New-York tribune., 1867-02-06
A SOUTHERN PROPOSITION

II ia known that the Governors of several
Southern States under the Johnson regime were
recently for several days in Washington, and
that they, after conferences with the PTes-
dent, agreed on plan of reconciliation and
restoration which is to be first submitted to
their respective Legislatures, prior to more
general submission. We were seasonably ia
vored with the result of their deliberations, but
under an injunction Of confidence, which seems
to have been partial; since the identical matter
which we were enjoined not to print until 1t
had been acted on by one at least of the Leg
islatures in question, was yesterday printed
without reserve by others.
The following is the gist of the project;
Whereas do It further resolved by the Legislature
Of that the following article shall be adopted as an
amendment TO become part Of the Constitution OF the
"RRTIcLn Every male citizen who has resided in
this state for year. and in the county IN when he
offers TO vote six months immedate pIecedhg ts 1ay
and the Constitution Of the United states IN t1e Engsn
ot so Worth OF taxable property shall be entitled to vote
at all elections for Governor OF the STATE 0l & to
hSSstSSTT s1 be ST s sHS people e OF the SGs
"Porided That no person, by reason OF this article,
csed the elective franchise under the Constitution or law.
of this State. who, at the the time OF the Oh
this amendment, may be entitled 70 vote uhoer Sau No"
stituti0n aud laws"
Remarks.
The aim Of this proposition 1t will be seen,
is to secure the Right of Suffrage to all South
ern Whites unless it be the newly naturalized
and vet to be 'naturalized, and exclude ESQ far
as possiblc) Che Blacks. We cannot see how
this scheme should be expected to give salts
faction.
| We stand for Universal Amnesty with I'M
| q " 10 M hoIo nun nv
other; we commend each on its own merits
because it is just wise, and calculated to benefit
each section and every class. The North needs
and will profit by Universal Amnesty as well as
the South; for neither the country nor part
of it can truly prosper when another part Is un-
easy apprehensve, afflicted, wretchcd. We are
for Impartial Suffrage, because the whole land
needs rest from sterile, dangerous agitation con-
cerning negroes and negro rights. We all know
where this must end then why not go at once
TO the end and be done with itl The Southern
proposition stops half way, and will settle moth
ing. 1t is moro likely to intensity agitation
! than to allay it.
But the proposed restriction of Black Suffrage
is radically unjust. Where a State provides
| for the education of all her people, we have
not a word to say against q requirement OF
ability 10 read rs qualification for voting.
Men should know how TO read; if they wiIlfully
refuse to learn, they may plausibly be disfran-
| chsed SO-nOt so plausibly, but with a
| show of reason-the man who has had fair
chance to acquire property, yet has none, may
be dcbarred from voting, as thriftless and ire
spOnsible.
But TO say to men who have been slaves till
Dow--whO have been denied the right to &c
qure property, and to teach whom TO read has
been crime by statute" You shall not vote
unless you have $3.50 worth of property, oI
81 know how to read and write,n is adding insult
to injury. You might "a well hang blind
man for not being an accurate judge of colors
1t is not to be thought Of
In the county of Logan, Southern Kentucky
as well as in several ncighboring counties OF
that State and Tennessee, number of negroes
several Of whom served in the Union armies
have recently Been killed and their property
destroyed or stolen by undetectcd villains
whose animus is fairly indicated by q handbil
they have posted up, as follows:
I AN COMMITTEE.
T. No man slall squat negroes hs place unless they
Nagro S women shail be pioyed by White persons
9. All children shall be hired out for something.
| the penalty. 90 80
| g. Negroes shall not be allowed 10 hire negrool
| G. Idle men. women, children, shall suffer the
| penalty
7. An White found with negroes in secret places
shall be dealt with. and those that hire negroes must pay
promptly, and act with good faith 20 the negro viii
make tho negro do his part and the whltc must, too.
For the first offense IA 100 lashes the second is look
| ing up Eaping
g. This do for tho benefit Of ALL young or old high
and TALL Black and White. Any that may not like
these rules try their luck AID whether not
will be found doing my duty.
TO- Negroes found stealing from any one or taking
from their employers to other negroes death Is the first
penalty
H. Running about late OF nights shall be strictly dealt
| with.
! 12 White mon and negroes am everywhere. hayo
friends in every place. DO your duty, and will have
but little TO do
The miscreants who post these handbills
would all be voters under the Southern project
while the Union soldiers, whose property they
have burned, will be disfranchised 1t won't
answer.
We are heartily glad that the Southern
Whites are taking hold of the subject of Re
construction. They might have started better
but it is better to start faulty than not at all
They will improve in time.
|
George w. Mclean was appointed Street
| Commissioner In Deconnher Ioet IN fill m va-