The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-01-08

and interests of its inhabitants as is
entertained by a State Legislature for
the wishes and prosperity of those
for whom they legislate. The spirit
of our Constitution and the genius of
our Government require that in re-
gard to any law which is to affect and
have permanent being upon peo-
pie, their will should assert, at least,
u reasonable influence upon those
who are actingin the capacity of their
legislators. Would, for instance, the
Legislature of the State of New York,
or Of ponnsylva MA, or of Indiana, or
of any State in the Union, in opposi-
ton to the expressed will of Il large
majority Of Jhe people whom they
were chosen to represent, arbitrarily
force upon them rs voters all persons
of the African or negro race, and
make them eligible for Office without
any other qualification than a certain
term Of residence within the States?
In neither Of the States named would
the colored population, when acting
alone, be able to produce any great
social or political result. Yet III New
York, before he can vote, the man of
color must fulfill conditions that are
not required of the white citizen.
In Pennsylvania, the elective fran
chise IS restricted to white frecmen,
while in Indiana, negroes are ex-
pressly excluded from the right Of
suffrage. 1t hardly seems consistent
with the principle of right and JUS
tice, that representatives of States,
where suffrage is either denied the
colored man, or granted to him on
qualifications requiring intelligence
or property, should compel the peo-
pie Of the District Of Columbia to try
an experiment which their own con-
stituents have thus far shown an un-
willingness to test for themselves;
nor does it accord with our republi-
can ideas, that the principles Of self
government should lose its force
when applied to the residents of the
District, merely because their legisla-
tors are not like those of the States
responsible through the ballot to the
people for whom they are the law
making power. The great object of
placing the seat Of Government under
. the exclusive legislation Of Congress,
was to secure the entire independence
of the General Government from un-
due State influence, and to enable it
TO discharge, without danger of in
terruptiou or infringement of its au-
thority, the high functions for which
it was created by the people For
this important purpose, it was ceded
TO the United States by Maryland
and Virginia, and it certainly never
could have been conte'Ap plated, rs one
Of the objects to be attained by
placing IL Ilnticr the exclusive iu%is
dlctlon Of Congress, that it would af-
ford to propagandists or political par
'tles place for an experimental test
OF their principles and theories;
while, indeed, the residents of the
seat OF Government are not citizens
Of any State, and are not, therefore,
allowed :; voice in the electoral col
lege, or representation in the coun-
ellis OF the nation. they are, never
theless. American citizens, and
entitled as such to every right which
pertains to citizens of our common
country. In Ill matters, then, affect
ing their domestic affairs, the spirit
of our Democratic form of Govern
ment demands that their wishes
should aA consulted and respected,
and they be taught to feel that, al
though not permitted practically to
participate in national concerns, they
are. nevertheless, under u paternal
Government, regardful of their rights,
mindful Of their wants, and solicitous
for their prosperity. 1t was evil
IDENTITY contemplated that all local
questions would be left to their deci-
sion, ut least to an extent that would
not be Incompatible with the object
fer Which Congress WAS granted ex-
elusive legislation over the seat of
Government. When the Constitu-
ton was yet under consideration, it
was assumed by Mr.. Madison that its
inhabitants would be allowed q mu-
mclpal legislature for local purposes,
derived from their own suffrage.
When, for the first time, Congress,
IN the year 1900, assembled at Wash
lngton, President Adams, in his
speech at It's opening, reminded the
two Houses that it was for them to
consider whether the local powers
over the District Of Columbia, vested
by the Constitution in the Congress
OF the United States, should be i'm
medlately exercised, and he asked
them to consider it us the capital of