Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1867-04-04

ia necessary to make tie Constitution OF
4 State loyal and republican, The orig
ional act answers the question: it is uni
versal negro suffrage-a question which
the Federal Constitution leaves 10 the
States themselves. All this legislative
machinery Of martial law, military cOeT"
ton, and political dislranchisemeDt is
avowedly for that purpose aud Done other
The existing Constitutions OF the ten
States conform to the acknowledged
standards OF loyalty and repubIicanism.
Indeed, if there are degrees in republi
can forms OF government their COnstitu-
tions are more republican now than when
these S!ates--four Of which were the
original States---6rst became members OF
the Union. Congress does not now de-
mapd that q single provision of their
Constitutions be exchanged, except such
az ooufue suffrage to the white popula~
ton. 1t is apparent, therefore, that
these provisions do not conform to the
standard Of republiCanism when Goo
g,ess seeks to establish. That there may
be no mistake, it is only necessary ina.
reference should be made to the orlglna'
act, which declares such Constitutions
should provide that the elective fran
chise shall be enjoyed by all such persons
as have the qualifications herein stated
for election Of delegates. Which class
of persons is here meant clearly appears
lin the same section, that is to say, the
male citizen Of said State, tWenty-one
years old and upward, of whatever race,
color or previous condition, who have
been resident in said State for one year
previous to the day Of such election
without these provisions, no Constitu-
ton which can be formed in any one OF
the ten States will be of any avail with
Congress. This, then, is the test which
the Constitution Of State OF this Union
must contain to make it republican P
Measured by such standard, how few
Of the States now composing the Union
have republican CONSTITUTIONS e 1t in
the exercise Of the constitutional guar
antee, that Congress shall secure to every
State republican form of Government,
! universal outrage for blacks as we'll as
! whites, as sine qua non, the work OF
reconstruction may as we'll begin in
Ohio as in Virginia, in Pennsylvania as
in North Carolina.
When I contemplate tle millions OF
0 oui fellow -cirizens of the South, with no
q alternative left but to impose upon them
J selves this fearful and 1ntried expert
meut of complete negro enfranchisement,
0 and white disfranchisement, it may be
:. almost as complete, or submit indefinitely
y to the rigor Of martial law, without o
!, single attribute Of freemen, deprived Of
Il all the sacred guarantees Of our Federal
IS Constitution, G and threatened with even
J worse wrongs, it seems to me their con
. dition is the most deplOrable to which
J any people can be reduced. It is true
j. that they have been engaged in rebellion
y and that in their object to bring about
y separation of the States and dissolution
T. of the Union there was an obligation
i resting upon every loyal citizen to trea
o them as enemies, and to wage war Agains
|. their cause. Infexibly opposed to any
movement imperiling the integrity of th'
Ie Government, did not hesitate to urg
't the adoption of all measures necessar!
:. for the suppression of the insurreotion
'f After long and terrible struggle, th
y efforts Of the Government we're triumph
IS anlly successful; and the people Of tn
,e South, submitting the atern arbitraneni
l. Welded forever the issGe Of the contest
Il Hostilities terminated; soon after it be
st came my duty to assume the responsible
d tiles of the Chief Executive officer Of th
% Republic, aud l at once erdcavored +
n repress and control the passion whicI
70 civil strife had engendered, and no longe
ID regarding these erring millions as enc
IS mics, again acknowledged them as on
le friends and our countrymen, The wa
e- had accomplished its objects, the natiol
sr was saved, end that cardinal principle o
ss mischief, which, from the birth Of th
10 Government, had gradually but inevita
le bly, brought on the rebellion, was total
IN ersdecated. Then, it seemed to me, va
IS the auspiciOus time to commence tn
O. work of reconstruction. Then, when tn
is people sought once more our friendship
Of and protection, / considered il our dut
generously to meet them in the spirit o
le charity and forgiveness, and to conque
TO them even more effectually by the mag
y nauimity of the nation than by the fore
l. of its arms. / yet believe that If th
Q, policy Of reconstruction then inaugura
is ted, and which contemplated an earl
j restoration Of this people to all their po
y litihalirights, had received the support o
Q, Congress, every one Of these tof State
to and all their people would st this mo
of ment be fast anchored in the Union, ant
le the great work which gave the war all it
I action, and made it just and holy, woul'
,r have been accomplished. Then all owe
ir the vast and fruitful regions Of the Soutl
peace and its blessings would have pre-
to vailed while now millions are deprive
10 of rights guaranteed by the Constitution
" to every citizen, and after nearly w
" years Of legislation, find themselve
at placed under an absolute military des
a notian ., A miiikaRv renuhlio A Oovarn