Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1866-04-20

then the people Of that State should be declared
to be in state of insurrection sgainst the na-
tional Governm ent and treated accordingly
The people of the loyal States will never again
submit to the indignities and Outrages which
were perpetrated upon the northern people at
the South previous to the war. A repetition
of these wrongs Will most assuredly lead to
another civil war more terrible than the one We
have Just p; sse1 through. The people of the
South should be made to understand this. IL
the Constitution of the United States does not
now confer upon the national Government the
POWER to provide against SUCH outrages upon
American citizens, which think it does, then
| say it is the duty of Congress and the Presi-
dent to insist upon such an amendment as will
confer that power II is for the interest Of all
the people, North and South that the national
Government should have that power, and in my
opinion it is absolutely necessary to prevent
another civil war. / have already said that the
Government was bound to protect the rights of
the loyal colored people OF the South, for gov
ernment which either cannot or will not protect
those who sustain il, when in peril, is not worth
| fighting for,r is- l.5al -Ist
Now, sir, were perfectly sure that all these
rights would be respected and protested by the
southern people wou vote to-day for restor-
ing them to their practical relations with the
Government of the United States, and TO the
control of their State and local affairs, without
asking them for but single amendment to the
Constitution, and that would be upon the SUBJ
ject of apporioning representation.
Much has been ssid, MIR. Speaker, about this
being white mans Government, and il is sub
stantially white mans Government; and must
always rema in SO il universal suffrage were
granted to the colored man as well as 10 the
white man, it would nevertheless remain the
white mans government, for it is impossible
that five millions of colored people could con-
troll thirty millions Ct white people, or have much
influence in the Government; and the propor-
ton of colored people to the white must rapidly
decrease on account of the large immigration Of
white people to this country. According to
the census of 1860 only two States-SOuth
Carolina and Mississippi had more colored
than white people; and if the people of those
States are wise in the future they will soon
have prepouderance of white people. If this
is to continue to be exclusively white man s
Government, then l say that none but white
men should be represented in Congress or have
any influence in the election of President. All
white men should have an equal voice. There
is great injustice in allowing the vote of one
white man in Mississippi to be equal to two
white men in Ohio in, electiDg the President Of
the United States and members of Congress-
think white citizen of Ohio is as good as
white citizen of Mississippi or any other
State, and shall insist upon his vote having as
much power in the national Government not
withstand ng myIDemncraticc colleagues Messrs
FINcK and LIE BLOND, Judging from their votes,
still cling TO their old party doctrine, that one
southern man is equal to two of their constitu-
ents But, sir, if they will put that issue fairly
to their constituents l think they will hardly
find them consenting to that doctrine.
The provision in the Constitution which gave
the slave States representation for three-fiftbs
of their slaves was a concession TO the slave ar
istocracy against the people of the free States
1t was in fact representation for property, and
had no more foundation in justice than to give
representation for horses and cattle. Now that
slavery is abolished that provision of the Con-
stitution ought to fall with it,
My own opinion is, that representation should
be founded solely upon volers-s 1t is the only
| principle which will place all voters upon an
equality. 1t is a mistake TO say that a voter
represents anybody but himself He may or
be may not agree in political sentiment with
females or others whom he is supposed to rep
resent, but ne only represents himself in the
republican sense of repre- ssntation. know sew
eral instances where husbands were bitter cop
perheads, and their wives were devoted and ac-
| live supporters of the Union cause. Did these
husbands represent their wives when they vo-
ted for Yallandigham for Governor of Ohio2'
am willing TO let the noble and patriotic wives
! answer for themselves, | am none the less IA
vorable 10 this basis of representation because
understand it to be favored by the President
on the contrary, that is TO my mind an addi-
tional reason why we should give it favorable
consideration. s..
Looking at all sides of this question, Mr.
Speaker, my mind is forced TO the conclusion
that the especial friends of negro suffrage over
estimate the importance of the influence which
it will have for the welfare of the colored peo-
pie themselves and the influence it will have on
the national Government. | doubt very much
whether it would prove beneficial to either
But my time viii not permit me to discuss this
question further. / wish 10 say, however, Mr..
Speaker, that l am not welded to any particu-
lar theory but will support any practical meas
ures which viii accomplish the objects have
Indicated. ] am cry anxious that measures
shall be devised which will satisfy the people
both North and South, so that they may again
meet together in cordial friendship, and on terms
of perfect equality and with mutual respect
1t is perfectly idle to think that mere frac-
ton of the people of any of these States can
control the State government for any great
length of time, nor do think they ought TO do
it if they could. 1t is contrary to the funda-
mental principles of republican government
1t may answer for time as mere temporary
necessity, but it cannot endure long. advo-
cate the recognition of the present government
of Tennessee because l think it due to the
loyal people who formed and control it, and be-
cause think it will prove beneficial to all the
people of Tennessee, and is demanded by the
loyal sentiment of the country, and for other
reasons which have stated. But sir, hope
before this Congress adjOurns measures will be
adopted by Congress and by the people that
will justify ageneral amnesty to all The people of
the South excepting always such men as are re-
sponsible for the starving and numbering of our
soldiers and prisoners of war, and such men as
were guilty of other cruelties to our soldiers,
in violation of the rules of civilized warfare
Such fiends in human form are unfitto breathe
the air of this world.