New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-11-09
TO THE REPUBLICANS or VIRGNI1.

The Richmond Enquirer advises the people
of Virginia to reject the constitution which
will be proposed by the forthcoming Recon
struction Convention, on the singular ground
that it is not based on the consent Of The 1oc-
erned. We imagine that just where the shoe
pinches The Enquirer is that it is based on
the consent of the governed. The number of
Rebels excluded from voting in the State
prol ably does not exceed 10000 while the
number of coored voters whom The Enquirer
would like to see excluded from voting APP
pears by the Registration lists to be 10i,772.
Now it may be question whether Govern
mcnt ought to be based on the consent of all
the governed, though we have come to the
conclusion that, imperfect as such governments
may be, they are the best that can be devised.
But there can be no question as to which of
the two modes of Reconstruction proposed for
Virginia is most nearly modelled upon that
principle The Enquirer is quoting the wrong
text.
Nevertheless, the Republican party of Vir-
GINA ought seriously to reflect whether their
own ultimate interests and good policy as well
as sound craftsmanship do not require them in
framing their constitution to exclude few or no
Rebels from the ballot box.
COnceding that this would endanger or de-
feat the success of the Republican party in the
earlier elections to be held after the Con-
sttution shall be adopted such danger would
be more than compensated by the greater
probability that the Constitution itself would
be adopted Morcover,Ethe ex-Rebels of Vir-
ginia are holding aoof under the pretended
fear, but real hope that the Convention will
be guilty of the grossest excuses and most
despotic distinctions against the ex-ReDels.
Retaliation, c0niiscatOn, exclusion OF Rebels
from office, are pointed ont rs the bugbears to
deter Whites from voting the Radical ticket.
Let the Convention, and, i'll advance OF the
Convention, let the Republican leaders OF Nir-
ginia adopt the policy of making suffrage and
the right to hold Office as nearly universal as
possibe-the nearer the better Such policy
will give them hosts of votes for the adoption
of the Constitution among those who Mt the
last election were armyed against it. Let the
Convention trust the whole people of Virginia,
and the whole people of Virginia will ratify
Its work. Such magnanimity III the so-called
NEGRO Convention will contrast with the re-
lentless bigotry narrowness, and exclusiveness
of the Conservative party. And this contrast
will aid the cause OF negro suffrage at the
North, throughout the South, and IN Congress,
more than volumes of argument 1t will show
that the Blacks can use what little power is
given them in Virginia more magnanmously
than the Whites have ever done.
Moreover it is fact which few have yet
learned, that the power of disfranchisod
minority is greater by reason of the power of
the principle of justice which is cruciled and
prosecuted in them, than if they were enfran-
chised. lreland's DISTINGUISHED masses could
not keep Great Britain in a turmoil, if they were
fairly represented in her House of Commons,
so dangerous as the commOtion they are en-
ablcd to keep mp by reason of their alleged
disfranchiscment. The best way to quiet the