Evansville Journal, Volume 18, Evansville, Vanderburgh County, 10 January 1867 — Page 4

THE E V ANSVILLE DAILY JO IT R N. A L, THURSDAY, JANU ARY 1 0. 1867.

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T1:E -KVAASVILIE JOIKAAL PUBLISHED DAILY BY The Evajis viHe Journal Company.

So. 6 Locust Street, EransTlllc, Ind. SUBSCRIPTION TERMS... Onlljr Journal., .! ' One year, by mail ' .1...... . flO OO Bix mouths, by mall. 50 Three months, by kmmI.........:. : w By the week, payable to carrier...... -, " 25 Tri-WccKJy Jonrml..'' . . ' . One year ........,..,....... . . ...... . ...... 5 7 OO 4 00 Bix months-, Weekl Jomnal. One cory, onVyear' Five copies, one year ........... ...... Ten copies, olve year.. 2 OO 8 75 15 OO labile Award. Tost Office, Evasville, I?n. .1-. 1,: January 8, 1867. J JZvansville Journal Company Gentlemen: ' The time for t receiving competing claims for the privilege of publishing the official weekly letter lists for; the current year having expired, and your's being the only claim for the English list on file, I hereby, itt pursuance of my duty under the Postal Laws, award yoa the said adveriisIng for the yai 1867 and until the next annual award.'Tteing satisfied that the,,Caily Bvausv lie JoCrbai., for which you claim the advertisMig, Is the paper Of largest circulation in the range of this post office delivery. Respectfully yours, ' James H. McNeely, Postmaster. Gold closed In New ..York yesterday: at 133. ' ; The ante-war debt of North Carolina is set down at 513,033,000. The Mount Carmel Eegistor hoists the. same of Hon. Lyman,' Trumbull for- the next President. , ; ,fJ t , . . There is but litUe doubt of the election Vrf Cameron to tJe.UpitecJ States' Senate, from Pennsylvania, on the first ' ballot by considerable Majority?,'' -.1 At a meeting of the Fenian circle of New York City, on the 8th .Jnst, Captain O'Shea denied that Stevens had broken faith, or was a traitor4.rt' v - A battle was recently tenght - between Mejia's trooys andlw Liberals, ln .whieh the latter fteiie'. victorious. Eaeobedo-.is making folded marches to join Trevino, and drive iiejia from the State, . ,, ' , Victor Eitianuel has signed the treaty of alliance, offensive and defensive, with the Emperor of the French." V The OpinwneKationaie says that'ita Roman correspondent reports that Pope Pius IX, has given the assurance that he will not quit. the iloly 'See. '., , V. It Is ascertained, on good authority, that the New Orleans Committee will submit two reports, the minority denying that the ' riots were .brought about by any agency of civil authority. .; . ; . ... . " .. K The J udiciary Committee took up Ashley's impeachment resolution yesterday, and will proceed with it without delay. ' The bark Harvest Queen, from Swaneca, bound to Baltfe.-snnk at sea. Only one person out of seven was saved. , ...j i The Austrian Government has extended an amnesty to the press . throughout the empire for all past offences. .1 The Massachusetts Legislature has appointed two negroes (members) on Important committees. , : ... The Ohio and Mississippi Railroad was sold on the 9th, to the Trustees, for the creditors of the road, the price being one million dollars, 'over and above the first mortgage bonds. .4 .. .;..' , It is reported that Governor Fletcher has withdrawn from the 'natorial contest' in Missouri, which will probably insure Drake's election'1 ! ' -' . - The announcement ' is made' that the building of Hand's Opera House at Cincin nati, will shortly be commenced. Only twenty-nve thousand dollars is required on the whole amount asked for. '.' McMahon, Lynch, and five other Fenians condemned to ,Ui tjoalh sentence, were commuted toiwenty yaars imprisonment In the Provincial Penitentiary at Kingston. The trials of the" remaining thirtytwo will commence to-day The Kansas Senate completed its organization on the 9th Inst. The liabilities oi the State are $661,000. j.. r , , , . General Grant has promised to furnish the citizens of Kansas cavalry arms to protect themselves- against Indian depredations. Gov. P.lai.sdell and Lieut. Governor Slengerland were inaugurated at Carson, Nevada, on the 8th Inst. A Buffalo, New.York, dispatch says that on Saturday .night burglars robbed a safe at Mayville, of 88,000 belonging to the Buffalo and Oil Creek Railroad Company. Senator Sherman, in debate of Monday, declared himself in favor of negro suffrage at homo as wel'as in the District. Mr. Dean, of the United States Coast Survey, who has been to Heart's Content to determine its exact longitude, reports that the cable is not doing more than oneXourth the business it is capable of.' A meeting or the Democratic members of the Legislature was held at the Senate Chamber yesterday evening. A bill wan Introduced into the Missouri -State Senate yesteruay, to amend the State Cons.tl ution by abolishing the test alb, as applied to ministers, teachers and lawyers; also, striking out the word "white." Ca.pt. King, a planter in Washington County, Mississippi, lormerly of Jowa, pay officer for colored troops, was murdered last week by negroes, for his money, watch and a pistol. ' ' ' A fire &t Galesburg, Illinois, on Sunday morningdestroyed more than half a Week of busine-s bulldings'The loss is ' esi 1. mated at fc,000, on which,, there waa but little insurance. Chicago na2C4i9re lal; jer.wHhi! loss of 82,285,713; Detroit. 110 fires, loss $106, 120; Louisville,' lows $317,6foyDa"ylon ie tires loss 817,000 ; Columbus 12 fires, loss 84,001. ' Julius Henry Rmefcer, an old citizen of Chicago, and prominent Odd Fellow, died on tbe 7th, aged flftyrpfb.t.

