New-York tribune., 1867-10-10

the Repnbcan party have resolved that this shall be co.
whether just or unjust wise or nnwlse II Deng % ther
can conceive that the black people shall be enfran-
ched 10 would be well to inquire If there be no plan by
which they may exercise the right OF ballot and DO thus
represented without Jeopardzng the interests
Although believe II would be better for the negroes
Themselves and for the Republic that they go forever
unrenresened rather than turn over the Southern States
70 tber dominion under the Congressional scheme yet
am not nsensbe the force of the proposition that four
niiops ~ free neOple ought IL possibly compatible with
good royernment and the safety OF the white people,
have voice in the legislation OF the country. Nor do
believe there is an intelligent white these States
who would not readily award 10 them representation
v % no, i Them 10 be serf because they are black At
the same time we unaeraby opposed TO surrender
ing TO them the potcai power OF the Southern states
without some efficient check, inside Of the organization,
upon their folly their ignorance their eupidty
their vengeance II Is cruel In the North TO insist upon
oconr1ry pocy such as that embodied In the Congress
siona plan OF Reconstruction They ought to unite with
rs since they determined upon their enfranchsement,
% eIg some scheme that v IN be at least safe for the
protection OF all This is the grand dsderatum; for II
& n m redress within itself aqainst oppres-
sion by me majority. they will ultimately resist 1t by
force This Will inaugurato conflicts between the two
Can 1t be done should have strong hope of success
the dominant power would pause and grappe with tho
snect as statesmen determined to preserve Consttu-
tOna liberty 1t be done in but one way. so far rs
can see and that H. the plan advanced by Mr. calhoun
i'm bs adinralie "DisGuisition on Government" After
showing that the right Of suffrage, without some
other provision to conrteract the tendency OF Gover
majority, will not suffice. he says:
That ibis p,on e. the Provision ,eee.si TO counte'n san
combination Of aiere from grg The powers Of goenmsn to
agga Itself at The expense Of Others Here @ the e and Just n
end iateuled to be accomplished There
adoption restriction limitation which shall 50 eaecnaly
prevent any interest combination Of Interests from the
e1cusye renr hopeless all attempts
20 s15 & h br ins NE sense Of each interest or portion
the community which may be ureqna nl ronsN alee1 o ne
some by be fairly e1pres and To re-
qae the consent Of each interest ener to put or keep TIE 'oyen' %
by organism be Governments and il necessary for the p
Ronors Of ie each division Interest through ap
propae organ concurrent voice in making sud erecung he
laws or veto ou only by such organism that
the assent Of each can be made yeeay to put The Gornmc
aud only by the the other that the dfren, interests
be protected and al conflict sni struggle them prevented By
rendering impossible to put or keep 1t in action without the concurrent
Such an organism this combined With The right Of saHse con
rendering who make and execute the laws responsible to those
o9 oo H1s% s a sy SPS5 e for any one c.t Or eo6na
ton Of Interests Glass order or portion OF the eo@maay 70 GI
oppu aud abuse Of poFer must come at al iroH ne
the two suffrage and proper organism eombne are ueut 70 eoa9
tendency Of Government oppression and sbn OF power
dsined" ds" d. '''''''' u ~
This is naked statement OF Mr. Calhours doctrine OF
the concurrent majority" II may be difficult OF appi
cation, but it is nevertheless sound in philosophy
most forcble illustration OF what Mr. Calhoun so ucdly
demonstrates tendency OF popular government to o
preston and abuse Of power In its ORGANIZATION, tne
trainers Government relied mainly upon suffrage as
the OF c0unteractng this tendency Bu experience
has shown that all checks have been absorbed or lgoe
in the unrestricted triumph OF the numerical majority.
