Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1867-01-08

other and The ln'r-iia best qunllll" H. hs;"linIir
such questions nrr ;h... who's. Ia be
directly affected hy ary proposed law In Hl"-s'-
rhusutrs for Instance, male persons are allowed |"
vote without regard ~ c'iur. pr"v eel !''y lus"cs=
II certain degree. If intelligence. In l"ru'ati"Ii
in that State IF 23 DGG. there wn:". hy The census
Of 1860, only 9tii2 prrsns of color and 1t Tie
males twenty Years nf age. there wrr" '''-uSb
white 10 2.,;n! culmIc! l'y iii" same "i''i"l rnu-
mcruti"n. there w"r, in tn" District "t Columbia
CO. ga whites !" ii,3lG persons nf the colured rico
Since then. however, the population of tho District
has largely Increased, and it is ualiiuutcd that ut
the Present tim" there are nearly hundred thou
sand whites 20 l.irty thousnrd rcrr~"s Th"clGse
of the augmented numbers Of The batter class n"cs
no explanation. Contiguous I" Maryland and Fir-
ginia, the District, fnrirg the war. trcam" p!ar"
uf refuge for those ,hO escaped from strvituac and
it is yet the abiding place Of considerable pr"pnr
tion If those VIII" sought within its limit.
a shelter from bondage Tatil then held
in slavery. and denied nll opportunities for
mental culture, their first knowledge Of
the Government was acquired when, by comforting
upon them freedom. IL became the bcncfartnr of
their race; the test Of their capabity for improve
ment began, When for the first time, the career Of
free industry and the avenues 10 intelligence were
opened Ia them. Possessing these advantages but
n limited iim"-the greater number perhaps ha"ing
entered the District nf Columbia during the late
years If the war nr since it, terminali0n-wc may
hatinn. they class ca.mb" Of nm Intelligent
exercise Of the right al sulI:AS", and qualified 10
the duties IT official position. The I'ep-
pie who are daily vii of ;hcir mode of iYin;;
and who have become familiar with their habits Z,
thought. havo expressed tho conviction that they
nut vet competent 10 serve ~ electors, and thus
become eligible for office i'll the Local government.
under which they live. Clothed with the elective
franchise. their numbers, already largely in excess
OF the demand tor labor would be- Increased rs
mn influx from tho adjoining States drawn
from fields where employment IL abundant,
they would III vain seek 1t here, aud 81
add to the eInbarrassneris already e.
perienced from the large class Of idle per-
sons rongregated in tho District Hardly yet caJl-
BILE of forming correct Judgments upon the imror-
tam nuestlG >rf"l make the issrcs Of rnliti-
cal contest, they could readily bu made subs"rvenl
to the purposes Of designing pcr'ons While in
Massachusetts, under the census OF 1850, the pro-
portion Of white to roored males twenty years
Of NE WIS one hundred and thirty to one, here the
black race constitutes nearly one.thrd of the en-
tire population, whilst the snmn class surrounds the
District Oh MI sides ready To change thor residence
at moments notice. and with all the facility of
nomadic people, in order Ia enjoy hero, after short
residence, privilege they find nowhere else 1t is
within their power, in one yoar, TO come into tha
District in such numbers as 10 have the supreme
control Of the white race, and to govern them by
their officers, and 10y The cXercis" of Ill the
nicpaI authority-unlrns the rest. Of the power OF
taxation over property in which they have no inter
est. In Mussachu.stfs, where they have enjoyed
tho benefits Of II thorough educational system, Is
qualification Of intelligence il required, while here
suffrage is extended ln all. without discrimination
as well to the most incapable, who can prove n
residence IN tha District Of on. year, as "a those
persons of color. who, comparatively few in num-
tGr, are permanent inhabitants, and having given
evidence Of merit and qualification, recognized
ns useful and responsible members Of the co'nmu.
nifty. Imposed upon All unwilling people, placed.
hr the Consultations, under the exclusive Legislation
of Congress- il would be- viewed as arbitrary
crc;se Of power. and 81 Al Indication by the c0rn-
try of The purpose Of Congress TO compel the ne
celIance Of negro suffrage l." the States. II would
en-endcr feeling Of opposition nnd hatred be-
tween the two races which, becoming dcrproo,ed
and incradcablr, would prevent ;hrru from living
together in state nG mutual tricndlircss. Care
fully avoiding every measure that might tend to
produce such n result, md following tho clear and
we'll asccrtained popular will, we should assduou-
Is cndcavor TO pronIolc kindly relations between
them. and thus, when that popular will leads the
way. prepare for the gradual and harmonious in
PRODUCTION nf this new element into The political
power OF the country.
