The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-01-08

by themselves the people Of tho District have moi
sought os91I local legislature,that which has gen
the nation. As general rule, sound policy re-
quires that the legislature should yield to tho
wishes Wis @ Of people when not inconsistent with
the Constitution ard the laws. The measures
suited to one community might not be we'll adapted
to the condition 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 Massachusetts, for instance
male persons are allowed to vote without regard tc
Intelligence. M In q population in that State oi
l2S1 LOSS, there were, by the census Of 1860, only
years of age there we're sse Os6 white to 2Go2 col
ored- By the same Official enumeration there
were in the District Of Columbia 60764 whites to
however the population Of the District has largely
increased, and it is estimated that at the present
time, there are nearly hundred thousand whites
to thirty thousand negroes.
The cause Of the augmented numbers of tho
latter c.ass needs no explanation. Contiguous to
war, became place Of refuge for those who to es.
capped from servtude, and it is yet tho abiding place
Of considerable p portion Of those who sought
held in slavery, and denied all opportunities for
mental culture, their first knowledge Of tho Gov
fgnn nssga Was acquired who1 by
race. The test Of their capabilty for Improvement
began when, for the first time, tho career Of free
opened to them. Possessing these Advantages but
q limited. Eme-the greater number, pe1haps,
having entered the District Of Columbia during the
may vol pause to inquire whether, after SO brief
probation, they are, as class capable OF an intel
The people who are daily Witnesses of thtir mode
Of living; and who have become familiar with their
that they are not yet competent to serve as alee.
tors, and thus become eligible for ofice in tho
local govern1nents under which they live
Clothed with the elective franchise, their num-
bers, already largely in excess Of the demand for
the adjoining States. Drawn from fields where
it here, and SO add to the embarrassments already
experienced from the large class Of idle persons
ng n tss nSaa Sa s aP6e
contest, they could readily be made subserEient to
sachusetts, under the census Of 1850, the propor-
tlon OF white to colored males over twenty years
Of age, was ono hundred and thirty to one, here
the black race constitutes nearly onethIrd Of the
entire population, whilst the same class surrounds
the District on all sides, ready to change their
facility Of nomadic people, in order to enjoy here
after o short residence, q privilege they find no
where else It is within their power, in one year,
have tho supreme control Of the white race and to
govern them BY their own officers; and by the OK
ercise Of al the municipal authority, among the
which they have no interest. In Massachusetts,
where they have enjoyed the benefits Of a thorough
educational system, qualification Of intelligence
IS required while here, suffrage is extended to oil
without discrimination well to the most inca
pable who can prove sresidence IN the District of
paratively few in number, are permanent inhabi-
tants, and having given evidence Of merit and
qualification, are Recognized useful and respon-
Imposed on an unwilling people, placed by the
Constitution under the exclusive legislation Of
Congress, this measure would be received as an
arbitrary exercise Of power, and an indication
by the country OF the purpose Of Congress- to COM
pei the acceptance Of Negro Suffrage BY the States;
It b,tssS we91a enge1td5er t5 feeling Of and
deep-rooted and ineradicable, would prevent them
from Living together in state Of mutual friendi-
tend to produce such result, and following the
clear and wen-ascertained popular will, we should
assiduously endeayor to promote kindly relations
leads the way, prepare for the gradual and
Bs Ct ths new INTO
It cannot be urged that the proposed extension
Of suffrage in the District Of Columbia is neces-
70 e
precisely as they stand in Pennsylvania, Ohio and
Indiana. Here, as elsewhere, in all that pertains
class of Persons from other citizens Of tie United
States-for they possess the full and equal benefit
Of oil laws and proceedings for the security OF per-
Se e IKE Rn
and penalties, and none other-any law, statute,
5e to the
1>SA,
their sufrages necessary to aid loyal sentiment
here, for local government already exists Of IN
aS T realty 70 Inc Gch and n t a
to testify their devotion to the Union, and which.
during the struggle, furnished their full quota Of
The exercise Of the elective franchise is the
highest attribute OF an American citizen, and
when guided by virtue, intelligence: patriotism,
stitutes the true basis Of q democratic form Of
governmett; IN which the sovereign power is
in sse Its tha se1
character and patriotism Of the elector if exer-
cised by. persons who do not justly estimate its
will only prove means of placing power in the
hands OF the unprincpled and ambitious, and must
ee.vsentuate In the complete destruction Of that
conselvator Great danger is, therefore, TO be ap-
pretended from an untimely extension Of the fran
chise to any new class in our country, especially
whom large majority of that GLASS; in welding the
power thus placed in their hands, cannot be ex-
pected correctly to comprehend the duties and
responsibilities which pertain to suffrage.
Yesterday, as it were, four millions Of persons
we're held "a condition Of slavery that had existed
for generations; to.day they are freemen. and are
By M to BE + % Be
THAT as class, they are as well informed as to the
nature Of our Government as the intelligent for
choice. In the case of the latter, neither resi-
dence Of five years and the knowledge OF our insti
tutions which it gives, nor the attachment to the
tions upon which he can be admitted TO citizen
ship. He must prove, in addition, good moral
character, and Thus give reasonable grounds for
the belief that he will be faithful to the obligations
which he assumes as citizen of vhe Republic.
Where people, the source Of all political powe-,
speak by their sutrages through the instr rumental-
ity Of the balot-box it must be carefully guarded
against the control OF these who are corrurt in
principle and enemies Of free institutions; for
it can only become to our political and social sys-
TEN o safe conductor Of healthy, popular senti-
ment when kept free from demorali1nR influences
Controlled through fraud and usurpation by the
follow. In the hands Of the patriotic and worthy,
our Government will be preserved upon the princi-
pies Of the Constitution inherited from cur fathers.
It follows, therefore, that in admitting TO the bal
lotbox new class Of voters, not qualified for the
exercise Of the elective franchise, we weaken our
system Of government, instead Of adding to its
strength OF durability. n at;$ +
In returning this Bill to the Senate deeply re-
gret that there should be any conflict OF opinion
between the Legislative and Executive Depart
ments Of the Government in regard measures that
vitality affect the prosperity md peace Of the coun-
try. Sincerely desiring to reconcile the States with
one another, and the whole people to the Govern
nent OF the United States, it has been my earnest
wish to cooperate With Congress in all measures
having for their object proper and complete cd
iustment OF the questions resulting from onr late
oiva war, Harmony between the coordinate
branches Of the Government, always necessary for
the public welfare, was never more demanded than
at the present time; and it WILL therefore be my
constant Aim to promote, as far as possible con-
opinion that have already occurred have rendered
ma only the. more cartiona Last the E1acrtive