Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1868-07-09
Who shall Vote?

u AuiApCl Va iCPoOiiI1A hSAn
bers of Congress, dissatisfied with
the plank in the Chicago platform
on that subject, propose to show
that Congress, and not the several
States, have the right to control
the question of suffrage, North as
we'll as South. They argue that
it is inconsistent for the party to
insist on universal suffrage or
"manhood suffrage" in ten States
of the Union, and permit the same
principle to be treated with con-
tempt in the other twenty-six
States. And there is logic in this
reasoning. If Congress has power
to regulate this question in one
State, it has power to regulate it in
all, and it is a mockery OF justice
toimpose it upon the helpless while
RETAINING even from suggesting its
propriety to the more potential
and independent. This is the view
of Senator Sumner, who follows
closely in the wake of Wendell
Phillips; and Mr.. Yates, of Hi
nois, is vehement in his support
of the same position. They de-
mand an act of Congress in favor
of universal suffrage and interdict.
ing the exclusion, in any State, Of
any man as an equal elector on
account of race and color. This
is a palpable reputation of the
Chicago platform, which declares
that Congress shall only interfere
with the Southern States on this
subject; but ''what is sauce for
the goose is sauce for the gander,
and it is not easy to reconcile the
assumption of Congressional au-
thority which only extends to
States in no position to resist it if 1t
be an unconstitutional usurpation,
Senator Yates said that he had
no relish for such double dealing.
He preferred plain sailing, and
thought it would be better for the
Radical party if its platform" ex-
pressed what the party leaders
meant, instead of dealing in gilt.
tcring generalities, which might
be interpreted as call things to all
men" and nothing to any in partic'
ular. He added that: off they
had a right to control the suffrage
of the States of the South, they
had a right to control it in the
States of the North, and there was
no possible evasion of this point
Congress has the right to enforce
by laws a republican government
in every State of the Union, whe
ther admitted or to be admitted
This power is vested in Congress
by the Constitution, and 1t re
ouires Congress by laws necessary
and proper to carry into execu
ton that power" But, unfor
tunately for Messrs. Sumner
Yates & Co., New York, Ohio
Pennsylvania, and SO on, eli
stinctly repudiated this doctrine
at the polls, and by such large
maiorities that the most sangulnt
of General Grants friends have
no wish to place him before the
people of those States in connec
ton with such an issue, conslsten
CIV to the contrary notwlthstand
ing. And thus the matter VII
rest until after the election. Ih'
idea of controlling the ballot boz
by Congress is only ventilated now
as republican abstraction. Ii
Grant should succeed, his election
may be assumed as popular ac
ceptance of this abstraction, an(
then it can be carried into prac
tice. Perhaps Grant will fail
however, as did General Scott, or
if he succeed, a Congressional ma
iority on the other side may con
troll, the waywardness OF MS
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