The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1869-07-07
The Labors Of the Census Committee
Effect Of the Fifteenth Amendment On
the Basis of Representation,

ScllSuS SoWWlIlce NJ tneIT ESCent 6eS.
eiou in This city was the apportionment
Of representatives, to be made on the
basis ofthe census of7l870. The sub.
ject was incidentally brought UP, but It
proved ono Of the most interesting, not
TO say exciting, questions that was con-
sidered. Mr., Haldeman, Of Pennsylva.
MIA, the only democrat who was in con-
slant attendance upon tho sessions Of
the committee, pointed out tho fact that,
in accordance with the provisions Of the
iourloenLh amendment to the Const,tu-
ton, some important changes would
take place IN the representation Of a
number OF the Northern States, especial.
ly il the fifteenth amendment should
fail of ratification priorto the taking OF
the census. This was news 10 the
prominent radical members Of the CON-
mittee. They stared at each other as
i a new idea had suddenly dawnrd
upon them. The second section OF tho
fourteenth article Of the amendment
provides that
20 Representatives shall be appointed
among the several States according to
their respective numbers, counting the
whole number Of persons in each State,
excluding Indians not taxed. Bn,
when the right to vote ut any election
for tho choice Of electors for President
and Vice President Of the United
States, Representatives in Congress,
executive and judicial officers of State
or members Of the Legislature thereof,
is denied TO any Of the male Inhabitants
of such State, being twenty,one years
ofage and citizens Of the United States,
ornbridgrd, except fol participation in
rebellion or other crime, tho basis oil
representation therein shall be reduced
IN the proportion which tho number Of
male citizens shall bear TO the whole
number of male citizens twen.y.one
years OF age in such State.
There Inns been no apportionmeni
ofrepresenta':ves among tho eeveral
States 81 &C this amendment became a
part Of the constitution, and If course i,s
effect has not been felt. 1t is question.
nblo whether the radicals in Congress
inpassing tho amendment, or the Legis.
lafnres in Ia,ifying it, anticipated its
consequences. Il will be observed tha,
1t will have no effct whatever unon
the representation Of tho Southern
States because those who are dsfran,.
chscd Tor participation in The rebellion
are MT counted ont in tho apportio,.-
mcnt. In tie Northern States, howcv.
or, whero the negroes are not allowed
10 vote, and in some OF which there are
properly. educational and nativity tests,
ITS rifrc, will be stusibly felt. Hereto
fore the negroes in tho Northern States,
as well as MI other classes d sfranch,sed
from whatever cause. have heen taken
into the account in making the appor.
tionment for representation In Congress
In establishing The basis under the cen
sus of 1870 they will be left out, and
the ratio Of representation reduced nc.
cordingly. Large States like New
York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, which
refuse to enfranchise their negroes. will
lose from one 70 two, and perhaps three,
representatives each, and other smaller
States in proportion. So much for the
effect Of the fourteenth amendment. -
The adoption Of the ffleenth amendment
would Of coure change the aspect ot
the case to considerable extent. All
the negroes in the Northern States
would then be voters. The only persons
d afranchised would oelo those coming
within the scope of the property, edu.-
calional and nativity qualifications Of
such States as Massachusetts and Rhode
Island. II 10 not believed that there
nre sufficient OF these in any Of the
States to affect their rtpresenta ation.- .----
The hes, informed among the radical
politicians regard the ratification Of the
fifteenth amendment by the requisite
number Of S,a,es, prior to the taking OF
,he, census in June, 1870, as extremely
doubtful. So far tho official records OF
tie State department show that but
Twelve out Of the requisite twenty.eight
sStalea, have ratified the amendment
,Abont two OF these, Missouri and Kan.
fsas3tthtrc is some informalaya Some
other States arU reportodt0 havs rati.
ftd,he amendment bu. there 'is dis
tpn'ssahont II, md the State Depart
mtpt bas no .ticiat Information Oh the
es9hiScl, Taking it tor granted that the
sRfl@Mlh amendment will not be1a,iRel
an 4simr, the iunrleentha rs amendment,
wkiclI i,swill rsmembereAat tho time
of ns passage, was supposed TO ta 4 p,,..
Ditive mesare fm,tlie Sontk, will really
prove aa saiiatyS toteihs NOftk. The
,hastsof approximation once Rxed under
The new cersua, r.naina aaas.tarhed Ger
-6yeafa So that even should sthei
fiieepih sechao,ent be .rati6sa tbs
iiasxa 1year after tho census ii thken h
wil.sinlys tysal Il. Sks :aslsraes ofa,he
Eoftlf being allowed to vote, wi,hots