The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1866-02-02

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2S.-The follow
inc j. the substance of conversation
which took place to-day, between the
President anda distinguished Senator
The President said that ne doubted
the prOpriety, at this time, of MAKING
any further amendments 10 the CoD.fi.
tuition. One great amendment had III.
ready been. made, by which slavery
had forever been abolished within tba
limits of the United States, and a ma.
tiOnal guaranty thus given that tha,
institution SHOULD never again exist IN
the land.
Propositions to amend the ConStjn-
ton were becoming as nuInerou, ..
preambleS and resolutions at town
meetings called to consider the mo.f
ordinary questions connected with the
administration Of local affairs. All
this, in his opinion, had a tendencyrn
diminish the dignity and prestige A.
tached to the Constitution of the couD.
try, and to lessen the respect and con.
( fidence Of the people in their great
/ charter of freedom.
/ If, however, amendments are to h.
/ made to the Constitution, changing the
/ basis of representation and taxation
! landhe did nOtdeem themat allnece>sary
I at the present time, he knew of none
better than single proposition. embrac-
! ed in few lines, making in each STATE
! the number of qualified voters the has
/ is Of representation, and the value Of
property the basis of direct taxation.
I Such proposition could be embraced
/ in the following terms:
/ Representatives shall be apportiOnpd
! among the several States which may b.
included in this Union, according to the
number Of qualified voters in each State.
Direct tax shall be apportioned among
/ the several States which may be incud-
| ed within the Union, according to the
value of all taxable property in each
/ State.
IN amendment OF this kind would
in his opinion, place the basis ofreprp-
! sentatiOn and direct taxation upon cor
rect principles. The qualified vOtpr-
We're, for the most part, men who were
subject to draft and enlistment whenit
was necessary to repel invasion, SUP
press rebellion and quel domestic yio-
lence and insurrection.
They risk their lives, shed their bloCd
and peril their all to uphold the Gov
ernment, and give protection, security
and value to property. 1t seemed but
Just that property should compensate
for the benefits thus conferred by de-
fraying the expenses incident TO lis pro-
lection and enjoyment.
Such an amendment the Presidential
so suggested would remove from Con-
greSs all issues in reference to the p0-
Iitical equality OF the races. 1t would
leave the State to determine absolutely
the qualifications OF their own voters
with regard to color, and thus the num-
ber OF Representative to which they
would be entitled in Congress would
depend upon the number upon which
they conferred the right of suffrage.
| The President, in this connection, eX-
pressed the opinion that the agitation
of the negro franchise question in The
District Of Columbia at this time wa;
the mere entering wedge to the agita
tiOn Of the question throughout The
States, and was ill-timed, uncalled for
: and calculated to do great harm.
He believed that it would engendeI
: enmity. contention and strife between
the two races. and lead 10 war between
them, which would result in great il
jury to both, and the certain eXtermi-
nation of the negro population.
Precedence. he thought, should be
given 10 more important and urgen
matters, legislation upon which was e
sential for the restoration Of the Union
the peace Of the country, and the pros
perity of the people.