Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-01-08


States. whose Representatives are without the
requisite qualifications upon her standard.
send us loyal men, and we wili,adlnit them.
Inns would settle tie question at once the
power IS in her own hands, aud so has resided
from the origin of this CONTROVERSY. The
south eau Eeaily. give, no substantial guaran-
tees that she has not already given We
asked tor the abolishmcnt Of; -sIavery-she
conceded it. We asked, fur a Reputation OF,
the debt contracted drsiGg thexebellion-tL
she conceded also. Now we are told that fur
ther guagantees are to be secured, while she
Is weak and Powerless and at our mercy.
but where IS ihis contest to end, aud what
arc. the people to gain by it?
We have just Terminated one of the most
stsPendOus conflicts tfat has ever marked the
progress OF people, either in ancient OF mod
ern times. This uation wants repoSe and
still more does she want the cooperation OF
her whole people. in her return to the arts of
peace. The Southern States-so important
In the geographical position which they oc-
cuPy, and their productive potter and re
sources, ara nOw-awaiting ths action of Con-
Srcss.- Their great staples in times past have
poured golden tribute into the National
Treasury. Shall all this continue to be st
to US Shall we madly attempt to hold these
States. by standing armies by despotic re-
struints, or by the good will and cooperation
Of the people themselves? That is the sim
pie question which presents itself for our So
luton. The Southern States will hang like
a,sickly and whitening incubus upon the body
polite, until their relations to The Union are
restored. The issue involves no sacrifice of
honor on the part of this Government. 1t is
an issue of prosHerity-o fnance-of DESTINY:
should look upon the subiEgStion of these
I
denotes as the greatest calamity that could
betall this country and We must trust to the
wisdom. and rnagpanimity of Congress to
avert tic confusion which is certain to flow
from thc adoption OF SO suicidal a policy.
I" History affords no instance where Deople
so powerful in numbers, in resources, and in
public spirit, after war SO long in its dura-
ton, SO destructive in its progress, and so ad :,
verse in its issue, have accepted defeat and
its consequence with so. much of good faith
as has marked the conduct of the people lately
IN instruction against the United States
Beyond all question. this has been largely
due to the wise generosity with which their
enforced surrender was accepted by the Pre-
sidcnt Of tie United States apd the Generals
IN the immediate command Of Cur armies, and
10 the libel al measures which wore afterwards
taken to restore order, tranquility and law to
the States where all had i0r the time been
overthrOwn. Nc steps could have been bet
ter calculated to command respect, win the
confidence, revive the patriotism, and secure
the permanent and af!ecIionatc ALLEGIANCE of
the people. Of the South to the Constitution
and laws of the United States. than those
which have been so firmly taken and so stead
lastly pursued by the President Of the Uni
ted States" =
The Executive, Legislative and judicial
Departments Of this Government are clearly
defined i'll the Constitution, Congress makes
laws in accordance with the Constitution and
the President executes them. But the Con-
stitution never intended that the President
should stand by and witness the passage Of
unwise laws, without the interposilion Of his
veto power. L am yet to learn that in the
exercise of his own, the President has ever
cpcroachcd upon the functions OF the co>or-
dinatc branches with which he is associated
III his plan OF reconstruction. There can be
no conflict of authority if each keeps within
its prescribed sphere, aud we may safely as
sumo that IN attempt at usurpation will never
taraiSA the fame Of the present Executive.
The great obstacle in determining this vex-
cd question of reconstruction is the future
status Of the negro race.
The constitutional amendment means this
and nothing else. The fear Of disIoyaltv il
u
proposed change in the basis Of representa-
ton, points to negro suffrage, aud the eouaIi
zatlon Ofthe races. There arc four millions of
negroes to be. dealt with. IF this clement
were insignificant or out of the way. there
would be no talk of constitutional amend,
meats. But the power Of the South is to be
held in check at least. if not appropriated by
the, extreme men of the dOminant party.
Ny opposition 10 any further tampering
with the Constitution proceeds upon the hon
est belief that Congress controls all the now
er needed to protect the country against dis
loyalty, whatever form it may assume, if auy
such exists, and that constitutional amend
ments, to forge equality between the races,
can only result i'll the ultimate annihilation
OF the weaker race. Some time ago the alb
sQrblpS topic among political agitators was
amaigamatlon; now it is manhood suffrage"
which means ANA gamation, or tho power to
hold Office without regard to race or color, and
every other attribute of perfect equality be-
tween the races. This will all do very well
for tie States Of the North, where the co!ored
race have never lived, and cannot be induced
to cmgrate. With the Southern and Bor-
der States 1t is a question Of social apd polit-
icaI existence. In Maryland the negro
would anon hold the balance Of power, if in
few years, from the swelling current of i'm
migration alone, be did not command the M
merical ascendeuoy. The regulation of suf-
trage belongs to the Suites. | never can con-
sent, By any act of niue, to interfere with
this vital reservation.
1t is u recognized constitutional RIGHT over
which Congress has no control If apy of
the States think proper to confer upon the
negro race the right of suffrage, and the right
to hold Office, 1t is no business of ours-and