Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-01-03
FROM WASHINGTON.
Lights and Shades of the Suffrage
Question in the District of Columbia.
TFrom an Occasional Correspondent
WAsUISGToN. December 29th. '65.


the Oldest inabitants aver-so dull since
the days of Martin Van Buren,. Perhaps
the noticeable effect is only apparent, re
sulting from the great change from the
roar and din of war to a condition of rela-
tive quietude. From the headquarters of a
million of men IN arms, Washington has
suddenly become merely the seat of gov
ernment of successful nation but the
change is prodigous. Thus far during the
present session of Congress, the hotels
have not been half-flled. The great bulk
of business matters connected with the
Departments has either been disposed of,
or has dropped into the channels of rou-
tine, and no longer require the attention
of the parties Immediately concerned.
The enormous force of employees recently
here has been largely diminished, and is
diminishing. Very many private business
enterprises projected and started but q
short time since, have closed. The thous-
and and one Attorneys and Claim Agents,
whose shingles garnished every door and
window, have disappeared. Furnished
Rooms for Rent" stare at you from every
house Landlords during the recent Au-
tumn were girding and bracing themselves
up for still further advance on their al
ready fabulous rent-rates; they are now at a
stand-still, and confessedly on the eve of
tumble. Saving the frowning fortihca-
tions on the Virginia heights, the war at
fractions have gone, and the city has al
ready become well-nigh as monotonous
and bum-drum as a rural village.
These are the outward and physical in
dications. Just under the surface, how
ever, there is somewhat angry and ener-
getic seething going on; and this is gen.
Grated by the suffrage question, or rather
by certain proposed means of lodging the
suffrage question. We have not failed to
notice the disposition manifested in Con-
gress to try unrestricted suffrage first in
this District. This is, perhaps, very well,
for two reasons: First-Because unre-
stricted suffrage is clearly in accordance
with the genius of our institutions; and
Second-Bscause unrestricted suffrage be-
ing at the present time urged by large
portion of the people of all the States, the
measure may as well be tried first here,
where the people of all the States have a
direct and common interest. But it SO
happens that considerable number of the
members ofthe present House, represent
ing States in which restricted suffrage pre-
walls, hold their seats by the, tenure of
Ia nd ho-e
Just now profoundly considering the effect
on " the Union party" of meeting the suf-
frage question squarely, IN the manner
proposed. As uniformly happens in all
such cases of distressing uncertainty, there
comes on a natural desire for an expe-
dent and dodge. In this case it is pro.
posed to avoid the whsle matter by abol-
lshing all popular elections in the District |
that is to say, by taking away the muni-
cipal charter of the cities of Washington |
sud GeUrgetOwn, IND sss--erninar the cities |
by a Board of Commissioners, to be ap-
pointed by the President. Thus we have
plan by which, whatever becomes of |
the question involved, the Hon. Thomas |
Jefferson Bricks cures an exemption from |
arraignment before his constituents on the |
charge ofhaving voted either for or against |
unrestricted suffrage; and thus, too, he is |
enabled, as he supposes, to insure to "the |
Union party the benefit of his services |
for at least one more term. But the most |
curious feature of the whole matter is, that |
certain gentlemen who display fine powers |
of defamation in behalf of universal
suffrage, are just now in.very grave doubt
as to whether their Uieios will find more
effectual expression in comforting the right
of suffrage upon every body, or in taking
it away from every body in this District.
Starting out with an earnest desire that
everybody should be allowed to vote, they
now think it might do just as well to allow
nobody to vote. ] have heard it said on
very good authority, that this idea of a
governing commission has been considered
BY the delegations from several States, and
approved, It is not too much to say that
it is very well received and not unlikely
to receive the sanction of Congress. Resi-
dents of the District who are ultra oppo
nents of negro suffrage would gladly adopt
the commission as dernier compromise,
being willing to disfrapchise themselves,
if need be, to prevent the eHfranchisement
of the negro. t
But it is quite manifest that this expe-
dient, if adopted, would not be permanent.
1t is good device. If adopted, we should
have a practical stulifcation of our most
cherished ideas. There is here a popula-
ton of over hundred thousand, and as it
is not proposed to exempt the people from
taxation for local purposes, the proposed
change would give u.s. at the capital of the
nation, the boldest possible case of taxation
without representation. This, therefore,
will not do, and could not last.
To add a new force TO the local fomenta-
ton, the Common Council of Washington
authorized a popular vote as means of
testing the sentiment of the people on the
single question of negro suffrage; and on
a very full poll the vote was almost unan-
imous in the negative. And still another
element is introduced by an organized
to secure for the District del
egate in Congress, after the manner of the
Territories. This matteris is already before
the Committee on the District, in the
House, and seems to have many warm
supporters in both HOUSES. But for the
choice of delegate there must be q popular
election. And thus matters stand in this
District, during this very agreeable holi-
day interlude. an. ..r...f-
1t would seem that this whole business
Of the suffrage question might be settled
on a basis more satisfactory than any
which has been suggested. There is now
pending before Congress a Constitutional
intended to fix representation
in Congress in proportion to the actual /
voters. This is expected to induce an ex-
tension Of the elective franchise to include
The negroes. Let there be added clause
limiting the right to vote to those who
can read and you will have a conserva-
i've restriction operating equally upon
both races, and confning the right of sui+ i
rrage within bounds which but few could
object to. We have long since practically
earned the truth Of Montesquie's remark {
hat the basis of a Republic is intelligence
md virtue. r. KITE
EeW Rail Route from Cleveland TO
Warrington. ila
A writer in the Philadelphia Inquirer I
las the following information relative to a I
l. 4