New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-11-26
SUFFRAGE.


SUFFRAGE.
Having passed through q civil war and
two Presidential, elections since the COM
mencement of the war. il is but fair to
suppose the people have determined to
abide by the results to the country from
the same. The close of the last President
ial election must be considered as the final
arbitrament of all of the political issues
involved In the war. The Congress OF
the United States in the reconstruction OF
the States that made war upon our country
decided, after the maturest consideration
and after having exhausted its patience in
trying to conciliate people that had been
conquered and forced to relinquish their
efforts to break up the country and gov
ernment, to confer the right of suffrage
upon the negroes Of the Southern States
The question Of suffrage has always been
considered leading question in our coun-
try and many of our ablest statesmen
have differed in their views upon
this subject, and some have regarded 1t as
one that should be settled by each State
rather than by Federal authority. Many
persons in our country have questioned the
wisdom of comforting suffrage upon foreign
ers, and efforts have been made to extend
the term by law of Congress to twenty-one
years residence before making them citi-
zens, using as an argument for so doing that
the native born citizen had to reside in the
country that long before he could vote;
therefore it was 40 mere than right that the
foreigner should undergo that probation
before being vested with the high preroga-
tive of citizenship. Others again, still
more circumseribed in their views have
commended that the right of suffrage should
be conferred on none but properiy-holders.
But our country has gradually made pro-
gress against all OF these views eircum-
scribing the rights of the people, and its
government is being carried out in the very
spirit and letter of the constitution framed
by the Fathers Of l77G.
Many honest, good and patriotic citizens
doubted the wisdom of comforting the right |
to vote on the negro, but it had become a
political necessity with Congress and it was
done. with the hope and fervent prayers of
that body that it might result in good to
the country. AT the time it was done
many of the Southern people who had been
engaged in rebellion were still sullen and
dissatisfied. eyincing no disposition to &C.
cept things as they found them. Where
they had not made up their minds to
emigrate 10 Brazil or some favored spot
that their imaginatiOns had coniured up,
they were to be found combining together
with political aspirations and with view
of regaining and possessing the political
power of the State. This they succeeded
in accomplishing to some extent. Gov
ernor Wells fraterRized with them and
bestowed official patronage upon them until
hey grew up to be quite formidable and
Intolerant party. They completely estr2-
eized Union men. and by course of legis-
lation were last returning the emancipated
negroes 10 worse slavery than they en-
dured before the war. 1t was at this
juncture of affairs that Governor Wells
discovered the great error he had COM
nitted, and endeavored to atone for the
same by calling the Convention of 1864 to-
yether, in order to redress the wrongs that
we're being perpetrated by men who, gov
srned by intense hatred toward those who
lad opposed them in their efforts to divide
md destroy the country, were now exer-
Using authority to Cypress them and shut
hem out from society. The convention
net, and the country knows full well the ,
,loody scene that followed its meeting.
The people all over the land were fully
aroused to the necessities of the hour, and
n the elections which took place in the
all Of 1866 returned men to Congress who
would pass the necessary laws for the
proper reconstruction of the States that
lad been in rebellion. These laws confer
he right of suffrage upon the negro, and
hat right can not now be abrogated.
The question Of suffrage being a
eading one, aud it being now
conceded that the citizens first and para
mount allegiance is due to the national gov
eminent and that all other allegiance is
to this, would it not be well for
Congress to pass law making suffrage
inform throughout the States. The people
ihould at least discuss the matter and come
o some conclusion. The fact that Congress
regulates and prescribes the mode by which
oreigners shall become citizens is pretty
good evidence that that august body of the
nation possesses the power through the
people 10 regulate the whole question Of
suffrage. 1t is true the right to regulate
suffrage in each State by State authority has
been claimed by the Democratic party, but
this right, with the right to secede, has been
denied by the people.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
We see by a resolution adopted at q
meeting of the Metropolitan Board of Police