The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-11-18
The N. York Times-rmpart,al Suffrage

Ihe N. Ork llmeS-lmpar Cla4 outrage
The New York Times is a yigilant aud
entertaining newspaper--one of the most
readable; but in politics It is not at oil re-
liable. A Republican paper, it often OBJ
jects to Republican measures before they
arc adopted, and always supports them
afterwards. 1t has been often found for
weeks deliberately and ably portraying and
deprecating the tendency to consolidation
Of all power In the Federal Government,
yet ever defending the party and the mea-
sures which gave impetus to that ten
dency. 1t may be likcned to d piece of
wood lying upon the low-water mark Of
stream, and as the stream begins to swell,
for time opposing the widening of its
current, but the moment its specific
gravity is overcome, floating off joyously
and buoyantly with the flood. The politi-
cal specific gravity of the Times is not
very great.
The Times for some days has given very
positive assurances that Congress will be
very firm on reconstruction-ando ought
to be, it has said. But now the Times
throws out the idea that Congress may
make concession, and ought to do SO.
The Times is for Impartial suffrage" and
would make US believe that all Radical
dom is alike for "impartial suffrage" 1t
declares that most of the Republican jour
nails are for that sort of suffrage, and that
even "the Tribune habtually uses the
word (impartiaD in defining its demands"
1t further asserts that since the recent
elections scarcely any of even the ex-
treme Radical papers insist upon "unlver-
sal y suffrage. We quote from the Times:
"But the Republican party has never
taken the ground or held the doctrine
that voting was power to be exercised
as a matter Of right, without any regard
to qualifications. No party in the country
has ever taken that ground. All parties,
from the foundation of the Government,
have held that there must be evidence OF
qualification Of some kind before the fran
chise should be conferred. Every foreigner
who comes here to live must reside here
five years before he can vote. Every per-
son born on the soil must reach the age OF
twenty one before he can vote"
And so forth, goes on the Times to its
main point as to the power and duty of
Congress in the matter. Assuming, as it
does, that Congress has full power, under
the reconstruction laws, to revise "the
constitutions that maybe sent up from the
estates for its approval Indeed the act SO
declaresl, the Times advises that Con-
gress shall amend those constitutions by
striking out the words requiring "univer-
sal :" suffrage wherever they occur, and
substituting therefor "impartiap' suffrage.
In this advice the Times is emphatic and
apparently earnest.
If the Times had wider influence and
consideration with the Radical party we
might look upon this article as important
as significant. We apprekend, however,
that the Times speaks for itself only. The
negro vote entire is necessity to the Ra-
dical party in the next Presidential cleo
ton. The negro WAS made voter for no
humane consideration for him, but to
strengthen and continue the Radical power
in the Government; and no concession
will be made which will possibly impair
the full force Of negro suffrage in the po-
litical exigency Of the Radical party next
year. Depend upon that. There will be
no difficulty about excluding the negro
from office; but the numerical force Of his
Uote will not be diminished. We apprehend
that the frmness of Congress on this point
will extort a eulogy from the Times, not
withstanding its opinion now