The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1867-01-16

establishment OF religion. or prohibiting lhe
free exercise thereof; or abridsiHg the free
dom olspeeOh or Of the press or the right
Of the people peaceably to assemble and 70
petition the Government for a redress Of
grievances" Despotism would thos reign
at the seat Of government OF a free Repob'
lie, and. as place Of permanent residence,
il would be avoided by all who prefer the
blessings Of liberty to the mere einolu uments
of official position. ''''.3
1t should also be remembered that In leg
i,lating for the District OF Columbia, under
the Federal Constitution, the relation oi
Congress to its Inhabitants is analogous "a
that Of Legislature to the people Of a
State, under their own local Consultation
II does not, therefore, seem to be asking
too much that. in matters pertsiaing tS the
District, Congress should have like res
pect for the will and interests OF its iahahi
tants as is entertained by State .Legisis-
,ure for the wishes and prosperity Of those
for whom they lesislate. The spirit Of oyr
Constitution and the genius of our Govern.
men, require that, IN regard 10 any law
which is 10 affect spd have a permanent
bearing upon q people. their will should
exert at least a reasonable iniuepce upon
those who are acting in the capacity Of their
legislators. Would, FOR instance, the Leg.
islsture oi the Sts.e Of New York, or Of
Pennsylvania. or Of Indiana, or Of any State
in the Union, in opposition TO the express
ed will Of large majority Of the people
whom they were chosen TO represent, arbi.
trarlly force upon them, as voters, all per-
sons Of the African or negro race, and make
them eligible Tor office, without any other
qualification than certain term Of re.
sidence within the Slatef In neither oI
The States Lamed would the colored popu.
lation. when acting together. be able 10 pro.
duce any great social or political result.
Yet, in New York, before he can vote, the
man OF color must fulfil conditions that arc
not required ot the white citizen in Penn
sylvania the elective franchise is restricted
10 white ireemen; while in Indiana negroes
and mulattoes are expressly excluded from
the right Of suffrage. Il hardly seems con
sislent with the principles Of right aud JUS
uce that representatives OF States where
suffrage is either denied the colorcd man,
or granted TO him On qualifications requlr-
ing intelligence or property, should CON.
pei the people Of the District Of Columbia
10 try an experiment which their own con.
stituents have thus Ear shown an unwilling.
ness 10 test for themselves. Nor does II
accord with our republican ideas that th,
principle oi self government should lose il,
torce when applied to the residents Of lh,
District. merely because their legislator,
are not, like those Of the States, iesponsi.
BILE, through the ballot, to the people fol
whom they are the law.making power.
The great object OF placing the seat o
government under the exclusive Legislation
OF Congress. was TO secure the entire indie
pendence of the General Govern ment from
undue State influence, and 10 enable it I,
discharge, without danger Of interruption
or infringement Of its authority, the higf
functions for which il was created by the
people. For this Important purpose il wa
ceJed 10 the Uaited States by Marylsn,
and Virginia. and Il certainly never could
have beea Contemplated, as one Of the Oh
jects 10 be attained by placing It under th'
exclusive jurisdiction of Cousess, that il
would ahord 10 propagandists or polItica
parties place ior al experimental test Q
their rinciples and theories. While, in
deed, the residents VI the seat of govern
mrnt are not citizens Of auy State. and ar'
not therefore allowed Q Voice IN the slecto
I raj college, or representation in the conn
ellis o. The nation. they are, nevertheless
. a merican citlzens entitled Al suoh TO ever,
guarantee ot The Constitution. 10 ever.
benefit ol The laws, and to every right which
pertains 40 eitizsns Of our common country
In all matters. then, affecting their domes
tic affairs, the sp'ri, ofour dsmocratic iori'
Of government demands that their wishes
should be consulted and respected. and the.
taught TO feel that. although not permitted
Praetieaily AopariisiPate 10 national con