Year: 1866

all the people are secured the benefits Of a gov
eminent.


The Presidents policy is simply an expedient,
means ad interim, for governing the conquered
States, wisely adopting civil forms SO far as
possible, but forfeiting none Of the rights
of conquest. The Commander.in- Chief has not
abdicated, the troops are still in the field. and
until the Executive and Legislative depart.
ments of the National Government shall have
reached the united conclusion that the objects
of the rdr have been fully accomplished, the
cannot be made" Without cOntesting the
recognition by the President Of the organic law
of the States, it is perfectly possible, and is me-
cessary, to require ampliicatiOns of that law, the


recognition of certain rights the establishment
of certain institutions, the redistribution even
ofpolitical power, if necessary to restoration Oh
the basis of universal freedom. In all it does,
the Government will continue to follow out
that Constitutional guarantee Of republican
form Of government to the conquered States,
and interpreting that phrase to mean govern
ment Of the People and for the People, must
establish the citizenship of the negro as o COM
ponent part Of it. The fundamental idea of
American politics is "the maintenance of
equality between free citizens concerning civil
rights, and the distribution of privileges, ac'
cording to capacity and desert and not accord
ing to the accidents of BIRTH"


Intelligence may be demanded as quahhca-
ton of voters, in order to the public security.
Probably the leading men in the South will be
found willing to accept universal suffrage with
that restriction but # not. and if under their
influence the States refuse so to amend their
constitutions, there is no remedy but amend
ments 10 the Federal Constitution, and delay In
reorganization until those can have been per-
fected by the loyal States. For that delay, not
we but they are responsible.


The only other scheme, that to make legal
voters the basis Of representation, sinconsistent
with our form Of society, which is an aggrega'
ton not of individuals but Of families. But let
the President be chosen by popular election,
and Congress "initatc an amendment granting
the right to vote for President, Vice-President,
and Representatives in Congress to colored
men, in all the States, being citizens and able
to read, who would, by the laws of the States
where they reside, be competent to vote if they
were white. Without DISTINGUISHING existing
voters, it should apply the qualification to white
men Also


All this as a means of security to the nation,
not Of humiliation to a conquered enemy:


The Nation for It's own ends and iis own advan.
tage as "a Of took ont Of the hands OF the


masters their slaves. II holds them therefore In lis
hands "a freedmen. II must place them somewhere.
Ii must dispose OF them somehow IL cannot delegate
the trust IL right 10 drop them, 10 desert theu
For by It's voluntary act IL assumed their guardian
ship and all Its attendant responsibilities Oeore the
present generation and all the coming generations oi
mankind. know not how well nor how i'll they might
be treated by TIE people of the States where they re-
side. only know that there is point beyond which
the Nation has no right to incur any hazard. And
while the fidelity of the Nation need not abridge the
humanity Of the States. the other hand our conf
deucc in those States cannot be pleaded before the bar
of God OF history, In dciense OF any neglect Oh our
own duty"


The above synopsis brief and imperfect as
il is, will enable the reader to gather some
idea of the scope and purpose of Gov. Andrews
argument Wehave avoided any expression of
our own assent to, or dissent from, its various
propositions; but it is impossible to withhold
from it the commenda,ion it deserves for its clear
ness, its comprehensive craftsmanship, its gener
Gus tone, and its single devotion to the purpose of
securing a safe and permanent reorganization Of
the Union.