The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1866-11-10

and unconditional, of all things pertain
ing to their internal and local policy and !
Another blow which the proposed
aims at the Government
which our fathers founded, is in the
change Of the basis of representation.
This would be of very pcrnicious effect.
Aggre gate population is the true basis
of representation. No matter how the
elective franchise be disposed of, wheth-
cr exercised by few or many, all classes
of the community are represented. The
interests of all classes of people in the
same community ureso interviewer and
Commingled that they cannot be scpa-
rated, and whoever wields the rcprcspn-
tatiVc power must Go ii for the good or
i'll of ail-perlaIs not precisely in the
same degree, but he cannot use ii so
largely to benefit one class without to
some extent benehttiug all, or to injuro
aud opprcas one class without, toa great
er or less extent, injuring and opprcss-
ing all.
There are always, even in this coun-
try, where the right of suffrage is most
widely extended, large numbers who
do not vote ut all, whose interests, never
theless, are cared for, and whose num-
bcr,, being computed in the apportion-
ment Of representation, widen the foun-
dulions OF the representative assemblies.
such arc all persons under tWCnty-CnC
years of age, females of all ages, and
unnaturalized foreigners. Why are they
not permitted to vote? And not being
permitted, why are they counted in fix
/ ing the ratio Of representation? They
are not allowed to vote because they arc
not supposed to be sufficiently instruct
ed in political economy and government
tai affairs to be entrusted with the elect.
i've franchise. They are computed il
fixing the ratio, because they are part
Of the same community with those Wht
do vote, having interests in common
with them; and their influence ought
10 be felt in shaping the laws by Whicl
their rights CT life, liberty, and proper
Is are to be determined. And although
they do not vote, their influence is fei
and their interests are cared for, pre-
cisely because they are counted in liNiug
tho relative weight Of the communitic
to which they belong in the Iegislativ,
assemblies, although thcir voices are no
directly heard in determining who shall
, represent them.
1t is not true, as is constantly alleged
that the relative strength OF the State
= which were in rebellion will be incrcas
ed by the result of the war if they ar
now allowed representation in the Ma
, tional Councils. The present ratio Of
, representation is adjusted by the censu
Of 1860, and cannot be changed unit
after the census of 1870. Till that time
therefore, the relative strength of tn
, several States of our country mus
remain precisely as it was under til
= census OF 1860. After the census Of ISL
= the positive and relative strength of tn
, Southern States in Congress and til
4 Electoral College will both be dimir
. shed, even if the non-voting black POI
5 ulation be included in the basis.
: 1860 three tifths of all the black pOpult
e ton Of the Southern States was counted
5 The census of 1879 will show the Who'll
:, of the nOn-vOting black population
/ be less than three ffths of 1860.
Q Nor is it true that Il vote in the 'iOut
= viii outweigh vote in the North, if til
n acknowledgement population be include
e in the basis of representation. If til
* proposed amendment be adopted, Il
II the non-voting black population Of I'll
c south VIII be excluded, while all I'll
d non-votiug, ,unnatuyaIizcd foreign popl
II latioh Of the North will be cOuntet
/ The great prepondcranCo Of unnatura
n izod, and consequently non-votir
d foreigners, Is in Northern and NGrtl
e western States. They and their fam
? lies number hundreds Of thousand
II perhaps millions, and Vet they are q
IS counted in fixing the ratio of rcprcsc
n tation. This is right. / do not oLle
10 it. They are part Of the conmu
'f ity. They help to make up the strengt
|. and productive wealth OF the State, III
Is ought 10 he computed in fixing It's p
,p litical power. But If it isright to cou
d non-voting population in one State ii
" equally right to count it in anothC
ID And II counted in one and not in Il
&c other, il gives the one an advanta
il over the other Incompatible with 4
v equality Of the states, and Of dangcro
L. ana revolutionary tendency. While I
ic uuuaturalizcd, non-votHg populate
@, of one section OF the country vii!
:, constantly increasing, the nUn-votil
ne black population of the other scttio
ld by OLViOu, causes, not now HGCca,a
~ 10 be mentioned, will BE- as cOustan,
III decreasing. ItWould be better for
" parties and Interests, and far moro hol
c. ful for the pcrpotuitY Of our GoVcl
IN ment, ii something like an equiibriu
er of strength between the different ST
tions Of the country could be ma
is tanned.
in The third section Of the propo-
ud amendment dislranchiscs the great u
cp iuri,y Of the educated men OF the Sta
cd which have been in rebellion, aud {
ui cHldos them from amy participation
TO the ailay- OF tine States and Fcuc
of Governments. The entire control
in lhc government Of those States will
ties placed in the hands OF n mcugrc min
lu- ity Of The men at all qualified for 81
ny control; and they, "a a general ching,