Year: 1866

SUFFRAGE.


To tie Editor af Tss n. " TTibane.


SIR: Permit me to talk little with you.


You know that have pevcr been partisan Of the
Constitutional Amendment which drawn up In the lass
Congress- 1t has always appeared to me that os
the first sanction by article of the Constitution dis
ncton founded color to give strange conclusion to tho
victory Of the North doubt moreover whether the South.
suppong that IL should edopt tho Amendment would DO
empedto inust the negro with the right Of suffrage BY the
increased representation which would thus gain In Congress-
Having whatever might happen two Senators for each State
and knowing the other hand that the negro vote would be
cast for Linconiin candidates it would have motive to
triumph over what is most Of difficult for il to overcome tho
preuces Of traditions ofSye The net result Of
the Amendment would be- therefore, proclaim conditoaaly


new right by virtue OF which could be excluded from
political and class of incomplete citizens created


II true that thanks TO the Democratic Pary and to Mr.
johnson you risk Of seeing the Constitutional Amend
men adopted by the South As compromise Is question:
hoSSorth will take not to insist on this amendment
Consequently Congress is about to its full liberty Of
action and hope that it will have the wisdom make good
use oft The point question (andit R mc is to have
National party with plain and simple PLATFORM which WIN
become popular and which viii the symbol OF its whole
policy Unrersal Suffrage -Ungsysa ANaesty-sueh must
evidently soon be your watchword


Urers1 Sugraqe that Is TO say the suppression OF oil dis
tncens based on color completion Of tho great work Of
emancipation aud the inscription Of eternal justice IN
Of your Constitution II the States should fand can
understand that this may subject thesexers
Of the right Of suffrage certain conditions these conditions
should be imposed at onco on the blacks aud the whites


Unireysal Annsy that is to say the immediate admission
to Congress Of the staes which shall have adopted the
amendment and Of all the States when this amendment having
become part Of the Constitution shall have established uniyer
sal suffrage everywhere the pardon OF all the Rebels grca aud
SMALL the rcnuncaon Of aans Of conqueng the South OF
reducing tho Southern States to the position OF territories of
conGscation, aud Of punishment.


hiatt N
consequences and remembrances Of the civil war II I'M
portan that peace should be peace and that pardon should DO
pardon you only establish the equality OF races you need
have former Rebels To exclude them from public
LIE would be 10 exclude whole South Instead Of the policy
Of exclusion adopt boldly the policy of admission 1t is better
to admit backs who love you than to excnde the whites
who hate you Have faith In Your Constitution have faith in


liberty and a have faith in that God who has never
ceased to bless you when you have walked 10 the path OF JUS
tce.


How glorious will be that moment when viii no longer
haTeether slaves heots semieizenA or proseHp or
persons excluded from any privileges wha,sr-hat moment
when your noble Constitution viii have resumed lis sway from
end of your country TO the other when the most gigantic
rebellion Of modern been conquered by force VIII
be conquered by kindness equity and generosity!


1t important that you should hasten to arrive at this
cuson Exceptional systems havo their dangers and you viii
ended your task until there is neither excluded
State nor an excluded race within your borders.


Thus everything brings back to motto Equality Of
citizens equality OF States said amomcnt since rai-
rSrsal Suffrage Unirersal AHnes'y.


Nothing is more natural that you should complete this
now Constitutional Amendment by incorporating therein the
population OF the Southern debt and the solemn guarantee OF
the Union debt but In my opinion TO tho essential points
everything summed in the four words which have a
written.


Distrust middle and compromises. know of but
one to put end question namely settle 1t
and forever know OF but TO insure peace namely
utterly eradicate tho of Universal SufageR
settle henegro question: Universal Amnesty viii put end
to the wlite question.


This done you will have accomplished the astonishing
political work undertaken by people Through civil
war combined with social revolution you will have main
taned intact the treasure Of your liberties You will nexher
have dictatorship Capitalization great standing armies
You will doubtless need troops and for lapse OF time
which pemay be very brief but the necessity Of which no one
question You viii be called upon protect the action OF
your eemens bureaus and 20 settle the inevitable dieutes
proceeding from transitional epoch This however viii DO
merely transitional epoch and through the very effect Of gen.
ea liberty the precautOnsnow necessary win speedily become
useless.


You may raise the objection that have not taken Mr. John
son into account do not conceal from myself the fact that
the President continues play part Of the partisan Of the
South opposition to the North he raise Up great OBJ
staeles in your way.


lie can In the first place encourage the isolation Of the South
The equality races that Indispensable complement Of emaneh





rebeious States on Of their defeat undsr Mr. Lin
coin; real emancipation with real reconciliation as its eoTo
larry would have been speedily reazed the National party anS
lis yeneraed chief would have proceeded haad in hand toward
the same goal and would attained it, Since the South hs'
felt that il ally In the White House 1t has been less IN
ened to adopt your Constitutional amendments Ne'ertnes
the result Of the late elections and the certainty OF being unable
70 defeat the Union party and to rensuro Democrats no
will not be long trust in overcoming hlsresstanee 10 10
excluded indefinitely from Congress- 70 tne
as soon as the negroes shall be put in full posen OF the ~
Of c,izens in the presence OF such alternative the wise %
of tho South and there suc will know which side to eh0o


The secoud peril which Mr. johnson may subject oa anu
Il is one against which is impossible 20 be sufficiently Oh ou
guard L. return Of the old policy Of the DSnOao
party To into a dispute with Iranee OF hnsnnu'
support the Fenians perhaps to embark the country
quarrel that viii distract the puLc attention ana
reconstruction for ambition; suchis the course OF 'O-1
which naturally offers itself In all times and III al
war is the great destroyer OF liberty Give the SCUM
war and you win it, II not all its clauses AZ ~
s homes Of success Who knows whether at gwen "'
Il would not find On ally aid In rccomusneins e'
withdrawing from the negroes partial ard sun ue"u
srty and again bringing question the existence 0' os
States. ,....J
You are the party ofiberty you should DC nepa'
with pcace you viii finish work Of emancipation you
rcsabl.sA constutiOnL order you viii prevent %
you will disband srmos you VIII gsy Una o. TIA
{fnor NJ sar ,so socompshment Of its glorious desaies
o"""' ''' W" "NSS-f AaaNoA De GAssaMs.