Year: 1866


The Precise Import Of the Constiiu'


tional Amendment.


The real point in the famous constitu.
tional amendment now pending, which
processes to represent the ideas OF the
Congress on the subject OF the rehablil-
tation of the Southern States, is the
clause which deprives the Sonth of all
representation for the negro population.
1t is true, that by conceding universal
negro suffrage, the Southern States may
count that population as the basis OF
representation. But as the matter is
left to each Southern State to determine
for itself, it is evident that as practi-
cal question, the amendment simply de-
prives the South of the representation
based on the negroes, inasmnch as there
is not the slightest probability that the
Southern States would grant universal
negro suffrage in order to retain their
political power unimpaired.


Testing the constitutional amendment
by the evident effect of it, il amounts
simply to taking from the South all rep
resentation of the negroes,


Such being the amendment, we would
be glad to have pointed out where the
President had ever committed himself to
this policy. At what time, where, and
to whom did he express himself in favor
of taking from the South the representa-
ton which the colored population gave
it2


While the President has never given
his assent to this cutting Oft of the leglt'
innate political power of the South as the
Constitution now stands, so, further, he
has never committed himself to univer-
sal negro suffrage.


In his celebrated conversation with
George L. Stears, the President expressly
said, that "it would not do to let the ne,
groes have universal suffrage now it
would produce war of races"


In the Presidents dispatch to Cover
nor Sharkey, his Excellency defined his
views on this subject. He said:


eff you could extend the elective fran
chise to all persons who can read the
Constitution of the URited States in
English and write their names, and to
all persons who own real estate valued
at not less than $3.50, and pay taxes
thereon" &c.


From this last extract, what the Pres
ident favored was equality of suffrage.


But this policy is rendered impossible
by the proposed amendment to the Con-
stitution. Under that amendment q
State is not permitted to have policy
of suffrage which does not discriminate
on account of color; but it must have
universal suffrage, or lose the black ele
ment as basis of representation.


The President, therefore, in refusing to
adopt the proposed amendment of the
Constitution requiring universal negro
suffrage, or the cutting Oft of all repre-
sentation based on this population, is en-
tirely consistent with all OF bis declara
tions upon the subject.


This fact stands out in bold relief, and
no amount of ingenious writing can i'm
pair or weaken it in any degree.


IT,. v,.xvs of n veteran soIdior-Lot
ter from BFevet BriERdicr Genera


Hall.


The following is an extract from let
ter from a decided Republican in New
York:


GARRIsoN's PUTNAM Co., N Y,


September IL, 1866.


/ have belonged to the Re
publican party from it's organization.
have always opposed tho Radical ell
ements in its attempts to control it or tt
make it other than great Nationa
party, and I think that there never wal
more short.sighted policy of fanatica
policy than was displayed by Congress,
in attempting to place the party on the
narrow, sectional and uncOnstitutiona
basis now declared by them.


Willie l believe that treason Is the
greatest of political crimes, and that fol
the sake of the future of our country il
should be punished as such; yet to holt
millions Of people responsible for the acts
of few unprincipled leaders, by WHOM
they were either led or forced into rebel
lion, is too revolving to think of.


have stood side by side with you IL
some Of the most thrilling scenes of the
late war, and during my whole expert
ence, from the beginning until saw Lee
surrender at Appomatox, l have never
known q soldier who would acknowledge
that he was fighting for any other pur-
pose Indu W lesVolo OhO OniVh'


did not know class of persons who
under the plea of teaching the negro
were forever asking protection of the
army while they speculated in tax salt
and negro labor. These adventures ant
speculators in philanthropy have gained
great riches while shrinking from every
manly duty during the great struggle
Thsir only profit in the future is to keeI
the South disrupted and play upon tht
fears of the North, and they have M
scrupIes as to the means to gain this end
but brave and honest men will not b'
governed by their fears, but will seel
only to do right, and trust in God for th'
result. am, very truly yours,


JAMES Z. HALL,
Brevet Brigadier General Q. s. Vols.


late Colonel First n. 7. Vol. Engineers