The Greene County Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 185?-1867, 1867-01-16

| comes Ine uuly Oh inc EHeculiVe, Stailu-
ing between the legislation of the one
and the will OF the other, fairly expressed,
to determine whether he should approve
the bill, and thus aid in placing upon
the statute books of the nation law
against which the people to whom it is
TO apply have solemnly, and with such
unanimity protested, or whether he
should return it with his objections, in
the hope that, upon reconsideration,
Congre $, acting as the representatives
OF the inhabitants OF the seat of govern
ment, will permit them to regulate q
purely local question, as to them may
seem best suited TO their interests and
condition.
1t should be remembered that in leg
islating for the District Of Columbia,
under the Federal Constitution, the re
lation of Congress to It's inhabitants is
analogous to that Of a Legislature to the
people OF State, under their own local
Constitution. 1t does not. therefore,
seem to be asking too much that, in
matters pertaining to the District, Con.
gress should have a like respect for the
will and interests Of its inhabitants as is
entertained by State Legislature for
the wishes and prosperity Of those for
whom they lcgisla,e. The spirit Of the
Constitution and the genius of our gov
crnment require that, in regard to any
law which is to affect and have perma-
nent bearing upon people, their will
should exert at least reasonable lnhu-
ence upon those who are acting IN the
capacity of their legislators. Would
for instance, the Legislature Of the
State Of New York, or Of Pennsylvania,
or of Indiana, or Of any State in the
Union, IN opposition to the expressed
will Of large majority of the people
whom they were chosen to represent,
arbitrarily force upon them, as voters,
all persons of the African or negro race
and make them eligible for Office, with
out any other qualification than a cer-
tain term OF residence within the State ?
In neither of the States Eamed would
the colored population, when acting to-
gether, be aL!e to produce any great
social or political result Yet, in New
York, before he can vote, the man Of
color must fulfil conditions that are not
required of the white citizen; in Penn
sylvania the elective franchise is restrict
ed to white frecmcn while IN Indiana
negroes and mulattoes are expressly eX.
cluded from the right Of suffrage. |,
hardly seems consistent with the princi-
pies of right and justice that representa-,
tives ofStates where suffrage is either
denied the colored man, or granted to
him on qualifications requiring intali'
gence or property, should compel tho
people of the District of Columbia tc
try an experiment which their own cons
stituents have thus far shown an unwll-
lingness TO test for themselves. MOI
does it accord with our republican ideas
That the principle of selt-governmen1
should lose Its force when applied to the
residents cf the District, merely because
their legislators are not, like those of the
States, responsible, through the ballot
to the people for whom they are thu
law-making power.
The great object of placing the seat o
government under the exclusive legisla-
+ ton Of Congress, was to secure the en-
tire independence Of the General Gov
ernment from undue Stale influence, ant
to enable il to discharge, without DANCE
of interruption or infringement of it
authority, the high functions tor wMcl
1t was created by the people. For thi
important purpose it was ceded to thu
United States by Maryland and Virgl
. MIA. and it certainly never could hav
been contemplated, as one of the object
to be attained by placing it under tn
exclusive Jurisdiction OF Congress, tha
it would afford to propagandists or po,
litical parties place tor an experimental
test OF their principals and theories
While, indeed, the residents of the sea
t of government are not citizens of an
|, State, and arc not therefore allowed
4 voice in the electoral college, or repre-
sentation in the councils of the natior
they are, nevertheless, American citi
9 zens, entitled as such to every guaran
Il tee OF the Constitution of our commo
D country. In all matters then aAectin
O their domestic affairs, the spirit of on
II democratic form of government demand
|. that their wishes should be consute
and respected, and they taught to fe
,f that, although not permitted PRACTICAL
A. to participate in national concerns, the
: are nevertheless under paternal 90,