New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-01-08


deprived of their political rights, had not conpeu' anu
did not desire retrocesson; that the eva might DC
rencdled by giving them representation IA NO"si0''
when the District should become sufficiently popuioS'
and IN the mean time local LEGISLATURE lHa' j wv III
,tt bd NOT noliticalr sights they had great political
influence; that the tronb!e ana expense Oh i'''iIH "
M instruct would not be great, but would diminish
o5 ,rfgIf in a great measure be avoided by II loe"
Iislotnre and that Congress could not TeiTocode the
it abtou+s without their consent Continuing to I'VE
substantially under the laws that existed at the ue
of the oeson and such changes only having been maze
90 were suggested by themselves the people OF the DIS
tret have not sought by local legislature that when
has generally been willingly conceded BY the Congress
the nation
As a general rule sound policy requires ti,' 'iie
Iature should yield to the wishes OF people "ion O'
inconsistent with the Constitution and the laws iDo
measures suited to one community might not DC wen
adoped 10 the condition Of another; and the persons
hest ouaifed TO determine such questions arc tnoSo
whose interests are to be directly affected by any pro-
nosed law In Massachusetts, for instance male persons
are allowed to vote without regard 10 coiOr pIo'u0"
they nossess certain degree Of intelligence. In popu
laton In that state OF 12SO6G there were Dy te census
OF $500 only 96O2 persons of color; ana OF lhe "e w.
years Of age there were S39OS6 White 10 21
,o,.d nv the same Official enumeration there were III
te District of Columbia 6O76g whites to 1876 persons VI
tbo coored race since then however the population Oh
the District has largely increased, ana tls eSueu '
80 M oseut time there are nearly hundred thousand
whites TO thirty thousand negroes The cause OF e aug
pened numbers Of the latter class needs no eNphao
Contiguous TO Maryland and Virginia the DISTRICT curing
tbe war became a place Of refuge for those who es-
caned from seryitude, and 1t is yet the abiding
Mace ~ considerable proportion Of those who sought
within its limits shelter from bondage Until then heiu
In slavery aud denied all opportunities for mental c
ture their first knowledge of the Governments was &c
oured when by comforting upon them freedom u neche
the benefactOr OF their race; the test OF the eapS
for Improvement began, when, for the rst uhe, the q"
free industry and the avenues TO intelligence were
oneued 70 Them Possessing these advantages Dnt mn
tied tmethe greater number perhaps having entered
the District of Columbia during the later years OF the war
or since its terminatonwe may well pause TO inquire
whether after so brief probation, they are az class ca
pae OF an intelligent exercise Of the right OF suffrage
and qualified TO discharge the duties OF official poson
The people who are daily witnesses OF their mod. OF Nv
ing and who have become familiar with their habits Oh
thought have expressed the conviction that they are not
vet competent TO electors and thus become e
hle for office in the local governments under
which they live Clothed with the elective iranoiilSe
their numbers already largely n excess OF the deanu
for labor, would be soon increased by an iniluA
from the adjoining States. Drawn nom Heus
where employment is abundant, they would IN VAN
see IL here and so add to the embarrassments already
gated in the District Hardly yet capable OF forming
correct judgments upon the important questions that
often make the issues Of political contest, they couo
readily be made subserven to the purposes OF designing
persons While in Massachusetts, under the census OF
1860 the proportion of white to colored males over TWEEN
tyone years Of age one hundred ana thirty 10 one
here the black race constitutes nearly 0nethrd Of the en-
fire population while the class surrounds the DIS
trct on all Sides ready to change their residence at
moments notice and with all the facility Of nomadic
people in order to enjoy here after short res dence
privilege they find nowhere else II Is within their
mower in one year. 10 come the District in such num-
beTs as have the supreme control OF the White race
and to govern them by their own Officers and by the ex
ercise of all the municipal authory-among the rest Of
the power Of taxation property IN which they nave
no interest Massachusetts, where they have enjoyed
the benefits Of thorough educational system, quali-
cation OF intelligence IA required, while here suffrage IS
extended to all, without discrimination, as well 10
the most incapable, who can prove n residence III
the District Of year. "a TO those persons OF color
Who comparatively few in number, are permanent
inhabitants, and having given evidence OF merit
and qualification, are recognized as useful and
responsible members Of the community. Imposed upon
an unwilling people placed by the Constitution, udel
the exclusive legislation Of Congress- it would be viewed
as an arbitrary exercise Of power aud az an indication 10y
the country Of the purpose OF Congress 20 compel the ac
ceptapce Of negro suffrage by the states 1t would
two races which, becoming deeprooted and ineradcabe
would prevent them from living togetern state Of mn
tua friendness Carefully avoiding every measure thai
might tend TO produce such result and following Tho
clear and welasoertained popular viii, we should assid
uously endeavOr TO promote kindly relations between
them and thus, when that popular Will leads the way
prepare for the gradual and harmonious Introduction Of
this new element into the political power Of the country
1t cannot urged that the proposed extension Of suf
fraee In the District of Columbia Is necessary TO enable
persons Of color TO protect either their interests the
rights They stand here precisely as they stand IN Penn
syvana. Ohio and Indiana. Here, elsewhere in al
that pertains 10 civil rights, there is nothing e
distinguish this class of persons from citizens o
the United States for they possess the "fu and equa
benefit Of al laws and proceedings for the security
person and property isenjoyed by white clzens an,
made subject to Ike punishment pains, ind penal
ties and to other any law statute, ordinance, regu
lati0n, custom TO the contrary Notwithstanding Nor
as been assumed their suages necessary to al,
loyal sentiment here; for local governments already cx
st Of undOubted fealty to the Government and
tanned by ntes which among the first to ties
y their devotion to the Union, and which during Tho
struggle furnished their fun quotas Of to the military
service Of the country.
The exercise Of the elective franchise Is the highest at
tribute Of American citizen snd when guided by yr
tue intelligence patriotism and proper appreciation
Institutions constitutes the true basis Of democratic
form Of government in which the sovereign power Il
lodged in the body of the people It's influence for good
necessarily depends upon the elevated character and pat
riotsm OF the eeeOr for exercised by who dc
not justly estimate the value and who arc indiffer
ent as TO 'its results, 1t win only serve
Of placing power in the hands Of the unprncpeC
and ambitious, and must eyentuate in the complete
destruction Of that liberty Of which It should be the
powerful CONSERVATION Great danger is therefore 10 b
apprehended from an untmely extension Of the elective
franchise TO any class IN country especially wbeI
the large majority Of that class IN welding the powe
thus placed in their hands, cannot be expected correctly
to comprehend the duties and responsibilities which per
tain to suffrage. Yesterday, 70 were four millions
hold fu