The New York herald., 1868-12-08
JAMES F. WILSON.

Suffrage and the Naturalization Of FsreiSn-
ers--Whas We Might Have Had II ImpeacIi-
ment Had Succeeded.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. Q, 1868.
In conversation to-day with Mr.. James +. Wilson,
the able representative OF Iowa In tue House and
one OF the late managers Of the impeachment trial.
your correspondent found Mr.. Wilson holding views
on the financial question which are not generally
partaken OF by the recognized fnanclers Of Con-
gress.
There are a great many schemes anoat," re-
marked your correspondent, "on the subject OF the
finances; which Of them do you approve, Mr. VIII
sonSr
~ cann6 say,r he responded, ''that approve OF
any OF them, at the same time do not want Il
to be understood that what / propose is
the best one that could be brought forward
though 1t strikes as not being either very dili-
cult TO understand or by any means impracticable
Ny idea is that you cannot have O resumption OF
specie payments by the methods already made pub
lie without financial convulsion All the plans l
have seen up to this seem to be based upon system
foreign to the character. the necessities and the
domestic relations OF this country. Our ananciers
take the experience OF England for their guide
looking the fact that England has been ana Is still
circumstanced entirely different from us. Here we
have continent to legslate for where the wants OF
one section are not the same as another. and
between which there may be but very
partial commercial relationship. England 10
like one large city, with all its business
centres in as close correspondence, compared this
country as so many houses in the city OF New York.
There the volume of currency is equalized, which is
one excellent advantage. Here we have an immense
section OF country, comprising dozen States In the
West and South, that have less currency with which
TO transact business than few cities on the East
ern seaboard. But return OF specie payments is
plants from all parts. would propose, IN the first
place that the legal tender currency be retired and
that the national banks be allowed to expand their
circulation TO cover the withdrawal OF the legal ten
der notes. less the amount per cent. OF the premium
banks increased and more Of them established In
those parts OF the country where there Is no redun
dancy OF money. The volume OF currency would be
sufficiently contracted by this plan, and the resump-
ton OF specie payments being left to the banks with
the proper Legislative requirements, would fall In
naturally and without jar TO the business OF the
country The great aim should be to get rid Of the
legal tenders and avoid the danger to be appre-
hended from The settlement OF debts when the OF
specie payments arrives.
docs the West si complain of a lack Of the CIR
cuating medium ~
mo, the West was never prosperous. 1t is
making gigantic strides in every direction in spite or
legislation can retard Its progress but OF course IT
yealns for the return OF gold as it IS only IN that
medium confidence and stability in great measure
81 see the State OF Iowa has voted in favor Of negro
suffrage"
U
question; but 1t surprised no one there. There Is
wonderfully progressive spirit IN the people OF that
see no danger in granting the suffrage to handful
wrte.h
'what do you think OF the idea in the proposition
to make manhood suffrage universal OF allowing
Foreigners to become citizens afer six months re-
: '6idence in the couniryYo
s'Trat look upon as q rather dangerous expert
ment. II II were allowed, and suppose the question
OF free trade or protection divided parties, aud that
might give the advocates OF free trade
MAJ majority I'm IN the m House, i would pay country
sure the triumph OF a free trade policy Or suppose
IN closely contested Presidential election, Where
change IN the votes OF O few states would give
administration having certain bias In Its foreign
policy, European nations might find 1t to their ad
vantage to export such numbers OF their surplus
population as would decide the verdict against u.s.
Or course only speak Of contingencies that might
ceive in the instance l have mentioned about free
trade being leading question between political par
OF England to have it decided against the contrary
policy OF protection. However, am in favor OF
but only in such way as would provide against
voting On fraudulent naturalization papers. For In
stance-Make the term OF probation Tor citizenship
twelvemonths after. This would act a check on
the fraudulent naturalization which occurs the
eve OF every important election. naturazed for
egner when he comes 10 be registered must then ex
hibt his papers dated backward twelyemontlH,
signed in the Judges own handwriting, aud with
such other marks OF identification providing against
forgery, viii prove they were Issued year pre-
votis. II should also be enacted that a applicants
Tor naturalization papers be heard In open court by
Judge III person, and that description Of each person
be entered on the paper he receives SO that John
Smith, with red hair and standing SIX feet high can
not 80 and get registered on the papers or Thomas
Jones with black hair and only i've feet in stature.
These precautions should be relgiously exacted to
shield the purity OF the ballot box for ii is undoubt
edly the most sacred and important OF American m
stitutions.n
"How VIII Congress treat the matter OF universal
sunragef'
.sThe best way to treat it would be to Introduce
fundamental clause into the constitution saying who
shall and who shah not VOTE thus making 1t perma-
nent and universal, doing away with statutory
mentor ment Of citizens M BY artsan State legislation am
not In a position 70 say how members feel on the
many Of ySe them That the anomaly or universal snf
frage South and restricted suffrage North in coun.
try supposed TO be governed by the same laws can
hardly exist forever IL IL almost parallel to the
position in which we stood before the war with
sltvcry in section and freedom in the other. The
result VIII assuredy be the same. II constitu-
tional amendment Is submitted 10 the Southern Leg
isIatures giving the negroes OF the North the right
Gratis themselves IL will arord them some degree
OF satisfaction to pay US back In our own CON and
commend the same cialice to our lips which we
held so imperaiiyely 10 theirs"
ION looking back do yon consider, MIR. Wilson, the
country has been safer from the failure oi impeach-
III IL hard 10 answer that, for the simple reason
that IL failure and that another Executive had
no opportunity OF acting. believe II we had had
another man In Andrew Johnson's place the recon.
siuction avs would have been enforced the whis-
key rings would have been broken up and the col
lection of the revenue would have been attended to.
There has been fearful lack Of executive adminls-
traton and positive nursing oi evils thar are every
day assuming greater magnitude. We could hardly
have been worse on IL impeachment succeeded.
These disturbances in the South would not have
occurred and the government would have avoided
the exhibition o. much imbecility In dealing with
the corrupt rings that are sappiag the moral strength
OF the nati0n.n
do you expect much legislation this sessionY's
"Not inuch The appropriations, the Tax bill and
some plan for funding the debt VIII FORM the reading
business. am opposed to much legislation on the
finances the Teyenue-n fact, Oh any thing. but on
these matters in particular The people ought TO
get some simple and permanent laws thes can IN.
deistand and grow accustomed 10 observe; bat this
eternal lawulaSDg. this useless pulling down and
putting up, dstractg the public mind; ana scarcely
has one set OF laws "a we have seen IN reference TO
the revenue. been promulgated and before the peo.
pie had time 10 fully appreciate thclg chalacteT
stralglltway they are abrogaled and q different set