The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-01


sational, edroit politician will be treated
with small respect by candid men who are
| familiar with the facts. Not only was Mr..
Elaine statesman. but be was ss in
teDseiy practical g statesman as John
Sherman. While NJ. Blaine sustained all
measures for the vigorous prosecution Of
the war be sought to make them igdicious
| and practical. While ne supported tae bill
for draft. be opposed abso ute conscrip-
ton. He consendsd that il should De re-
lieved by provisions for Communication and
substitution, and urged tina. an memorable
draft bad never been resor.ed 10 but once,
even under the absoiu,ism Of Napoleon.
In this view Mr.. Blaine was un-
doubtediy correct. Resistance TO the
draft at the North was openly encouraged
by a. least a million Of copperheads. had
the conscripiion been absolute resistance
and evasion Of the draft woui d have been
vastly increased. Mr.. Blaine bore a prorni-
nent part in the discussion Of the recon-
sirUction acts and in the work Of framing
them. The basis Of representation upon
which the states should De readruitted vas
the frs, question 10 be determined. Thad-
deus Stevens. chairman Of the committee
on construction, had proposed that req
ressnsation should be apportioned accord
ing TO the number Of legal voters. Nr.
Elaine strenuoCsly objected 10 this propo-
sition. and urged that popu! alton, instead
Of voters. should he the basis He sub
mitted constitutional amendment pro-
vlding that representatives and direct
taxes shall be appOr;ioned among the sew
erai states which shan be included within
this Union eccordiEf: 10 their respective
numbers, which shall be determined by
taking the whole number Of persons. ex-
cept those whose political rights or
privileges are denied or abridged by the
constitution OF any state on account of
race or coior." He advocated this plan On
the ground that, while the other basis Of
voters would accom- lish the object Of pre-
venting the South from securing repre-
sentatIon for the blacks unless the blacks
were made voters, yet it would make a
radical change in the apportionment for
the Northern states where the ratio Of
voters TO population differed very widely
In different sections, varying from a
minimum of 10 per cent. TO a maximum of
IS per cent. The result of the discussion
was general abandonment of the theory
that apportionment should be based on
voters, and the fourteenth amendment TO
the constitution, as finally adopted, en-
bodied Mr. Blaine's proposition in sub
stance.
On February 6, 1867, Mr.. Stevens re-
port d the reconstruction bill. It divided
the states lately in rebellion into FIVE mill
tary districts, and practically established
military government therein. The civil
tribunals were made subject to military
control. While the majority evinced a
readiness to accept the bill. Mr.. Blaine de-
clared his unwillingness to support any
measure that would place the South IN
der military government. if il did not at
the same time prescribe the methods by
which the people OF a state could by their
own action re-establish civil government.
He accordingly proposed an amendment
| providing that when any one of the late
so-called Confederate states should assent
| to the fourteenth amendment to the con-
stitution and should establish equal and
| impartial suffrage without regard to race or
| color, and when congress should approve
| its action it should be entitled to repre-
| sentation, and the provisions for military
| government should become imperative.
| This proposition came to be known as the
| Blaine amendment. In advocating it Mr..
| Blaine expressed the belief that the true
| Interpretation of the election of lS6s was
that, in addition to the proposed consti-
tutional amendment-the fourteenth-im-
| partial suffrage should be the basis of re.
| construction. and he urged the wisdom of
| declaring the terms at once. The applica-
lion Of the previous question ruled ont
| the Blaine amendment, but il was renewed
in the senate and finally carried through
| both branches. and under 1t reconstruction
| was completed.
| The important part thus borne by Mr.
Blaine in fixing the fate of reconstruction
cannot be fairly described as the work of
| man who was mere politician. The
future historian who recites the story of
! reconstruction will hardly refuse TO Mr..
| permanent mark upon the most i'm portant
legislation Of his day and generation. The
| !ong-unsettled question Of protecting
| natuTai ICED American citizens while
! abroad was revived by the arrest of Cos.
te!lo on the charge OF comp lefty in Fee
/ Man y OTIS. Costello had made speech
iii l5o5 in New York. which WAS recarlie!
/ a. reasonable by the British government.
and he was treated as . British subject
/ and trlei under an old law on this accusa-
! ton. His plea OF American cit zenship
[ was overru ed. and he was convicted and
sentenced 10 sixteen years penal servl-
tude. Mr.. Blame was conspicuous among
those American Statesmen who resisted
! the English doctrine OF perpetual a..egi-
ance. and maintained that q natural zcd
I American MAS entitled 10 the sane protec-
ton abroad that would be gwen to q
| native American. As the result Of Mr.
| Biaine's activity in pressing these cues
| tions upon public attention Costello vas
/ released, and the discussion OF these cases
| led 10 the treaty Of $50, in which Grea.
! Britain abandoned the doctrine OF once
lhiect always subject" and accepted
fha American p-iurlpla nj sCuaI ri.-h,s or =,