The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-01-08
,sr,dic,,,e. would prevent them from living

inerndcable. would prevent them from living
together 10 state OF mutuni lIienosmP
Carefully avoiding every measure that might
tend TO produce such a result, ana toiio"lhg
the clear and well.ascertained popular Will,
we should assidnously endeavor 10 promote
kindly rela tions between them, ana thus "hen
that popular will leads the way, prepare LOT
the Gradual and harmonious Introduction OF
this new element into the political power OF
the country Ii cannot be urged that the pro-
posed extension Of suffrage In the Distrlct OF
1olumbt is necessary IT, enable persons OF CO.
lor 10 protect either their interests or iheir
rights They stand here precisely as they
stand i'm Pennsylvania, ONO, ana lndiina
Her. as elsewhere, in all that pertains 70 ci'ii
rights, there Is nothing to distinguish TINS
lass OF persons from citizens OF the United
States, for they possess the foil ard equal
benefit OF all laws and proceedings for the Sc.
curity of person and property M Is enjoyed
by white persons, and are made subject 10 IKE
punishments. pains, and penalties, aud to none
other-any law statute, ordinance, regulation,
or custom, 10 the contrary Notwithstanding"
Nor rs has been assumed, are their sufprages
necessary to aid loyal sentiment here, for 10,
cal governments already exist of-nndoubted
feaIty 10 the Government, and are sustained
by communities which were among the frsi
10 testify their devotion to the Union, and
which, during the struggle, furnished their
full quotas OF men 10 the military service Of the
country The exercise OF the elective franchise
zen, and when guarded by virtue, in ligence,
patriotism, and proper appreciation OF our
Institutions, constitute the true basis OF
Democratic form of government, in which the
sovereign power is lodged in the body Of the
people.
It's influence for good necessarily depends
upon the elevated character and patriotism OF
the elector, for If exercised by persons who do
not Justly estimate its value, aud who are IN
different 10 its results, it will only serve rs the
- ,,;n I'm a Ia n
unprincipied and ambitious, and must even
tuats in the complete destruction OF that IL
berry of which il should be the most powerful
conservator. Great danger is, therefore, TO be
apprehended from an untimely extension OF
elective franchise TO any new class
in our country, especially when large
majority of that class, in welding the power
thus placed in their hands cannot be expected
correctly TO comprehend the duties ana re-
sponsibilties which pertain to suffrage Yes
terday, rs IL were, four millions OF persons
were held in condition of slavery that had
existed for generations to-day they are lree-
men, and are assumed by law 10 be citizens. IL
cannot be presumed, from their previous con-
dition of servitude, that rs n class they are rs
well informed us TO the nature OF our govern
ment as the intelligent foreigner, who makes
our land the home OF his choice. In the case
of the latter neither residence OF hve years,
and the knowledge OF our institutions which ii
gives nor attachment TO the principles OF the
Constitution are the only conditions upon
which he can be admitted TO citizenship. He
must prove, in addition, good moral charac-
ter and thus give reasonable ground for the
belief that he will be faithful 10 the obliga-
tons which he assumes as citizen OF the re-
public. Where people, the scarce oil all pc.
litical power, speak by their suilrages through
the instrumen tality of the ballot box, IL must
be carefully guarded against the controi OF
those who are corrupt in principle and the enc
mics Of free institutions: for 1t can only De-
come, under our political and social system
III, m III
ment, when kept free from demoraliZng in
fiuences.
