Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-06-25

has heen duly admitted into the Union on
an equal footing with the original States
In ali respects whatever, Congress asserts
A right 10 enter a State as il may Terri
tory and 10 regulate the lhishest pre-
rogatiyo Of free people, the elective
franchise. This question Is reserved by
the constitution Ia th States themselves,
and Ia concele 10 Congress the power 10
regulate this subject, would be 10 reverse
the fundamental principle OF the republic
and 10 place in the hands Of the federal
government, which is the creature Of the
States. the sovereignty which justly be-
longs to the States or the people-the true
source of all political power, by whom our
federal system was created, and 70 whose
will il is subordinate.
The bill fails 10 provide In what man
ncr the State Of Arkansas is Ia signify it,
acceptance Of the fundamental condition
which Congress ondeayors 10 make unal
terablc and irrcyooable. Nor does II pre-
scribe the penalty TO be imposed should
the people Of the State amend or change
the particular portions Of the constitution
which il was one Of tho purposes Of the
hill to pcrpetuate But rs 10 the consc-
qucuces OF such nc,iml, il leaves them in
uncertainty and doubt When the cir,
cumstanccs under which this constitution
has been brought 10 the attention Of Com
grcSs are considered, II Is not uuroasnna-
Die 10 suppose that efforts will be made 10
modify its provisions, ESPECIALLY those in
respect 10 which this measure prohibits
any alteration II is seriously questioned
whether the constitution has been ratified
by majority of the persons who, under
the act OF March ,, 1865, and the acts
supplementary thereto, were entitled tp
registration and 10 vote upon that issue.
Section ten of the schedule provides "that
no persons disqualified from voting or reg
iStcring under the constitution shall vote
Tor candidates for any office. nor shall be-
permitted 10 vote Tor the ratification or
rejection of the constitution M the polls
herein authorized, assumed Ia he in force
before lis adoption In disregard of the
law of Congress, the constitution under
takes "a impose upon the clector other and
further conditions The fifth section of
the eighth article provides that "all per
sons, before registering or voting, must
take and subscribe to m OATH which,
among others, contains the following
clause THAT accept the civil
and political equality Of all men, and
agree not To attempt TO deprive any per-
son or persons, on account of race, color or
previous condition, Of any political or civil
right, privilege or immunity enjoyed by
any other class Of men" II is well known
that very large portion Of the electors
in all the States, if not large majority.
do not believe in or accept the practical
equality Of Indians, Mongoliaus or ne.
groes with the race To which they belong
II the voters in many Of the States of the
North and West were required TO take
such an oath as test Of their Qualiiica-
tionS, there is reason TO believe that ma
jOrity of them would remain from the
polls rather than comply with its degra-
ding conditions. How far and to what
extent this test oath prevented the regis
tratlon of those who were qualified under
the laws % Congress it Is not possible 10
know; but tina. such WAS its effect, at
least 10 overcome the small and doubtful
majority in favor of the constitution,
there can be- no reasonable doubt Should
the people of Arkansas, therefore. desr-
ing To regulate the elective franchise so
as 10 make il conform 10 the constitutions
Of large portion Of the States of the
North and West and modify the proyis-
ions referred to in the fundamental con-
dltinn, what is the consequence: i il,
that denial Of representation
shall follow and if SO, may we not dread
at some future day recurrence Of the
troubles which have SO long agitatcd the
country Would it not be the part Of
wisdom 10 take for our guide the federal
constitution rather than resort to meas
ares which, looking only TO the present,
may i'll a few years renew in an aggra-
waited form the strife and bitterness cans
ed by legislation which has proved to be
50 ill-timcd and unfortunate.
ANDREW Johnson. i
Washington, ID. c., June 20, lS6S.