Year: 1866

wards Of the nation against the prejudice the unjust
resentments and the evil impulses Of the people lately
in rebellion, and to start the new development Of the
South In such manner as to render loyalty to the
Union and peace and good will between man and man
the natural condition Of society 1t Is probable that
variety Of schemes will be gotten up for that purpose
that may be found mpractcable upon mature discus.
sion. others appear Inefficient after short time and
that at last the true remedy will be discovered in going
to the root Of thrgs that H. in securing to all classes Of
society the political toprotcct themselves which,
In democratic communities. consist in the ballot.
final conclusion like this may. perhaps, soon evolve
itself out Of the multitude end apparent confusion Of
theories and propositions which every day OF discus
sion seems to bring forth.


1t may be looked upon very fortunate thing that
the proposed constitutional amendment, making the
number OF voters the basis Of representation, has at
least in ID its original FORM died quiet death before
coming fairly up for discussion. The idea that the
Rebel States should not be permitted to Increase their
representation n consequence Of the transformation Of
their slave population into freemen without giving the
emancipated class any political rights and thus vrtu
ally increasing the representative capacity Of the very
men who but lately stood in arms against the Union
appeared at first sight go plausible to everybody as to
render acceptable any proposition by which so unjust
distribution Of political power could be avoided. And
Il the amendment had been voted upon shortly
after its Introduction, it would probably have been
adopted although it was felt that the amendment
as IL stood, was In some respects Objectionable
in point Of principle and would have led to ineq laes
Of representation beyond all measure in favor oil the
newly.organzed States in the far West, and weighing
heavily upon the old Eastern States where the NUMBER
of voters in proportion TO the whole population Is com
paratvely small All these difficulties were obyiated
by tie substitute advocated by Mr. Blaine Of Maine
which recognizes population as tie basis OF representa-
tion bat provides also tina. from this basis all those
shah be excepted who excluded from the full ENJOY
ment Of civil rights and political! privileges This VIII
leave the bass OF representation in the loyal States viz
tuay as II is but does not permit the Rebel States
send Representatives 10 Congress for their cooTed pop
ulaon unless they permit that population to parllel
pate in the elections. 1t is very probable taat the
amendment in this form viii pass both Houses at an
early day.


Tie BIZ extending he right Of suffrage 10 the colcred
people in The District OF Columbia Is az present occrrr
ing tie attention OF Congress. There Is hardly any
doubt that the bill viii pass. The scheme to govern the
District OF Columbia ly Commissioners, and thus to
dispense entirely with popular elections. Is virtually
dead. Tic District Of Columbia, which led in th'
movement o. emancipation s destined also 10 lead Il
the equal rights movement. There are. however, dii
fernces Of opinion among the members Of tie majority
on the question whether suffrage ought TO be universe
or qualified In the Senate qualification amendment
was attached TO tie bill by the Committee on the Dis
Tie. Of Columbia. II was on account Of this amend
men that the Bill was referred back to the Committee
and there possibility Of Its being reported to th'
Senate without the qualification clause. In th,


ouse, qualification amendment applying Il
both Whites and Blacks was adopted. TLi:
question has hardly received that measure o.
attention TO which ii is entitled. Even II the Hous,
amendment becomes law. the progress made will In
point Of principle be uDquestonsbly great. But it may
be asked whether it would not be desirable and i'm
por,apt that the enranehsement Of the coored people
shoud have immediate effect upon the character OF
the voting body of this district and tho result Of the
elections. With universal suffrage this would be prob
able with qualified suffrage for the present impossible.
Il may also be asked whether 1t would be wise at tho
present moment, by establishing qualification in the
District Of Columbia. 10 establish precedents for the
future action Of Congress which, in the course Of time
may prove serious embarrassment. 1t is to be hoped
that the bill viii no. be passed without mature
s!deTatlon Of Ill these contingencies


While Congress Is doEberating upon these important
the ancient burghefs Of this metropolis in
state ofperspiring trepidation


Tie vote taken the other day. which was TO prove
that privileged class not willing to share its
privileges with any other class-a fact which might
have been considered sufficiently established without
the privileged class recording It's vote upon it-fen
down as harmless shaf. at the feet OF Congress. And
Mayor Wallaehs Message to the Senate Of tho
United States" will have Just as much effect upon that
stern body Of men, which composes the majority as the
snIioas letters Of country pOstmasers and revenue
ocers whose sleep Is disturbed by the fear that pos
sb!e disagreement between Congress and the Presi.
dent might erdanger their quiet enjoyment OF their five
dollars day. This time il seems irrevocaby decided
that neither the disturbed equanimty OF the old foses
nor the trcpdation Of small holders shall deter
ple the future development Of this great Republic.


OBSERVER.


SPORTING.


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