Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-01-03
DISFRANCHIsEMENT AND REPRE-
GENTATVnN

SEETATION.
The New York Tribune Of the !
Both nit. says:
"The approach of the time for taking
the next decennial census suggests to the
politicians at Washington the question
whether, under the fourteenth article of |
the constitution, the States of Kentucky |
and Missouri, while refusing suffrage to |
their negro population, will still be enti> |
tied to their present representation in |
Congress. We venture to suggest to the |
Clerk Ct the House that the question may
arise sooner. The State Of Kentucky now
has nine Representatives, being the num-
Der apportioned on the basis of her whole
population. One-fifth of that population
is disfranehised by reason of color The
fourteenth article of the constitution
says: When the right to vote at any
election for the choice of electors for
President and Vice President Il
is denied to any Of the male inhabitants
of such State, being twenty.one years of
age and citizens Of the United States, or
in any way abridged, except for partici.
patton in rebellion or other crime, the
basis of representation therein shall
be reduced in the proportion which
the number Of such male citiN
zens shall bear to the whole
number of male citizens, twenty>one
years fage, in such State The mem
bers of the House from Kentucky were
chosen after the adoption of this article,
and in full view of its provision Yet, il
| the basis be reduced as the constitution
requires, not more than seven out of the
nine, or at most not more than eight, are
entitled to their seats That difficulties
would arise in deciding which ones to res
iect is plain; and that the argument
might be plausibly made, and that an act
of Congress is necessary to give practical
effect to this clause of the constitution, is
| possible. But we submit that after all the
| pOintis at least worth some consideration.
| Is Kentucky entitled in the next Congress,
| contrary 10 the constitution, to repreA
sentation for negroes whom she keeps
disfranchised Is Maryland Is Mis-
souri, ? What answer is to be given on
the fourth Of March next when the roll OF
the new Congress is called p
1t is rather singular that the Iri-
June has not heard of Tennessee in
connection with the fourteenth
article of the constitution. In
this State there are about 10000
white men disfranchised, not be
cause they are Rebels" but be
cause they are not Radicals. In
proof Of this assertion, We point to
the fact that no man, however bitter
a " Rebel he may have been, has
ever been denied a certificate OF
registration if he has been able to
satisfy the Registrar that he is now
Radical. This is proof positive
that it is not a mans former but
his present position that determines
the question of his being enfran-
chised. With this fact, which is
patent to every one at all familiar
with the political history Of Ten
nessee during the past four years,
before it, the Tribune ignores this
State entirely. The Radicals in
this State are not content with the
eight Representatives to which the
| State is entitled if all were allowed
to vote, but are knocking at the
door Of Congress for the admission
Of ninth Representative. And
these were chosen after the ratiti-
| cation Of the fourteenth article, and
in full view Of its requirements. 1t
the basis be reduced as required
| by the constitution, not more
| than six, or at most not more
than eight Representatives are en-
titled to seats III Congress. We are
not sure that the decrease in num-
Der Of Representatives would not be
greater than we have suggested, for
nearly one half the male citizens,
and considerably more than one
half the white male citizens have
been disfranchised. The forty-frst
Congress may not take notice OF
this wholesale disfranchisement fur
ther than to refuse the person who
claims to be a ninth Representative
from this State, but certainly after
the census shall have been taken
next year, Congress cannot ignore
the extensive Acknowledgement in
Tennessee, if it shall be continued
to that time. The only way to pre-
vent Tennessee losing one or two
or perhaps three Representatives, is
to enfranchise those white men who
have been DISTINGUISHED simply be
cause they are not Radicals