Controlled through fraud and usurpation by
the designing, anarchy and despotlsm muslin
evitably follow. In the hands OF the patriotic
and worthy, our Government VIII ne pre-
served upon the principles of the Constitution
inherited from our fathers. 1t follows, there
fore, that in admitting 10 the bailot-boX new
class of voters, not qualified for the exercise OF
the elective franchise, we weaken our system
of Government instead OF adding 10 It's
strength and durability. In returning this bin
10 the Senate deeply regret that there should
be any conflict OF opinion between the Legisla-
tive and Executive departments ofthe Govern
ment in regard 10 measures that vitality Affect
the prosperity and peace of the country. SIN
cerely desiring 10 reconcile the States WI one
another aud the whole people 10 the Govern
ment of the United states, IL has been my ear.
nest wish TO cooperate with Congress III All
measures having for their object a proper
and complete adjustment OF the questions re
Sultiug from our late civil war. Harmony
between the coordinate branches of Go
yprnment, always necessary for public wei
fare WIS never more demanded than at the
present time. ana II Will therefore he my con
staut aim 10 promote, rs far as possible, con-
cert OF action between them. The differences
of opinion that have already occurred have
rendered me only the more cautious less tn.
Executive should encrotch upon any OF the
prer0gativcS of Congress by exceeding III amy
manner the constitutional limit of hlS Gutl"s.
DESTROY the equilibrium which should exist be.
tween the co ordinate departments, ana winch
Is SO essential 10 the harmonious working ui
the Government.
know il has been urged that the Executive
Department Is more iHeIy 10 enlarge t!'
sphere of its action than either OF the othrl
TWO branches OF government, and especially
in the exercise OF the veto power conferred
upon II by the Constitution. IL should De re-
membered, howeSe r, that this power Is wholly
negative and conservative III Its character,
aud was intended 10 operate rs a check upon
uncon>tItu lioual, hasty, aud improNid"Ht lc-
gisla ton, .tuu rs II means OF protection against
inrasions OF the just powers of Ike executive
aud judicial departments.
1t Is remarked by Chancellor Kent that 10
enact laws Is Il transcendcnt power ana II Inc
body thu possesses il be 4 full and equal rep
r.sentatIon of The people there j. danger vi u
pressing with destructive weight upon all the
other parts OF the machinery OF government
ii has, therefore, been thought necessary by
most skilful and most experienced artists In
the science OF civil poliiy that strong Darriere
should be erected for the protection and secu-
rIty OF the other necessary powers OF govern
ment. Nothing has been deemed more ut ana
eypedient for the purpose than the provision
that the head Of the Executive Department
should be SO conStitutedas 10 secure Il requl
site share of Independence, and That ne should
have Il negative upon the passing OF laws, ana
that the judiciary power, resting on sun
more permanent basis, should have the right
of de termining upon the validity OF laws by
the standard OF the Constitution. Inc heces-
sity of some such check in the hands ol the
Executive is shown by reference TO the most
eminent writers upon our system OF govern
ment who seem TO concur III the opinion tnhl
encroachmeuts are most 10 be apprehehaeu
from the department in which all LEGISLATIVE
powers are vested by the Constitution Ml'
Madison in referring TO the difficulty OF pro
yidiug some practical security for each against
the invasion OF the other, remarks that, = ne
legislative department Is every where extend
ing the sphere of its activity, and drawing al
power into its impetuous vortex Inc fpunu
ers of our republic seem never TO have recol-
lected the danger from legislative usurpations,
which, by assembling all powerin the same
hands, must lead 10 the same tyranny as Is
Threatened by Executive usurpations.
In a representative republican government
where the Executive magistracy IS carefully
limited, both in the exteit and the duration oi
It's power and where the legislative power is
exercised by an assembly, which is inspired by
a supposed influence over the people, with an
intrepid confidence in its own strength when
is sufficiently numerous 10 feel all the passions
which actuate multitude, yet not SO hume
rous as 10 be incapable OF pursuing the oblects
OF IT'S passion by means which reason pre-
scribed. IL is against the enterprising ambi-
ton of this department that the people ough!
TO indulge all their jealousy and exhaust all
their precaution. The legislative department
derives 4 superiority in our government from
other circums lances It's constitutional powers
being at once more extensive and less sus-
ceptible of precise limits, il can, with the
greater facility, mask under complicated ana
indiscreet measures, the encroachments which
il makes in the co ordinate departments. On
the other side, the Executive power, being re-
v,tb, a n and being