Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-06-09
The Republican Party and ats Two-faost
Suffrage.

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Congress clearly has no Jurisdiction
over the question Of suffrage. II Is q
matter which those who framed the Gov
eminent expressly coufded to the States.
This was one Of the rights reserved to
each commonwealth for itself when the
Federal compact was accepted. Such
has ever since, until the recent days OF
Radicalism. been the acknowledged
course of the Government, and the I'M
disnuted preroratiye Of the States. Ii
has been unchalenged through all these
wears by all parties. Statesmen, how
aver thew might differ on other subjects,
have ever agreed upon this. Naturali-
cation for the Federal Union, and suf.
frage for the States, were the very corner
stones of the Republican edihce,
This, however, the Radical party has
displaced, ard in a manner which, while
il aims at ingenuity, discloses the fraud
to open view.
This party is in possession Of Con-
press. Among the very first steps in
their revolutionary course was, by mill
tary seizure aud power, to stlhe the
voice Of the accustomed voters and take
charge Of the ballot-box for themselves.
With this view they DISTINGUISHED large
body Of the whites, and enfranchised the
late slaves, without regard to their fitness
ur intelligence Ii was mere act OF
usurpation. Ii was political coup
detaf for the maintenance OF their rule,
and by means of which they could not
only govern the South, but rule the senti
ment of the North.
They had as much right to create
voters in Massachusetts, as they had in
South Carolina. And this Mr.. Sumner
attempted, in bill which he introduced
in the Senate. But the storm of wrath
and indignation, which came upon every
breeze from the North, proved too potent
q warning to be unheeded.
The Chicago Convention has, there
fore, been forced openly to svow for its
party sectional platform, with one law
and constitution for the North and an
other for the South. We are, therefore,
under two governments and not one.
The Republican party is not national
in its objects and views. tits sectional
For over three years it has persistently
prevented the restoration. of the nation.
And now it will not have it, except upon |
such terms as will enable it to WELD the
South, through the dominion of the bayo-
net. for the control, and in its own in
terests, of the North.
The colored race are enfranchised by
it for the purpose of defeating the will
of the white race of the North. This
they may not accomplish. But this is
their design.
Hence we have the subterfugs con-
tanned in one of the planks of their
platform. 1t is in these words:
"Tbe guarantee by Congress of equal
suffrage to all loyal men in the South
was demanded by every consideration of
public safety, of gratitude and of justice,
and must be maintained, while the ques-
ton of suffrage in all the loyal States
properly belongs to the people of those
States"
There can, of course. legally be no dis
tiuction between the different States. The
Republican party, in view Of the recent
elections in Connecticut, Ohio and Mich
ipaa, on the subject of negro suffrage,
are forced to admit that Congress cannot
with the elective franchise
in the States. But they choose to create
q distinction, by CHASING without any
right, certain States now as loyal, and
others as disloysl. In other words, Con
gress reserves to itself to class any State !
at its option, as disloyal, and then declare !
the Constitution and its guarantee inap-
plcable to it. 1t is power dangerous 4
and without warrant.
Loyalty means allegiance to the Gov
eminent. If the States and people of
the South are not now in allegiance TO
the United States Government, to whom
are they in allegiance
The whole resolution is transparent Q
attempt to gloss over their overthrow of q
the political structures and fundamental J
rights of ten Of the States
The purported common ruler holds out !.
he Constitution to the North and the (
word to the South. Through the latter,
( unchecked, the former will prove but
! brief and barren gift Charleston
Courier.