Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-12-24
CHALMERS A PROPHET.
His Predictions sFulnlled-The Radicals
Propose to Disfranchfse the
Negro.

The following letter from General James
r. Cha mers Will prove to the readers of the
APPEAL timely contribution to current po-
Htical history. It is thoughtful and consid-
crate, and well worthy the most intimate at
tention and study Of those especially who are
leaders among the negro race.
Letter from General James II. ChaI-
mers.
EDTTORs APPRAI-In my arguments TO the negroes
last fall endeavOred 70 refute the Radical slander
that the Democrats would deprive them OF their
right 20 vote By showing that the representative and
electoral strength Of the SOUTH now sOltdly Demo
cratic, had been greatly Increased by negro Suffrage
and that the Democracy would be prevented By self
interest, II no other, from deprving that race OF
suffrage. then also warned the negro that If any
efforts ever made TO deprive him of suffrage.
they would come from the Republican party. Icited
Grants recommendation of an educational qualifi-
cation for suffrage as the first step In that direction,
and predicted that the time would come when the
Democrats would oe called upon 70 protect the negro
in his right TO vote. Ny prediction has been full
filled sooner than expected | have Just read the
speech OF Mr.. BdmundS, Of Vermont, In the United
States senate upon his resolution to Inquire under
the fourteenth amendment to the constitution,
whether. In six southern States (naming them,
In in slyTise been denied Or abridged. with a
view to the alteration and reduction OF our represen-
tation In congress and the electoral college. The
strength, meaning and formed design of the whole
movement IS to be found in this one sentence Of his
speech: "It may be that the net result Of
the constitutional amendments, which have given
representation as fule, based upon the total popu-
Iaten of the States has been 10 increase the repre-
sentati0n Of certain States In congress, and In the
'actOra college to the pumoer Of fifteen or twenty,
SyhIla has not been TO increase the effective fran
ehis N the ~tiZens Of those States" See congres
sie3al record, Dece;.h o. 1876 page and 10 In
plain language the resolutofis and speech say tne
negro was enfranchisedto 10 vote the RepuS.in tlcsg
and since this object has failed and his vote has ad
ded strength TO the Democratic party, 1t
must be iaken away from Elm Ia1s dae
clearly recognized the right OF any state TO exeiuoe
naras from yDtinf ard the apparent object OF The
s;neDdenf was 10 lessen 10 representative strength
os The ssutk where the negroes we're in large mum
iserg apds where they were not allowed 70 vote
The fifteenth amendment vas subsequently, de-
yfa 10 place the southern States i,n r TIE control
OF the Republican parry, through tle Instrumental
tty Of the negro but this amendment Vas no; ven
tered upon until after the experiment OF negro SUI
frage under military rule In some OF the recon
stricted States seemed 70 give assurance that tnls
race would vote s0lidiy for the Republican party
This Amendment took from the States the power
which previously existed ana was Recognized ~ the
fourteenth amendment to abridge the right OF SUI
face on account Of race, color or previous condluon
Of servitude but now Senator Edmunds proposes
10 ignore the fifteenth amendment en-
trely and to readiust tie representation
~ the states according 10 the fourteenth
Amendment The right to reduce the basis OF repre-
sentstioR ''tn the proportion which the number OF
s1Jcb male citizens Whose right 10 vote mas peen
enIed bears to the whole number OF male ctllens,
et proceeds upon the idea that these citizens have
been lawfully denied the right 70 vote ana Senasof M
Ednuutis proposes to recognize any abTidgmsnt oi
suffrage he mas discover, as being lsNiul oenlai
thersOf and TO frame q new appoFionment based
thereon He pr0claims negro suffrage failure, ana
notgtthstandInR the intdcacies and dincutle5
pointed out BY Senators Bayard and Thurman, ne