The Van Buren press., 1868-07-03

NasaIiUi hf hN7As-As, AsE
power TO impose Fundamental cou1itilus
ou State which, has been duly siDit,ed
into the Union on an eQcal footing With
the original States in all respects Whist.
ever Congress asserts aright TO enter e
State as ii mas d, Territory, aad 10 req.
ulste tlls highest prer1gaave offree poo
pie by the elective franchise. This ques
ton is reserved by the Constitution 20
the States themselves, and to corcede u
Congtess the power ~ regulate this sub,
iect would be 10 reverse tie fundamental
principles of the Republic, and place in
the hands Of the Federal <Goyernmcnt,
which is a creatuse of the States. and the
sovereignty which justly belongs to the
people the true sources OF all political
power by whom our Federal system was
created, and 20 whose will tits subordi.
nate. The bill fails TO provide in what
manner the State of'Arkansas is to sig.
nifty its acceptance Of the fundamental
condition which Congress eudeavors to
make uualterable and irrevocable; nor
does it prescribe the penalty to be impos.
cd, should the people of the State amend
or change the particular portions Of the
Copstitntiop which 1t was one OF the put.
poses Of the bin to pNpetuate; but MS to
the consequence Of such action as leaves
them in uncertainty and doubt; when the
circumstances under which the Consti,u.
ton has been brought to the attention
Of Congress are considered, it Is not un.
reasonableto suppose that efforts will be
made to modify its provisions, and pre-
vent those in respect to which this meas
ure prohibits any alteration 1t is seri
ously question ell whether the Constitu-
tiou has been ratified by majority OF the
persons who, under the act Of March =,
1865, and the acts supplementary thereto,
were entitled to registration and to vote
upon that issue Section 10 Of the sched-
ule provides that no persons disqualified
from voting or registering under this
Constitution shall vote for candidates for
any office, norbe permitted to vote for
the ratification OF, rejection OF the Con.
stitution, at the polls, herein authorized
and assumed to be in force, before its
adoption. In disregard Of tho law of
Congress, the Constitution undertakes to
impose upon electors other and further
conditions.
The ffth section Of the eighth article
provides that all persons, before register.
ing or voting, must take and subscribe to
an oath which, among others, contains
the following clause .....I,.....,
That / accept the civil and political
equality of all men, and agree not to at.
tempt to deprive any person on account
Of race, color or previous condition of
any political or civil right, privilege or
immunity enjoyed by any other class OF
men" '
/! is we'll known that very large por.
ton Of the electors in all the States--if
not all. majority-do not believe In or
accept the practical equality of Indians,
Monsoliaus or negroes with the race to
which they belong. If the voters in many
of The States Of the North ahd West were
required to take such an oath as q test of
stheir qualifications therein reason to be.
lieve that a maj sjofity OF them would re.
main from the polls rather than comply
with such degrading conditions How
far and to what extent this test oath pre-
vented the registration of those who were
qualified, under the laws of Congress. it
is impossible to know, but such was Its
effect as least sufficient TO overcom the
small and doubtful majority In favor Sof
the Constitution. There can be no rea.
sonsble doubt should the people of Ar
kansas, therefore, desire to regulate the
elective franchise SO as TO- make it con-
form to the institutions of large proper.
ton Of the States Of the North and West,
and modify the provisions referred to in
the fundamental condition. what is the
consequence Is itintended that de-
nial of representation shall follow III
80, may we not decide at some future day
a recurrence Of the troubles which have
so long agitrtcd the country2- Would 1t
not be the part of wisdom to take for our
guide the Federal Constitution, rather
than to resort to measures which, 10 o. king
only to the present, may in few years
renew, in an aggravated form, the strife
and bitterness caased by legislation which
has proved TO be so ill.tmed and unfor.
tunate .u. . ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington, D, G., June 20, 'eS '''
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