Year: 1868

Washington Correspondence of the New York
Herald


Some weeks ago telegraphed you that


the Democratic leaders Of the South in


tended to raise a new and highly inter-
esting point as to what citizens in the


late rebel States are entitled to vote un-
der the present condition of things. In
South Carolina this point has assumed


great prominence, from the fact that the
Central Executive COMMITTEES OF that


State have issued a proclamation an
nouncing that under the Howard cOnsti-
tutional amendment no citizen is ex-
cluded from the right of suffrage, al
though very large class is shut out from


the right Of holding office. If this view


of the question be correct, IL Is evident


the political result can easily be changed
in many of the Southern States, inde-
pendent of the negro Democratic vote,
though, perhaps, il is not of so much
consequences in the case OF South Caro-
lima, for the reason that I'm that State the
negro population is largely in the ascend
ant. A slight perusal of the third sec
ton Of the fourteenth amendment suf-
fees to show that the point is well taken


by the Democratic leaders Of the South.
There is not word forbiddiDg the right
to vote. The disabilities imposed extend
soIsiy to the right of holding office,
whether Federal or State, in all cases of
persons who, having previously taken an
cath as member of Congress, of an officer
OF the United States, or member OF any
State Legislature, or as executive or judi
cial officer of any State, to support the
Constitution OF the United States, shall
have engaged in insurrection or rebellion
against the same, or given aid or comfort
to the enemies thereof. Therefore, under
this fourteenth article, no rebels are dis


franchised. Now it only remains
to see whether the State Con-
stitutions impose more s5vere restric-
tioDs. How it may be with other
Sta ties l am not prepared to declare,
but In South Carolina the question seems
very clear. The new constitution Of
that State, prepared under carpet bag
influence, simply provides "that no per-
son shall be allowed to vote or hold Of
fee who Is Row, or hereafter may be,
disqualified therefor by the Constitution
of the United Ststes.n As the United
States Constitution allows all to vote,
therefore the State constitution is equally
liberal. The eighth article Of the new
South Carolina constitution, which Is the
only one that treats of the right of suf-
frsge, is worded IS follows:


"Every male citizen OF the United
States of the age of twenty-one and up.
ward, not lsboring under the disabilities
named in this constitution, without dis
tin ,tion Of race, color, or former condi-
ton, who shall be resident OF this State ]
at the time of the adoption Of this con-
stitution, or who shall thereafter reside |
in this State one year and in the
county in which be offers to vote
sixty days next preceding any election,
shall be entitled to vote for all officers
that are now or hereafter may be elected
by the people, and upon all questions
submitted to the electors at any election;
provided that no person shall be allowed
to vote or hold Office who Is now or here
after may be disqualified therefor by the
Constitution of the United States, until
such disqualification shall be removed
by the Congress of the United States
provided, further, that no person while
kept in any aims house or asylum, or of
unsound mind, or confined in any public
prison, shall be allowed to vote or hold
Office.u


A trusty correspondent, who writes
me from Charleston, states that this view
of the suffrage question taken by South
ern Democrats has greatly alarmed the
white and black RAIDS In the South, who
see no way OF escape for themselves un-
der the circumstances.