Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-05-29

o oua SOn6ASeo'
vor for one, and I believe the country is
in favor Of settling this whole question on
the basis Of universal liberty, universal
justice, universal suffrage, and uniuer'a9
arsnesty."
A cry raised by Greeley last fall, which
called forth the earnest protest OF promi-
nent of unionists everywhere against the
scheme pressed on the President Of parol-
ing and sending Jefferson Davis to be
lionized in Europe, to buy secession inAu-
ence for negro suffrage. The Unionists Of
Indiana, led by Governor Morton in his
message, together with Governor Bran
lette in his message, both insisted or the
trial of Jefferson Davis, and the President
finding public sentiment fully sustaining
his o,en position on this subject, recon-
mended Congress, in his annual message,
to adopt the legislation necessary to re-
move the difficulties suggested by Chief
Justice Chase, in the way of holding courts
for the trial of treason. Senator Doc
little early in the session, introduced a
suitable bill for that purpose, which at
once encountered the fierce opposition OF
Sumner, Stevens &C.,; Stevens proclaim
ing it judicial murder to try Davis in a
civil court, because such a trial would be
inconsistent with bis theory that Davis is q
foreign ~belligerent; while Sumner, Wen
dell Phillips, and others, favor the releas-
ing Of the arbitrator on some other i'm
practicable crotchet. While Forney
raised an occasional howl for q military
commission, well knowing that 1t has no
jurisdiction Of treason, If held, and that
the President will never suffer our nation
al reputation to be disgraced in the eyes
Of the civilized world by a mock military
trial, when the dignity Of the nation and
the laws Of the land demand that treason
should be punished in the Courts the
Constitution provided for that purpose.
Yet for three months and a half Congress
has refused. and neglected to legislate on
this recommendation Of the annual mes
z while the press in their interest
would make the people believe that the
President Is to blame because traitors are
not tried, when Chief Justice Chase, their
recognized leader, refuses to hold a Court
for that purpose, and Senator Wilson, the
very man who procured Postmaster Cen
eral Reagan's release, in consideration OF
his writing q letter in favor Of negro suf-
frage, now declares his party in favor Of
Stewards propositions, which differ in
nothing from the Presidents restoration
policy, except in imposing negro suffrage
AS a condition precedent in pardoning all
rebels. These Congressional politicians
will find that the people, when they un-
derstand this issue, will have n difficulty
in deciding that the Presidents common
sense policy in leaving the suffrage ques.
ton to each State and the working Of
time is much better.
The folly Of forcing legislation not sus-
tanned BY public sentiment has been prac-
tically, fully tested in the temperance laws,
and our people are not ready to repeat
that sort Of experiment by paying the
expenses of . standing army Of 100000
men to guard the polls at the South, that
Sambo may vote before he has either
asked for it himself, OF showed that he was
ready for it. The effort to convict Presi-
dent johnson Of any inconsistency on this
point, because he declines, as President, to
force any individual opinions be may have
on the franchise question upon an unwil-
ling community, is equally futile. In his
conversation with Major Stearns, while he
declared that, while as a citizen he might
vote in Tennessee for qualified suffrage,
he had no power to force it on the States ;
and in the District Of Columbia it would
be tyranny to override the will Of the
community that were to be affected by it.
The difference is that the President be-
lieves that the people ought to be con-
suited. while Congressman seem to think
that the only question is, whether they
have the physical power to enforce their
political opinions, regardless Of conse-
quences. A dispatch Of August Is, 1855,
Of President Johnson to Gov. Sharkey, Of
Mississippi, shows how anxious he was to
deprive these reckless agitators Of all pre-
text to prevent the harmonious restora.
ton Of the Union, and reads as follows :
IF you could extend the elective fran
chise to all persons Of color who can read
the. Constitution Of the United States in
English, and write their names, and to all
persons of color who own real estate
valued at not less than $3.50, and pay
taxes thereon, it would completely disarm
the adversary, and set an example the
other States will follow. This you can do
with perfect safety, and thus place the
Southern States, in reference TO free persons
Of color, upon the same basis with the free
States. I hope and trust your convention
will do this, and, as q consequence, the
Radicals, who are wild upon negro fran
chise, will be completely foiled in their
attempts to, keep the Southern States from
renewing their relations to the Union by
not accepting their Senators and Repre-
sentatives." q
A piece Of conciliatory advice, in har-
mony with the Presidents whole restora-
ton policy, which looks to a gradual
restoration Of q Union cemented by good