Year: 1866




for men in a state of Nature, or for men IN
the infancy of Society, or for barbanans'
They inherited the civilization worked out by
centuries of conflict and of progress, under
the influence of more or less general prev
alence of the ideas and principles of Chris
tianity And while they declared general prin-
ciples, applicable to all mankind, in all times,
they applied them more or less fully, accor-
ding to circumstances and the exigeneies OF
the situation, in the practical reconstruction
of Government on an independent and Re
publican basis. The Declaration was put
forth by the Representatives of quasi-inde-
pendent States, and the inchoate General
Government of the Confederation had neither
the right or power TO regulate by practical
legislation the rights of citizens or the do
mestic institutions of the States. And even
at later period, when the necessities of the
country demanded a more perfect Union, and
the United States and the establishment OF
our present admirable system of Government,
the regulation and protection of individual
rights were left to the States And while the
Slave trade was virtually prohibited pros
peetiyely, the right to personal liberty, which
had been proclaimed as an inalienable aud
universal right of mankind, still continued
dependent upon the fundamental institutions
and legislation of the individual States


The question of suffrage, if not by express
provision of the Constitution, was at least by
universal concession, in theory and practice,
also left with the States, and the provisions
In regard to it are varied and multiform in
the several States of the Union, but in all the
States they have been tending to extend the
basis of popular rights in this direction, and
in most of the States all white men, of full
age, have voice in the Government.


Our institutions were formed under the in
auences OF the principles and ideas of chris.
tian civilization, and are based on the doc
trines of right reason and sound morality
which have flowed from the Scriptures and
moulded to a greater or less extent the puo
lie opinion, as well as the legislation of chris
tendon. Under that system, the man, the
husband and the father, is the head of the
family, and wife and children are subject tc
his authority. Hence, as a general rule, mar
Tied women, and children under the legal age
of majority, are held incapable of making
valid contracts in law. And, for the ik,
reason that their will and conduct is under
the control of another, and for other reasons
of substantial force in the minds of our fore
fathers, women and children are excluded
from voice in the government of the coun
try through the ballot box


and for still stronger reason, slaves wht
were robbed of their natural rights and placed
under the absolute control of their masters
were not allowed the right of suffrage becaus
practically they had no rights to protect b,
the exercise of the right of suffrage, an,
would not be allowed freedom of choice an,
of action in the exercise of the right Of SUI
frage, even had they any inherent rights t,
protect thereby.


Then, as a matter of fact, the principle
enunciated by our fathers imply that the righ
of suffrage, the mode by which the governe'
signify their assent to, or have a voice in thu
government, is to be fixed and regulated b.
those who have already, in the progress Q
society, obtained the exercise Of voice in th
SoyernmeIt. and, moreover, it is settle
and universally admitted principle, that a ma
jority of such persons in the several States
under certain fundamental restrictions pre-
scribed by themselves, shall have the powe
to regulate this right and settle the condition
Of its exercise. Therefore, it follows tha
even our Republican system, based upon tn
principle of the consent of the governed, doe
not require the express assent of individual
to any specific constitutional provision or t
the Constitution as a whole, or to the law
enacted under il, or the rulers VINO may b
seiected in accordance Herewith. And i
such case the only remedy for the discon
tented individual or minority is to pull u
stakes and remove 10 some country wher
things are managed more to their taste, jui
as our Copperhead fellow citizens skedaddle
TO Canada during the war, and the non-con
structed traitors of the South are now seek


But while the power is thus with the yotel
of the country, they are nnder obligations
exercise it on principles OF justice and in fu
therance of the great principles OF liberty an
equal rights, upon which our Republican il
stitutions are founded The grand fund.-
mental principle is the right of the people
rule, IN opposition to the Divine Right
Of Kings, or the prescriptive rights Of ari
tocracies, or the vested rights of Constit,
tional Monarchies and herditary nobilitie
such as are found in England and other coul
tries of Europe. Hence, prompted by Il
spirit which inaugurated our Republican il
gtitutions and proclaimed the liberty an
equality of mankind, the restrictions ON ii
night Of suffrage imposed during onr Coloni


history derived from the sristocratic and mol
archie models in Europe, have been gradual
removed, and at the present time there is o
State In the Union, save probably the lit
State OF Rhode Island, where a properi
qualification is specifically required as qua
ihcatioh for the exercise of the right of su
tyage; and Massachusetts is the only Stai
which prescribes an educational qualification
Neither the one qualification or the other vi
ever prescribed in any of the Western State,
and we protest in the name of Republics
liberty and equality against any movement
this retrograde direction on the part of low


We want no privileged classes, no close co