists, who are
laboring to prevent a restoration Of the Union
in all its integrity and proportions, may as well
notice in time the handwriting on the WALL
They NAV use their temporary power in a
spirit Of ferocity, but their days are numbered
Us surely as the sun rises and sets.
The Presidents rie'cs on he proposed amend
meHt 10 the Constitution.
WASHINGTON. Jan 2S.-The following IS the
substance Of conversation which took place
to-day between the President and distln-
guished Senator:
The President said that he doubted the pro-
priety at this time of making any further a
mendments 10 the constitution. One great a.
mendment had already been made, by which
slavery had forever been abolished within tie
limits Of the United States, and national guar
antee thus given that that institution should
never again exist in the land. Propositions TO
amend the constitution were becoming as nu-
merous as preambles and resolutions ut town
meetings. called to consider the most ordinary
questions connected with the administration Of
local affairs. All this, in his 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 peo-
pie in their great charter Of freedom.
If however, amendments are to be made to
the constitution, changing the basis Of represen-
tation and taxation, land he did not deem them
at all necessary at the present time,) he knew
Of none better than a simple proposition, en-
braced in a few lines, making, in each State,
the number Of qualified voters the basis OF rep
resentation, and the value of property the basis
of direct taxation. Such a proposition could
be embraced in the following terms:
Representatives shall be portionedamong
the several States, which may beincluded with
in this Union, according to the number Of quail
iied voters in each State"
"Direct taxes shall be apportiOned among the
several States which may be included within
this Union, according to the value Of all taxable
property in each State"
An amendment Of this kind would in his
opinion, place the basis of representation and
direct taxation upon correct principles. The
qualified voters were for the most part men who
were subject to the draft and enlistment when
it was necessary to repel invasion, suppress re-
belliOn and quell domestic violence and insur-
rectiOn. They risk their lives, shed their blood
and peril their all to uphold the government
and give protection and security and value to
property. 1t seemed but Just that property
should compensate for the benefits thus confer
red, by detraying the expenses incident to Its
protection and enjoyment. Such an amend
ment, the President also suggested, would re-
move from Congress all issues in reference to
the political equality of the races. 1t would
leave the States to determine, absolutely, the
qualifications of their own voters with regard
10 color: and thus the number of representa-
tives to which they would be entitled in Con-
gress would depend upon the number upon
which they conferred the right of suffrage.
The President in this connection, expressed
the opinion that the agitation Of the negro fran
chise question in the District of Columbia, at
this time, was the mere entering wedge 10 the
agitation Of the question throughout the States
and was ill-timed, uncalled for, and calculated
to do great harm. He believed that it would
engender enmity, contention and strife between
the two races, and lead to a war between them,
which would result in great injury to both, and
the certain extinction Of the negro population.
Precedence, he thought, should be given to
more important and urgent matters, legislation
upon which was essential for the restoration of
the Union, the peace of the country, and the
prosperity of the people