Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-10-25

Tns New York Tsmes, lsat,ng Rspaaij.
car print, vigorously opposes the resola-
tionsry projects OF Sumner spa stefeas'
aoc ioreibIy mainia.ns the right Ct It's
States TO determine and conuel .lae guam
cations cf voters. Discussing tue question
1t says:
ms very certain that uBtll now tie en-
,;-,, control of he question o. suiirage has
hce, conceded 20 tie separate States. 81
TAR as ~e are aware no proposition has ever
hesn made by any party or oy any man Of
sny standing, to declare by act of Congress
Who should, and whe should not, have the
right TO vote IN any State. The language
Of the Constitution would seem 10 be suth-
ciently explicit not 70 leave any DOUBT on
this point: "TLe electors for members OF
the House Of Representatives. il declares 10
the nrsl srticle, lin each State, shall nave
the qualifications Of electors OF the mos. nu-
merous branch OF the State Legislature. -
This commits entirely and exclusively TO
the State Legislature, tie right 81 liking
the qualifications for electors, and we know
Of 40 clause Ia the Consuluiion which
changes or modiiics the right thus comet
red. ia any form or degree whatever.
A subsequent section Of The came article
says that "the times, places and msnDer of
holding Elections for Senators and lsepre-
scnt,tives shah DC prescribed IN each State
by tie Leg stature thereof; butthe Congress
may at any time by law make OF alter kuch
regulations, excep, as the places If choo'-
inK Senators" Ii is not easy TO see how
DIR. sumner or Stevens, or nybody eIAe,
can colsiruc this language otherwise than
as Il has been construed by every Congress
and every State and every statesman, IRON
the beginning Of the Government 70 the
present days absolutely forbldilns the
enactment of such law a. they expect to
force the Republican party 10 pass.
Such law has been enacted, 1t is true,
for the Southern States; but the power to
enact II and force It upon them was never
claimed, even by Mr.. S.evens himself. as de-
rived from the Constitution. lie always as
serted that Congress had IL only by the
right Of conquest; that il was wholly out
side OF the Constitution, and was simply
ono Of the rights which, IN any war, the
conqueror always has over the conquered
party. Whether he will now change his
ground On this point, or whether he will
contend that the Northern States have been,
OF must be, conquered also, remains TO
be seen.
|, also remains 10 be seen whether the Re
publican party at large will respond to the
rather extreme demand thus made upon it
aud what effect il will have upon cou ing
elections If they do. As We have al
ready explained, ths recent defeats the
party has sustained are due. in our
judgment. to the fact. that /. has gone
ITO far ia its action outside the Con
stitution," in asserting for the national
Government absolute authority over the
States, aud in disregard OF the Fundamental
lag add ussges OF the republic. already
Whether II can fscover its ground by gong
further. the future must disclose. But we
are inclined to think that the Northern
States will not surrender their own rights,
quite so compacenIly as they have consent
cd tot e overthrow OF tAes" Of the SYuin.
Il Ito cous'il9 nn 90 j s-o- r'el ty
Consress up ~ sulfnse qacs, on, aHj
the people suhn 2 a.. ismrpai u 81
power, il cannot sut r. vi IN radical
change of the rumen'. 'inr, tbs 81
vent II she Repah4csl patty q power, the
tsndency has ha.n ta tn erutrdI.iial cf
p,rer il Tie Ganstal q ,.fnueu', aud ~
le.A tue y oplc change tlc .nrctiaa ii .ll'-
II, affairs, IS t4ey An have IL pa@oi e. -
IN Tao imporlan, eie, tioua OF the caenas
var, FREQ institutions anl popular so9ern-
ft'nnt viii be numbered smo9g tn. Things
thsi wee.