New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-05-19
prejudice nurtured through generations and shared by mil

prejudice nurured through generations and shared by mil
lions OF men much fixed fact as the existence Of
rock in the Of hsrbor The
who regards Il wiser than tho mariner who
should his vessel against that rocky obstruction because
ought TO be there We should conoate sectional preu
Dice so FAR as prudence and conscience permit The limit is
due consideration Tor the Right and for the public safety
content then to see civil rights asserted and to await
the action Of time on the question OF suffrage provided
Offer by constitutional Amendment to the late innrgen
States strong uducement ultimately act in this matter up
to republican principle.
We do this in strict accordance with justice between
the two great sections Of country by provision reguist
ing the basis OF representation Such provision OF un'
speakabe importance not alone incentive Justice bn'
az Of those measures Of precaaon and foresight WHICH
in the extract from Vae already quoted have seen usti
fed and recommended to provide for future safety by
depryng the unjust aggressor Of the OF nuring US
1t might be added of the Of inuring hs for we
have have common countryi and
in the safety Of section Of tho Union involved the safety
Of the whole.
This brings me to consider the second of the dangers Incl
dent to unconditional restoration.
The eleven States lately in instruction inhabited By two
races in the proportion taking data from the Of
1860 Of &c. n these eleven States 5f9 463 white
and ooored in other words three fhs white
and ooored In two Of these States the coored
coed the white in number; (souh Carolina, white 29 3s9
In several others the numbers Of each approach equality
louisiana white 35762g coored 350373i Alabama white
526 49, coored 43777O; Georgia white 59l.5os eolored
f67.GO3: and Florida white n 7i5. coored 62677)
II so happens the race Numbering two hs OF the pop
uaton Of these States are with very few exceptions loyal
20 the Union and friendly the North; whe the race uum
boring reebs are by large majority tnged with seces
sion ereses and unfrieudy Northern people, make
this latter statement imputaon but only as assert
ing fact welknown and result which under tho cTcum
stances very natural The sword coDquers 1t does not con-
vce and the vanqushed not wont to love the Yictors
1t will happen also in provision touching suffrage
into amendment to the Constitution, that the race
numbering threehs will have the power to exclude from
voting the two Ghs II they do the Constitution remain
ing unchanged then average ersy three phin rotes
throughout the States lately in rebellion will have as
much political power Congress and 10 all Presidential cleo
tons as every fee rhe throughout the Northern
States.
We cannot by amending the Constitution, wholly
remedy this inequality; because State without Its consent
deprived OF its equal suffrage In the Senate (CoHsna
ti0s, Art. W
to members the of Representatives there Is
o constitutional remedy by providing that If the colored race
admitted to the polls neither shall they be included in
the basis Of representation These eleven States entitled
under the present appotonmen to fysiSh Representa-
.iyes They would be entitled under purely white basis OF
representation he dyisor Census page % being H.
OO1) to about forfy.tvo Representatives only.
This would reduce the electoral accordingly but be-
Of unchanged representation IN the Senate not 80 as
fully to equaze then political as between North
en Southern whites in Presidential election tho South
would still have the advantage And that can only be pre-
by amending the Constitution that the President
shall be eligible directly by the People.
1t will be observed that while the basis Misrepresentation re-
mains unchanged and the suffrage question undetermined two
results will follow First the SeOesons OF the South are
allowed weed from their voters to the extent OF
twofhs whole that particular class which known
to be unanimously loyal and secondly in virtue OF this
wesdngou these e1Secessions clohe themselves with
measure political power altogether out proportion to their
numbers Under the plan Of prospective suffrage for which
have expressed my preference both these results greatly
10 Do deprecated would have been ultimately ayerted. The
direct OF first would Congress has re
solved press That conceding much The reasons
in favor OF constitutional remedy for the second before
people endowed with absolutely overwhem
ing mere statement of the supersedes necessity for
argument
II the States Of Mississippi Louisiana Alabama. Georgia
Florida debar from suffrage their negro population
"a tho result such exclusion Of loyal element TO be that
they will nearly twice the political influence, voter for
voter that enjoyed in the States OF the NORTH our po
oa system remain constituted that the first mover and
prime agent bringing that which put in imminent
peril the Union itself shall be the chief gamer in political
power by the giant nquy she Dsgatedi Is South Carolina
the arch consprator be rewarded for her completely In the
Rebellion and her exclusion Of loyal men from the polls by
this that hereafter long she doprves her coored people
Of suffrage every white within her borders shall have
and Oatlra much political in Presidential and
other Federal elections white in NewYork or In
Ohio II enough 20 declare that this would be sn un
paaleled folly and fragrant Injustice. do not content ny
se with asserting that such anomaly in our democratic
syseu would outrage the principles upon which that sys
TEN rests soy that he permanent rieEe o. sHeh feature
Of sectional iaequdlhy DPossrRIrrT Let Alexander H.
Stephens aud who proclaim that just and imagine
that il possible know this that the North would renew the
war tomorrow rather than endure it.
The wording Of tho section intended 10 remedy the injustice
H. a. the House Chairman Of the Committee whence came
has admitted Objectionable II ought not to pass in its pres
emit shape for other than this that Que OF it's pao
teal effects Is 10 impose penalty on any State which may see
Ct to make reading and writing the payment Of poll tax
qualification Of suffrage Let not in effort to cure one
Injustice commit another II falls In this also that effects
but partially and In form difficult not impossible 70 carry
into practice, its ayowed object
The taird danger attendant unconditional restoration
that Of financial character-is the risk that efforts may be
made procure acknowledgment Of tho soeaed Confederate
debt ard compensation for loss deemed TO BIO incurred by
emancipation Of slaves 1t does not suffice that we should be
protected against the actual assumption OF the Rebel deDt ana
against payment for slaves must be secured also against
the damaging effect finances that would certainly
follow the agitation Congress of such questions his
security can obtained by constitutional provision only
Such are the dangers incident situation as we emerge
from four years Rebellion that has left slave on our soil
An article amcndaory of the Constitution framed to avert
those dangers should provide:
Firss-Equality OF civil rights.
Sseond--A jus, basis Of representation.
7Eird-A prohibition to the Rebel debt or to pay
for slaves
Such an article will accord with the views OF the President
az heretofore distinctly expressed by himself In his message
yetoag Civil Rights bill while he condemned the details
he approved the principle He has than once assented
to the proprety altering the Constitution as to conform
the basis Of representation the number Of voters And he