Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-04-02


first became members of the Union
Congress does not now demand that single
provision of their constitutions be changed, ex-
cept such as confne suffrage to the white pop
ulation. 1t is apparent, therefore, that these
provisions do not conform to the standard Of
republicanism which Congress seeks to estab-
hsh. That there may be no mistake, it is only
necessary that reference should be made to the
original act, which declares 'such constitution
shall provide that the elective franchise shall be
enjoyed by all such persons as have the qualif-
cations herein stated for electors of delegates.
What class Of persons is here meant clearly ap-
pears in the same section-that is to say, 1.-THE
male citizens 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 elec-
ton.
Without these provisions no constitution
which can be framed in any of the ten States
will be Of any avail with Congress. This, then,
is the test of what the constitution of State OF
this Union must contain to make it republican.
Measured by such standard, how few of the
States now composing the Union have republi-
can constitutions If, in the exercise of the
constitutional guarantee that Congress shall Sc
cure to every State republican form of gov
ernment, universal suffrage for blacks as well
as whites is a sane qua non, the work of recon
struction may as well begin in Ohio as in Vir-
ginia, in Pennsylvania as in North Carolina
When contemplate the millions of our fel-
low-citizens of the South with no alternative
left but to impose upon themselves this fearful
and untried experiment of complete negro en-
franchisement and white disfranchisement, it
may be almost as complete, or submit indef-
nltely to the rigor of martial law, without a
trI h11ta of Of oil fho
sacred guarantees Of our Federal Constitution,
and threatened with even worse wrongs, if any
worse are possible, it seems to me their condi-
ton is the most deplorable to which any people
can be reduced. 1t is true that they have been
engaged in rebellion, and that their object be
ing separation of the States and dissolution
OF the Union, there was an obligation resting
upon every loyal citizen to treat them as enc
mies and to wage war against their cause.
lnfexibly opposed to any movement imperil-
ing the integrity of the Government, did not
hesitate to urge the adoption of all measures
necessary for the suppression of the insurrec-
ton. After long and terrible struggle, the
efforts Of the Government were triumphantly
successful, and the people of the South, SUBJ
mlttlng to the stern arbitrament, yielded forev-
er the issues Of the contest Hostilities termi-
mated soon after it became my duty to assume
the responsibilities of the chief executive Off
Ger of the Republic, and [ at once endeavored
to repress and control the passions which our
civil strife had engendered, and no longer re-
gardlng these erring millions as enemies, again
acknowledged them as our friends and our
cOuntrymen.
The war had accomplished it's objects The
nation was saved, and that seminal principle of
mischief which from the birth of the Govern
ment had gradually but inevitably brought on
the rebellion was totally eradicated. Then, it
seemed to me, was the auspicious time to COM
mence the work of reconciliation; then, when
the people sought once more our frieddship and
protection, | considered it our duty generously
to meet them in the spirit Of charity and for
tectually by the magnanimity of the nation than
by the force Of it's arms. | yet believe that il
the policy Of reconciliation then inaugurated
and which contemplated an early restoration of
these people to all their political rights, had re.
ceived the support of Congress, every one OF
these ten States, and all their people, would at
this moment be fast anchored in the Union, and
the great work which gave the war all it's sane
ton, and made it just and holy, would have
been accomplished Then over all the vast and
fruitful regions of the South peace and it's bles-
sings would have prevailed while now millions
are deprived of rights guaranteed by the Con-
stltutlon to every citizen, and, after nearly two
years Of legislation find themselves placed un-
der an absolute military despotism. "A mill
tary republlc-a government formed on mock
elections and supported only by the sword, y
was nearly a quarter Of century since pro-
nounced by Daniel Webster, when speaking OF
the South American States, as "a movement
indeed, but a retrogade and disastrous move.
ment from the regular and old fashioned mon
archlal SyStemSf and he added.
If men would enjoy the blessings Of repub-
llcan government, they must govern themselves
by reason, by mutual counsel and consultation,
by a sense and feeling Of general interest and
by the acquiescence Of the minority in the will
of the majority, properly expressed; and, above
all, the military must be kept, according to the
language Of our Bill Of Rights, in strict subor-
dination to the civil authority. Wherever this
lesson is not both learned and practiced, there
can be no political freedom. Absurd, prepos
ferrous is it, scof and a satire on free forms ot
constitutional liberty, for forms of government
to be prescribed by military leaders, and the
right Of suffrage to be exercised at the point o1
the sword. .
[ confidently believe that a time will come
when these States will again occupy their true
positions in the Union The barriers which
now seem so abstinate must yield to the force
of an enlightened and just public opinion anc
sooner or later unconstitutional and oppressive
legislation will be effaced from our statue books
When this shall have been consummated,
pray God that the errors of the past may b
forgotten, and that once more we shall be {
happy, united, and prosperous people, and tha
at last, after the bitter and eventful experience
through which the nation has passed, we shal
all come to know that our only safety is in tht
preservation of our Federal Constitution, ant
in according to every American citizen and t.
every State the rights which that Constitution
secures ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington, March 23, 1867.
Negro Suffrage.
In assuming that negro suffrage is inevitable
the Petersburg Zndec saws: