The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1866-02-15

States cast the votes OF the States,
brief calculation will show that
very hundred of the white inhabi.
ants of South Carolina will
ave rs much power through their
Representatives as two hundred
md forty of the people of lowa /;
mo hundred white mon in Missis.
ippi will equal two hundred aud
wcnty-thrco men in Wisconsin (;
me hundred white men in Louisia.
IA will equal one hundred and
,ino,y-cight in Maine: one hun.
lrcd white men in Alabama will
'qual one hundred ana eighty three
II Connecticut and one hundred
white meu in Alabama and Lolisi
ina together will equal q hun lrcd
mi cighty.nine IN Indiana. 1t is
therefore, apparent that ii, as the
Constitution requires, the calorcd
nen Of tho South arc all counted
II to measure the right ofrcprescn'
tation, and are then al, dislranchis
cd, this mustoperate proportion
al disirauchiscmcnt of the peopl,
of the North and West. How
long can it be believed that thi,
inequality will be endured Oi
what right or reason does it restl
lfit be that the colored race of tn,
South are all wholly dislranchiso
because wholly unfit for the righ
of suffrage, is it also true that th,
white voters of South Carolina ar,
about two aud u half times better
fitted to exercise this right wisely
and patrictically than tue people ot
Iowa .'
1t this injustice can be tolerated
and perpctuated, and the late rcb
el States shall soon BE- admitted t,
representation. they will enjoy a
a reward of their pcrfdy and trea
son increased political power
This will reward traitors with I
liberal premium for treason Ian
unwilling that this gross inequali
ty should continue, so that whcr
the Representatives of South Tar
Dina return to these Halls, Gael
rebel voter by them represented
will enjoy . political power more
han double that of every loya'
voter of my district.
Sir, would not allow this addi
tional number OF ten Representa-
tives to the late slave States ms til,
reward of treason. But | woulc
strike down the political power
heretofore welded by the cightccr
Representatives. of slavery, ant
make the political POWER Of ever,
voter precisely equal all over the
and.
For one. demand that the Con.
'titution shall DO so amcpded ms
hat representation shall be has
ID on citizens OF the United States
who may be made adult voters.
| NAV be permitted to say II few
words by way of explanation be
lore | present some OF the reasons
which seem to INC to justify .th,
amendment. 1t does no
propose to extend the right of sni
rage to or withhold it from an,
class Of people.
1t does not propose to settle q
interfere with the controvei te'
question whether Congress, uiide
the Constitution as it now is, ma,
determine who can or cannot yoi,
f,r RrpresentntiyoS. 10 docs not
,,.oposc to disturb the commonly
'eceivcd construction Of the Con
which leaves to the States
he right to determine who shal
Or shall not he voters.
1t does not propose to disturb ol
impair the undonbted power ot
Congress AMI the President to dc
termine whether a State govern.
mcnt is republicanin form, and il
not to interpOse and guaranty sucl
IAN these questions are left I'M
TO be decided when other
amendments or laws involving
hem may be proposed for our ac.
ion. .r.
1t does propose, what no other
amendment submitted to this house
AN effect, that one voter in South
shall have precisely as
much political power as one voter
"a Ohio, for all purposes of repre-
in Congress-. 1t has tho
crowning merit OF a perfect repre-
of democracy, that for al
purposes of representation every
roter in this broad land OF ours
shall bo equally potential in its
councils.
| have not stopped to inquire as
he ground Of my opinions how it
would for the present, affect this
State or that, but | bave read IN II
hat ideal Of perfection in g}vGrn'
nent which makes every voter
equal in power. r's3 \ ,hGaJi. 3.
. L will read it as introduced by
nv distinguished colleague, Mr.
schenck]. tits in these words;
3 %" Representatives shall be ap.
Dortioned among the several States
which may be included within this
Union according to the number Of
male citizens Of the United States
,vcr twenty-ope years OF age, hav
ng tho qualifications requisite foi
electors OF the most numerou;
,ranch of the State Legislature
The Congress, at their first session
.fter the ratification Of this amend,
,,a,t h. tha. ranuira1 uupnhar n