1t canaot hc urged TIM: III" proposed extension
of sufra,r in tho District Of Columbia is necessary
to enable persons Of color to protect either their
interests or their rights. They stand hero pre-
cisclv as they stand in Pennsylvania. Ohio ard In
diana. Here o. elsewhere, in all that pertains
TO civil rights. there is nothing 10 distinguish
this class L! peitors from clt"rn- OF the C;:;cd
States; for thPy possess the full and claal
benct, If all law. and proceedings for thu security
Of person and property ms il enjoyed by white ci
zrns and are male "s.iLjec, 20 like punishment,
pains and penalties, and 20 mono other, uny law.
statute ordinance regulation custom To The con-
trary notwithstanding" fcT. ~ has hrrn assl'Ird,
are their snfra""s Necessary Ia MD l0yal Sruti-
ment here: for lacal governments already rxis, OF
unduubtad tnaliy 10 The government, and Hrc
tanned by communities which wrr" among the first
To testify their devotion 10 The Mon, and which
during tho struggle furnished their full quotas OF
men to the military service of The country.
The c~c:risc 80 49, "lcs;iv:- f"er"',i"~ - N:,h,
est attribute o.! an .hIssriran citizen mud, when
guided by virtue intelligence. patriotism, and
proper appreciation of our institutions constitutes
tho true basis of democratic form Of government
in which tho sovereign lower Is lodged in the body
Of the people. lis Influence for good nrccssaril,
depends upon the elevated character and patriotism
of the ciecor, for if exercised by persons WIN d,
not Justly estimate It's value ard Who ara irhiiIarcr
as ~ ts results II will only serva rs Il imcaIls
placing power in the hands OF the unprrciile nnr
ambitious, and must cventuatc in the complete H..
structioI Of that liberty q: which it should h
! the most powerful conscrvg:Ors. Great dan
! ger is, therefore, 10 be app.rhcrdrl from
! m untmelv extension Of the elective franchise II
| anv now clars in our country especially when iht
large majority of that class, in wlsldng ihe pows
thus placed in their hands, cannot be expected cor
rcctly TO comprehend Tie duties and responsible
| ties which pertain TO suffrage. Yesterday, III i
WERE four millions Of persons were held in cond
ton nf slavery that Ind existed for generations
| to-day they ireemGa, and are assumed by law tt
| be- citizens. 1t cannot be presumed from ihoir pro
vious condition of snrvitudr. that rs q class they
are as well informed as to the nature Of our Gov
eminent as the intelligent foreigner who make:
our land the home Of his choice. In the case of III,
latter, neither residence of ii"c years. and thu
knowledge Of cur institutions which i; gives, mol
attachment 10 tbs priEcipic1 OF tho Constitution
| are the only conditions upon which he can be Hd
ili;tri TO citizenship He must prove, in addition
good mora! character, and thus give reasonable
ground for the belle! that he will be faithful TO the
| obligations which lie assumes is II citizen Of tho
| Republic. Where a rcnpla-the source Of all pc.
! litcal pOwcr-srcak, by their suitragcs, through
the fundamentally of tho hallot-bos, it must BIZ
carefully guardc, against the control of those whc
are corrupt in principle and enemies Of free nsti-
tutons, for it only become to our political and
social system safe conductor Of healthy pop
ular sentiment when kept free from dcmoralizine
influences Controlled, through fraud and usurpa.
ton, by the designing, anarchy and dcspotism must
inevitably follow. In the hands Of the patriotic
and WORTHY, our Government will be preserved
from our fathers. It "llows, therefore, that in all
hitting to the bsllot-Lox class If voters not
qualified for tkr exercise Of the elective franchise
We weaken our system Of government instead OF
adding to its strength and durability.
In returning this bill to the Senate, deeply re-
uret that there should be any conflict If opinion
between tho Legislative and Executive Depart
ments Of the Government III regard To measures
that vitally affect tho prosperity and peace of the
country Sincerely desiring to reconcile tho States
with one another, and the whole people to tho CO.
vernmcnt Of tho United States, it has to,n my
earnest wish to Cooperate with Congress in all
measures having for their object ? proper and com
plriv ni"-tinsa. of the que.i'',+ resulting Iron,
our lato ci": Harmony brtwGen the cG-ordi-
nate branches "f the Government always nacessa-
~ for the public welfare, WAS never moro de-
handed than ut the present time, ana it will
therefore be my constant aim to promote, ~ far
as possible, concert Of action between them.
Of nnininn that bt-a nj