The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-01-31
The New SoResne.


York Times, Of the Goth instant,
gives the following as The plan in er-
tense. This plan, it will be observed,
puts the right of suffrage upon an
educational qualification, and would
exclude the ignorant of both the
white and colored:
Early in November last. inform
ell You that leading politicians Of the
North and South-Republicans, De
mocrats and ex-rebels alixe-had
been i'll conference upon plan.
whereby, should it be adopted, it was
believed the unfortunate differences
between the North and the South,
and between tho Executive and lie
gislative branches of the Government.
would be satisfactorily adjusted; and
| also Informed you that these gen
tlemen were urging he President to
adopt this scheme, and recommend it
to the favorable consideration of the
South. Suffrage and amnesty formed
the basis OF that proposition Wr.
Johnson gave to tho suggestions Of
these patriotic gentlemen the most
careful and sincere consideration.
and was at once favo.ahly impressed
with them. But iuasm.ch as The
amendment to the Constitution was
then before the people, and its nt,op-
ton or rejection undecided, the Pre-
sidcnt deemed it imnolitic. ii not alb
solutely improper, to present the
matter to the country. believing, as
he does, ana be has ;.c:el upon th;s
belief, the assertions to the co n,r%i.y
Notwithstanding Tho Southern pro-
Pic should decide upon th,' proposed
amendment without let or hndmncc
IRON the Executive. The time has
como when it may be safely rs suncd
ihat the constitutional alacn.lm nf
will fail TO rcceiyc. the ap;noval rt
thc Southern States, and li,>1n tli>
assumption Mr.. Johnson is consider
ing the propriety or Giving his ;,-,-
provai - the main features Of Tie
scheme first above mentioned, ..nl
Of recommending II adoption by tne
Southern States, in Difference ~ TIE
dcmaud of the people of the North.
ana III which s>a1t;ie eylrr<p:cacn!ativ iv1
men v no have been heard upon the
subject acqu;''srr. 'lhc irrcsi,. Ut
thinks hat the neero nopul;fion Of
the South Should have suc,l s;.i.-
guards throw aho,!; them as - s.-
care to thnnl the permanent enjoy
men, Of thrit freedom and Of III,
cjvi! rights. Ii,. NJ gro, armed w;t!
th2 ballot. ca. ~ wcll ,,Yor..,.t hini:,clf
as any other cltiZrn. As Sir john
so:l intcrprc's tie Constitution. lie
docs not discover any power in.thc
General Government to legislnte upon
the subject OF suffrage in the States.
In whom rests the exclusive contro,
Of the matter? Some of the Northern
States massachusetts and New York,
For example have given the ballot
to the negro. In one OF them is an
educational, in the other. property
qualification. and it is asked why
may not South Carolina, for instance,
be placed upon the same footincwith
Massachusetts, as to those who shall
hereafter be admitted to the elective
franchise, AID Why may not The loval
representative OF the former be adj
mlttcd to Congress upon the same
footing as TIE representatives Of the
latter? Working ont this plan in !.
practical form, let the people Of the
State of South Carolina so amend
their Constitution and laws as to ex-
tend the elective franchise 50 far as
Massachusetts has done As an in
centlve to this reform, the President
intlmatcs his readiness to issue a
proclamation Of amnesty to all the
people of South Carolina who may
have approved the movement. This
reform accomplished, the people of
that State elect loyal representatives
20 Congress, blacks voting With
whites, as indicated above 1t twould
then rest with Congress to dctcrmin ne
whether these representatives should
be admitted. / have good reasons
for saying that this plan for adjust
ing the existing difficulties in The
way OF reconstruction is now re-
celviaS the serious consideration OF
the Administration, and has been
discussed III Cabinet with a view to
It's adoption. 1t differs from Mr..
Greclcys amnesty suffrage scheme
in this, that il provides for separate
State action and proposes 4 qualified
Suffrage, and it leaves impracticable
and unrepent@nt rebels subject toihc
penalties lor treason, amnesty and
suffrage being qualified 1t leaves