New-York tribune., 1866-04-28
PRINCIPLE AND POLICY.


The ~ T. Times saw ft last Wednesday to Lag
down the following fundamental basis of Reconstruc-
ton
IF there is anything fundamental in free Institutions is
principle that all Sfe' and Oh P.cP. ha are 9sed 10
obey slsH be r>PrseHtd IN hS Co"Sies sAi ~Hk,'
is dosposm-we not what may be its form nor under
what pree1t may CLOAK its tyranny UhIes, this true
then the theory of free institutions Of sego'erhnent
Of representative republics. Is Il cheat aud sham
Sincerely desirous Of early aud complete
restoration of the States lately in revolt to their for
mer and proper relations TO the Union aud to the
steadfasly LOYAL States hailed the above a wise
and Just and offered to unite upon aud abide by IT..
without cayil or reservation. We urged The Times,
and those with whom it is in general accord to unite
with us on that basis, and put an end to the existing
compcation-closing with this question
lis The Times ready pledge itself to hearty and con
support condition reservation OF this great
comprehensive principleF
The Times gives response TO this respectful
inquiry but has instead thereof TRADE against Mr.
Wendell Phillips and what is termed " the Radical
Programme" which is set forth : follows
1--WE appehend that When they can get their courage up
TO sticking point this precisely the which the
Radicals in Congress will endeayor pursue. UarDsd
81 ths Union !, now and Las been from the beginning Of the
session the grand goal and obee, Of all their ccs % Ihsy
from fear but the time is draTng gh when Hey can CLOAK
ma
peD thai has been raised about constitutional Amendments
cqualy Of Civil Rights of the Rebel Sates &c, &c,
has simply duet thrown in the Of le public 10 cover
the approach TO the grand fundamental indispensable pTinc
ps geS a. the condition without which
nio This s the secret Of ali the Elaborate endesvors
prove Union destroyedthat the states went out
Of and that they ear get back only ON such conditions
a. Congress may prescribe This the Why Stevens
proclaimed them conquered States deprived OF MI rights et
cuded the protection Of The Constitution aud TO be dealt
with a. conquered subjects sovereign will and pleasure
of tue conquerors TINS the object of Mr. ShesDargers
suicide shS Of h. more recent Effort to prove that even il the
Rebel States in the Union they may rightly be held to
ton The eeber but t more zealou, efforts OF Hart Ward
Home and other Radical members from this state have all
aimed the bing-namely, 10 lay foundation Tor de-
mandng the hands Of the south. universal negro suffrage
Is the condition OF resioiaon.'
We Judge that the above is inspired by another
mind and penned by another hand than those which
so Justly set forth, in the editorial column, the
principle" :" fundamental in free Institutions only
two days before. Possibly, the two may somehow be
reconced: if so, we would like TO see the feat at
tempted by the subtle genius OF The Tunes.
Let u have a clear understanding of terms. If by
universal Negro Suffrage is meant that every negro
shall vote, favor no such proposition. We do not
deem IL best that even every White male adult citi
zen shall vote: then why every Black onei Felons,
idiots lunatcs and many other classes are, for good
reasons, excluded from the electoral body. What we
contemplate and advocate as Impartial Suffrage i'm
plies only that no Black man shall be debarred from
ro,;ng for any reason that does not ke1se danehiss
White man. This is precisely what we demand and
insist on Does The Times assent toitl If 70, there
is no ground of substantial difference between us. If
it does not, then its harping on "unir1sai Negro
Suffrage" is vague and misleading
There is large portion Of the American People who
have forfeited their political rights by rebellion and
treason. There is another large portion who having
mainly been slaves till recently, have not yet been pO-
tically eufranchised We propose that the political
disabilities under which these two classes now labor
shall be at once and absolutely removed, so that no
man shall henceforth be disfranchised in any State
because Of his color or because he has been Rebel
Why is not this just, fair wise-nsy, even generous
If the Republic can wholly forgive and restore to
every forfeited right those who desperately sought her
life, why may she not treat with equal favor those
whose only Ofense is their cOlor-who are poor and
ignorant only because they have hitherto been brutal
lea 0hattah, II this 10 net bspsfceDi and stAtea.