Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-06-21

eral Government; that we have no more
mower or right TO test their loyalty or
REQUIRE security for 1t than We have OF
the people of State which has always
been leyal and truel 1t seems to me TO
be confounding all distinction between
right and wrong, between Innocence ana
crime, between loyalty and treason,
II is said there is no warrant In the
Constitution for such a course, and,
therefore. we cannot do IL. The truths, |
the trainers of the Constitution never |
contemplated such a state of things and |
made no provision for It,. The Constitu' |
ton, to be sure, provides for the sup |
preston of Instructions; but evidently |
| this never contemplated an extensive re-
bellion so formidable as TO produce for
wears a division of the nation and sep
aIate de factO government, The real
question is, not whether there Is any eN-
| press warrant in the Constitution for IT,
but whether there is anything in the let
ter or spirit of the Constitution that for
bids it. In my judgment there is not
| 1t is sanctioned by principles Of substan-
tial Justice and right, and by the great
law Of self-protection and defense, which
is as applicable TO communities and ma
tions as TO individuals.
conclude then, that there is no OBJ
lection to the exercise by Congress OF
the power to impose any condition or
Limitation to the return of these States
to participate in the government of the
nation, which shall be Just in itself and
necessary for the safety and welfare oil
| the nation.
If, as l insist we have right to re-
uuire of these states suitable and suill-
Gent conditions or guarantees and that,
too, by amendments of the fundamental
law, then several questions present them
selves upon the amendment proposed.
Do we need this amendment for our tu-
ture protection and the peace and safety
of the nation? Does this amendment
t furnish it sufficiently? Is it doing any
wrong or injustice To the white people
} of the South ? Is it Just to the negro
a population of the South This amend
= ment leaves the general basis OF repre-
: sentation, as fixed by the Constitution
n originally, upon numbers or population.
S In some of the discussions of THIS SUD
e ieCt in this Chamber it has been strenu-
l. ouslv insisted that this is not the true
e and Just basis upon which representa-
= ton should be based. but that II should
r rest upon the basis of voters. | entirely
disagree with those who have argued
d for this new doctrine, and in my mind II
le is clear that the existing basis is the
1t oalv true one, the only one consistent
l. with the true idea Of 4 representative
l. republican government. The question
l. is not. perhaps, directly involved in tins
le amendment, but still it is not wholly
al aside from my line OF argument, Al
the people, or all the members of stat'
IS or community, are equally entitled tC
)r protection; they are all subject to tt
n laws; they must all share its burdens
to and they are all interested in It's It2ts
h. lation and government.
es Notwithstanding this, no state or com
~ munity protesting to be republican al
I'd lows all its people to vote. Every on
OF fixes for itself some rule which, in 1t
r, judgement, will furnish body OF voter
IN or electors who will most wisely an'
IN safely represent the wishes and interest
lie, of the whole people. The right or fran
az chise Of voting has, probably, been nor
"a widely extended in these American
States than in any other protested re
on publican government, but IN the mos
en- liberal of these it has always been con
IS fined to a small minority of the Who'll
u people. Ia none of our states have ie
C. males, or males under twenty one year
Ia of age, ever been allowed to vote.
7d. mauv Of the states the right OF vOtin
;se has been restrained within much nal
N rover limits Persons coming to thl
OF country and establishing their perma
rd nent residence here, are required to II
ne main five years. and then to 60 throug
Use an established process Of naIuraljZatio
DC before they are allowed the privilege
ar voting. Yet we all know thai many fl
&C. males are far better qualified 10 vote II
yer telHgentlY aud wisely than many me
o. who are allowed TO vote; aud the SAT-
10 is true of many males under tWenty-0n
5se and oS foreigners who have not reside
Ia here for the period Of five years. IT
ISL truth is that the whole system Of sui
me rage of any republican state Is Who'll
II" artificial, founded upon its own ideas
ON the number and class Of persons WI
fn- will best represent the wishes &ud int
yer ests Of the whole people. The right
I'll suffrage is not given TO prucul;
class because they have any -rc3tC' IL
la- terest in the government, Or heca1
est they have any more natural lig.a 10
en- than others, nor 10 exercise it tor then
ty, selves aud in their own behalf but
up given to them as fair and proper exp
ina nents OF the will and interests Of Il
ie- whole community, and to he exercise
the for the benefit and in the interest OF y
IL whole
ing The theory is that the fathers, hu
mt bands, brothers and sons to whom u
the right Of suffrage is given will ia its G.
'ro- ercise be as watchful Of the rights ar
ing interests of their wives, sisters an
ner Children who DO not vote as Of the
oe- own. While the rules Of suffrage a
as different in the different states, the pli
ons OF Oasing representation in the nation
Iiea Legislature upon the number Of vote
IN in each would be manifestly unjust;
yes, might with the same prOprety be has
10 upon the number Of members in the le
'cg- islAture of each state. But if the rni
nat OF suffrage were the same in all t
ore states, the adoption Of such b rule I
o"- national representation would be mat
the testify unjust. The Uai0n contains ma