Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-01-07

be remedied by giving them represeI
iation in Congress when the Distris
should bccomc sufficiently populou
1 and IL the meantime local legislature
that II tho inhabitanta had not politics
rights, thsy had great political iniluence
/ that the trouble'and expense of leRisli
ting Cor the District would not be Greal
but would diminish, and might in a grea
measure be avoided by a loosl legisll
ture, aud that Congress could not retro
cede the inhabitants without their con
sent Continuing 10 live substantial,
under the laws that existed ut the tim
Of the cession. and such ichangcs onl,
hasirg been made as were suegcAte5 III
then elves. the people of the Distric
have not sought by o local Legislature
that which has generally been Willingly
acceded BY the Congress of the nation
As general rule, sound policy requires
that the legislature should yield to the
wishes of people, when not inconsis
tent with the Constitution and the laws
The measures suited to one community
might not be we'll adapted to the condl.
ton of another, and the persons best
qualified to determine such questions are
those whose interests are to be directly
affected by any proposed law; In Mas
sachaset,s, for instance, male persons
are allowed to vote, without regard to
color, provided they possess a GER
tain degree of intelligence. Ia a
population Of that State OF l,23l ,066
there were, by the census OF 1860, only
9602 persons of color, and Of the males
over twenty-one years OF age there were
239, 0e6 whites to 1902 colored. BY the
same official information there were in
the District of Columbia 60,76f whites to
l4,3l6 persons Of the colored race.
Since then, however, the population Of
this District has largely increased, and
it is estimated that at the present time
there are nearly 100, 900 whites to 10000
negroes. The cause Of the augmented
numbers of the latter class needs no ex-
PLANTATION. Contiguous to Maryland and
Virginia, the District, during the war,
became place of refuge for those who
escaped from servitude, and it is yet the
abiding place of considerable proper
lion ofthose who sought within its limits
4 shelter from bondage. Until then
ield in slavery and denied all opportu-
mites for mental culture, their FIRST
knowledge of the Government was ac-
Iuired when-by comforting upon them
reedom--it became the benefactor of
heir race. The test of their capability
'pr improvement began when, for the
irst time the career of free industry and
he avenues to intelligence we're opened
o them Possessing these advantages
,ut limited time-the greater number
perhaps having entered the District Of
Columbia during the later years of the
var or since its termination--we may
veil pause to inquire whether, after so
,rief probation, they are, as a class,
.apable of an intelligent exercise Of the
light of suffrage, and qualified to dis
.harge the duties of official positions.
The people who are daily witnesses
# their mode of living, and who have be-
ome familiar with their habits ofthought,
ave expressed the conviction that they
re not yet competent to serve as cleo
ors, and thus become eligible for office
n the local governments under which
hey live. Clothed with the elective
their numbers, already largely |
\ excess of the demand for labor, would |
e soon increased By an influx from the |
djoining States. Drawn from fields
here employment is abundant, they
Tould in vain seek it here, and so add to
he embarrassments already experienced
-om the large clsss of idle persons con-
regated in the District. Hardly yet
apable Of forming correc. judgments
pom the important questions that often
lake the issues of political contest,
icy could readily be made subservient
, the purposes of designing persons.
Ihile in Massachusetts,, under the cen
IS of 1860, the proportion Of white 10
1lored males over twenty years of age
as one hundred and thirty to one, here
Ie black race constitutes nearly one
lird of the entire population, whilst the.
lme class surrounds the District on all
des, ready to change their residence at
moments notice, and with oil the ia
lily of nomadic people, in order to
hoy here, after short residence,
riyilege they find no where else. tits
thin their power in one year to come
to the District in such numbers as to
ave the supreme control of the white
zee and to govern them by their own
Ulcers and by the exercise of all the
unicipal authority, among the rest, of
e power Of taxation over property in
hich they have no interest. In Massa-
where they have enjoyed the
,nefits of thorough educational sys-
m, the qualification Of intelligence is
qdired, while here, suffrage ia extended
all without discrimination, as well to
e most incapable, Who can prove a res
ence in the District of one year, as to
ose persons Of color who, comparative.
few in number, are permanent inhab-
ants, and having given evidence of
crit and qualification are recognized
useful and responsible members
the community. Imposed upon an
willing people, placed by the Con
tuition under the exclusive legis-
ton Of Congress, il would be
ceived as an arbitrary exercise of
over, and as an indication by the conn-
y Of the purpose Of Congress to com
i the acceptance of negro suffrage by
e States. 1t would engender a feeling
opposition and hatred between the
10 races, which, becoming deep-rooted
ID ineradicable, would prevent them
ON living together in a strife Of mutual
iepdiness. Carefully avoiding every
easure that might tond to produce such
res,.lt ard following the clear and well 4
,certained popular will. we should as
duously endeavor TO promote kindly
.Iations between them, and thus, when
lat popular will leads the way, prepare
II the gradual and harmonious intro
nction Of this new element into the po
teal power of the country !. cannot
8 urged that the proposed extension Of