The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1866-04-25
The Political Situation.

A;arca nv the servants Of the people 10
80 EXPRESSED wishes. Tie result was
srrac,ed and therefore caused little Of IN
,srss excitement. The fears that were en-
ter,aIned that the President would not /
execute the law, are groundless' II We be-
lieye the report that at late interVie"
with several Of the Michigan Congressman |
astated that he should execute the law
anNhad no objection TO its passage Il TIE
hemb's OF Congress felt conscientionsiy
that they we're required 10 support the b.lL
The country are now waiting FOR the report
aud recommendations Of the Committee Oh
Reconstruction. What shall be the future
status OF the rebelliOus States, Are the
present governments 70 be recognized as
S Sgss z,sd BY the President 81, 'hfs6,
and upon what terms, are the Southern
States 10 be represented upon the hoor Of
the Senate aud House. What security arc
we 10 have for safety in the future, With
out an unconditional guaranty, can We rely
even upon the future action OF Congress,
when the wave Of loyalty which has swept
over the North for the past three or four
years shall measurably suDsidc, and that
body shall be trammeled by the action Of
Southern men many Of whom will vote in
opposition 70 every test oath ofloyaiiy tia;
NAV be forced upon them These are the
questions which Northern men are ponder
Ing In their hearts, and they Will take no
answer that is eQuivOcal or which fails 10
meet the issue IN its fullest, brOadest sense.
The New York Express special states
that the Reconstruction Committee. agreed
Saturday that the Constitution must De so
amended, that thereafter no State shall
make any discrimination on account OF
color. July 4th, 1876, negroes must have
the right to vote. There shall be no repre-
sentation between 1866 and 1876 for colored
persons not allowed to vote. The South
ern States may be represented on these
terms, on taking the test oath prescribed
by Congress.
We take the above report "a true flr The
sake OF the argument, though we have 1T
tie faith In the source from whence II comes
But. assuming that it will cover the ground
which the Committee Of Reconstruction
will take in their report, we at once and un-
qualidedy dissent from the proposition.
Had the Committee reported favOrably upon
the propositions embodied in Senator Stew
arts Resolutions, We should have agreed
with them. Those Resolutions, as we un-
derstand them. oderd universal amnesty.
conditioned upon universal suffrage, 90 o..
engrafted into the Constitution OF ever,
Southern State, and no State TO be repre-
sented in Congress until such amendment
was Ia force, so that such Representatives
should be elected by the votes of both the
wnlte aud colOred citizens. There is safety
In THO proposition, ANA tleso ,am bo nO
evasion OF Its terms.
But the proposition above reported, while
il abOlishes distinctions rs 10 color, allows
the election OF Members Of Congress by the
votes Of whites alone for ten years. o.,
In other words, the dislOyal citizens OF the
South are alone to DO represented for ten
years, and during that time the loyal popu-
lation are 10 submit to such laws as may be
passed for their control-withOut having
any voice or influence. Such proposition
Is repugnant TO the views OF all patriotic
men. They are not disposed at this late
day to stultify their action in the past. and
to surrender what they have won with inn
mense sacrifice. The battle is lost IL such
a recommendation 4. olo,t,l
A few months ago, the Stale OF Connec-
tieut, by a majority of several thousand. |
refused to confer the franchise upon the !
colored man. The other day, with a new
candidate for Governor unknown and I'M
tried, only so far as he had made noble |
record as q soldier, aud against the orncial
patronage and wishes Of The President
they elected an avowed champion OF uni |
versal suffrage, indicating decided adj |
vance Of public sentiment upon this Ques- !
ton in that State. Wisconsin, by her vote. !
also refused the same boon 10 a.. black |
man; yet her Supreme Court, IN, very |
source OF conservative action, has wen |
hin the franchise. Iowa, by majori,, OIL
20. 900, carried this as the issue at the dc /
State election. We're the question Of uni I
versal suffrage to be left to the citizens .
Michigan, we believe they would pass Il by /
a triumphant majority. In face OF the rapid |
sivance in liberal aud correct opinion upon |
this great question, We desire Congress TO !
trust the people. and meet the issue ike I
men, viii you admit these Southern Rep
and trust for q favorable solu-
ton Of this issue TO the people ten years
hences VIII the Republican members then
be in a majority Have you faith to believe
hat such 4 law Will not be repealed when
here is power to DO IL II you trust these
men with an inch, viii they not take an ELF
Give US HRtrsrSal amnesty and unirsrSal
's.fra9e, and no representation ercepf rpon
hose terms, or place both lrttsS ant BACKS
npoH The same footing and aloe all TO ro,e
eho can read and tcrite, Gsd 40 others.
The people will be satisfied with no less
han one or the other OF these propositions.