It's Will substituted for the Constitution ana pom te
Executive and Judiciary departments are al ts mercy
IL rules supreme over the Union; u contols aDsouy
majority OF the Northern states am r,,l9
through the lusrrmcntaty ui the pan OF
10 enthrunc itself permanently over the Southern Sacs
Now what lnoue ol - -io'.I,I - & @ te, resort IN 1uira.
tioni That is absurd, under our ~ {stciH. an thry
It has failed The right has been successfully denied
by the arUimmcnt OF arms The Executive arm - paI
alyzcd lie do nothing 10 protect helpless minority
II now settled 20 Idr as precedent can 90 Ho "at %
Congress strip him OF the functions colhdcd 10 Nm
by the Constitution. Tie judiciary can bring no I,lef
for the supreme Court iclse' TO take 'osHi~.c' if o
ltca questions. IL il clear, Therefore, that thc VI" oI
The majority is substituted for the Consultation tnht he
minority have leit to them no eao taoe way oi
oppression ana abuse of power aud that constitutional
bui the spirit has fcd. aud like lfcless corpse u must
into decomposition, unless the lori"l Hu h'I's
Mr. Calhoun II II should L. considered Too diHlthl 81
application. might prove suggestive OF "lHr souoh OF
up To the occasion. Two points must be attained ia
ordertosa Constitutional liberty firttc governments
OF the ten prescribed Satcs-ndecd Of oil the late slave
holding Statcs-sOud bc 50 organized ~ 10 secure the
political power To- the intelligent portion "i tgr H"pe.
This pfcdcacd upon the idea that negro suffrage ~
e% aud jtar,yoven INTO tbr Constitution To bp
formed 20 allow negro suhmcc on the one Lhh hhd
the other t0 project not only the whites out alc,ser
and Interests aSanst their ignorance or Neufcnuet pr
cupdity. Secondly. the Federal Constitution thomd 6e
~ r.fi, mr. rre,tn- cfrrtunly the tyranny and u,ir
paiiOus Of the majority within the organism IN hs Why
only can constitutional government be- restored and its
confederate feature preserved. II s practicable II the
temper Of tho public mind were favorable. Is not the
effort worthy o. being mHdcl Why should not thc doiul
r.ut mower o. the North pause. 10 bee too nte and
take hold ~ the subject u tho tplfit oI p'ifNi-W,
aud with the elevated purpose oi siutcalhAutApi
Tlgy Will find earnest and sincere cuAb1fflH IN Tue
Souh-mcu who desire nothing but QD7d gDfrTtIHcn',
aud who, 90 secure 10, are willing to sdchcc an Pir
ambition The JfyDc OF tie south are iilf l.i hu'H
amendments their state and Federal tousi 'ii"5 aS
Will rsuit IN safety To all cassc- II VIII -p"i h' TOO le
lit fear, TOO ll'c.pr these or any oltr turAtH
tons. even I they from source more WuillJ OF
consideration than am to arrest the attention "I tnc
North. W. are rushing on Win q terrible momentum 10
contamination. IN few mIrc weeks, or uuulhs, lhc
Congressional scheme fatal, harsh aud oppressive as s'
know how hard % vii De- 10 correct the errors tHt VIII
have boon CrystIlZed constitutional forms How c'y
Is Innovation How difficult is reform! Eut expect no
change n our downward course for the majority clothed
any line OF action calculated to curaii restrain IT, We
must 20 10 She end and abide what regard as iHcNl
table the ncgrD2ug OF the Southern states. ana the nl
overthrow OF Constitutional liberty.
For this, the Union was never formed; the lato way
was fought by the Federal armies such was not our
understanding when the Confederate flag fured IN
sadness ana is now "hc conquered baHnT."
What have written II dictated by no spirit OF discOrd.
10 hostility reconstruction correct principles, nor
desire 10 irrate the inamcd feelings OF the people,
North and South. earnestly desire tranquility the re
turn OF prosperity, the harmony OF the States the IN
egty OF the Union restored and the highest happiness
Chide me with disoyalty If you will brand me az
traitor plcase. hurl back cpithes of rcthla-
On my devotion to the constitution is defense, and
the cOn-cOusncss of patriotic purpose, my consolation
Very respectfully, your obcdlrnt servant,
HERsCllEL V. JOHNSON.
AuOustl Ga, Sept 6. 1867.
Cincinnati boa roiend GG OOO for tbe vcllow