The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1868-06-26

people of the State amend or change the
particular portions of the Constitution
which it is one Of the purposes Of the bill
to peTpetuate, but as to the consequence of
such action leaves them in uncertainty and
doubt.
When the circumstances under which
this Constitution was brought to the atten-
tion of Congress are considered, it is not
unreasonable to suppose that efforts will be
made to modify its provisions, especially
those in respect to which this measure pro-
hibits any alteration. 1t is seriously ques-
tionable whether the Constitution has been
ratified by majority of the persons who,
under the act Of March the second 1865,
and the acts supplementary thereto. were
entitled to registration and to vote upon
that issue.
Section ten of the schedule provides that
no persons disqualified from voting or reg
istering under this Constitution ahall vote
| for candidates for any Office, nor BE permit
ted TO vote for the ratification or rejection Of
the Constitution at the polls herein author
lied. Its assumed to be in force before
its adoption, in disregard Ofthe law Of Con-
gress. The Constitution undertakes to i'm
pose upon the electors other and further
conditions.
The fifth section OF the eighth article pro-
vides that all persons, before registering
or voting, must take and subscribe to an
oath, which among others contains the fol-
lowing clause THAT I accept the civil
and political equality of all men, aud agree
moi to attempt to deprive any person OF per-
sons on account of race, color or previous
condition, Of any political or civil right,
privilege or immunity enjoyed By another
class Of men"
Il is we'll known that very large portion
of the elections in all The States, if not ma
jority, do not believe in or accept the prac-
tical equality Of Indians, Mongolians or ne
groes with. the race to which they belong.
If the voters in as many Of the States Of the
| Northwest we're required to take such an
oath as q test Of their qualifications, there
is reason to believe that majority of them
would remain from the polls rather than to
comply with such degrading conditions.
Then to Tsbat 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 eff
feet, as least sufficient to overcome the small
and doubtful majority in favor Of the Con
stitution, there can be 40 reasonable doubt
Should the people Of Arkansas, therefore,
desire to regulate the elective franchise, SO
as TO make it conform to the institutions OF
a large proportion ofthe States Of the North
and West, and modify the provisions refer
red to in the fundamental condition, what
is the consequences Is it intended that a
denial Of representation shall follow 4
50, may ne not expect at come future day q
recurrence of the troubles which have SO
long agitated the country Would it not
be the part of wisdom to take for our guide
the Federal Constitution rather than to re-
sort to measures which, looking only TO the
present, may, in few years, renew iu an
aggravated form the strife and bitterness
caused by legislation which has proved to
be so i'll timed and unfortunate.
[Signedl ANDREW Johnson.