The Springfield correspondent of the Chicago Times says Trumbull is as good as nominated frit the Senate by the Republicans. , ",. ' ,, ,, The following changes have been made in post ofllci'is in Indiana: New Barton, Spencer tCnun?)?-, iJ. 'G. Praure, vice T.' B. Phillips, res tAfed ;-Stearn Corner, Fontrtain County, 3. J. Bare, viae D. Palmer, re-; signed; srcitony .Fayette County, J. B. Salager, qice E. G. Thompson, resignedValley City, Harrison Connty, Cf R. Falls, vice W. Lopp, declined; Wakarusa, Elkhart Connty, A. AVlre, rici 0.,;C Newsbanm, resigned V State, Loe, Warren County, J. M. Vlllars, viee G. W. Steps, resigned; New Haven, Allen County, M. Thompson, 'vice L.'M. Rogers, resigned. '., ' '., .... - i ., a . - ' . j . STATE ITE3IS.; ' '. ' 1 A little girl almost frozen was fpund In Lafayette, on Monday. " ' A little girl named Mooro was burned to dea'h at Vincennes, on Tuesday. 1 , It is rumored that the Indianapolis and Cincinnati Railroads intend erecting machine shops at Shelbyville. ' ', The nail company, at New Albany, has purchased the rolling mill belonging to S. S. Marsh & Co., for 846,000. - Mr. Beard, of Vincennes, has opened a rich vein of superior coal near the Ohio &, Mississippi Railroad, three miles from Washington. ,v;. , ..;.,. Amari 'hed of cholera in . Shelby ville, .this State, a few. days ago. He .contracted the disease in Cincinnati. " 'An Interesting revival of religion is in progress atj the German M. E. Church at New "Albany. .;!. .V.-c i Jonathan Dunn; of Clark County,, fell from his horse a few days ago; while in a state of -inebriation, and was so, mucl inJnred thirtt he died, two days after. An elbr. qneht temperance lecture. . ' ': U. ,; iCoTTOr.4NotIyiess 'than , 3,000 . b'ales' of cotton in transit s for this city per steambotit, is delayed by the ice the boats, .being, compelled, to tie upnutll ihejioeblockad,e ends.i y.' j. Ledger. ' !. i r l( . j. W hich - eott on may .re.ach that -city as early as-Jdly, if not, already 'gobbled." at Evansville, As..early"as that month it is conflderiily expected. that navigation will '

ne openea to mat city 01 tne " ice- Diocicade, Rev. ceived W.jAV. Cftfry. of this State; has re"-v and accepted an invitation to take. chargeofjtl-.e UniversalistdeBominafidnal book .concern to New York City. ahdSvlll remove thtjre Immediately. -' t''-"' ""' 1 A negro bamed Spencer was "fonnd dead near JeffersonvUle a day or two ago, . It is supposed that he was frozen to death. . ' The Terre' Haute' Express, of Tuesday, says:,.- ;. .i'ti ." .' ',.' . At the Ross oil well the pump was aaain' started yesteiday afternoon. Afierjdrawing out the water and the debris of the late boriug, the oil commenced flowing' from the pump. At 6 o'clock lust evening the oil was flowing at the rate of about six barrels an hour. Salt water of about ten degrees, came jip in about the same quantity. 1 '. - We. give up much of our editorial space, this morning, in ortter to. lay before our1 readers the President's Message, vetoing the District Suffrage Bill. It contains the - views of the Executive on. a grave and important subject, which is destined to occupy a prominent part in our national polities, perhaps, for years to come, and may prove worthy of, preservation foir future reference. . . ' . The . legislature The State Agrieul- . tural Society. Indi4napolis, January 9th. The greater portion of the Legis lature was in the city last night, and ! the trains this morning ' bring in the remainder, with very few exceptions. All the, members from the First District were here last night, except TVolflisS, of Posey, who is expected to-night: ; ' ; , ' Political questions '.are very little mooted as1 yet. ; The members of the General Assembly .are fully occupied in arranging the matter of offices of the two ' Houses preliminary to organization.' The withdrawal of Hon. IJ. C. Newcomb, of Marion, in this morning's Journal, leaves the field to Col. Branham, of Jefferson, for Speaker of the House. The applicants for the minor offices are legion, and all have enough promises to insure their success, if that was all that was neces sary. Major Wilson, of Mariou, has the inside track, apparently, for Secre tary of the Senate; and our towns man, Conant, has many friends with a good chance for the office of Doorkeeper of the same House Brosbiears, of. Spencer, our onearmed veteran, will undoubtedly be provided for in one or the other House. The indications to-day are that Gov. Morton will have no serious opposition, if any at all, for the United States Senate. The popular feeling among the members of the Assembly in his favor is even much stronger than I expected it would be. His opponents are less than half a score, and on the Senatorial question are without influence in the Legislature. They held a private caucus last night, and it is given out to-day that they will offer jno"resistance to the Governor's election. 1 ',, 'The office of Agent of -State- iff the ope-, rnotjtj warmly .conies'f'(i.,t,' ThQ' candidate arc tietieraisiiRESHAMand MiLRor, and Judge Geo. A. Buskirk, the present incumbent. Generals Gresham and Milroy both have strong claims upon their country, and

Buskirk, it is conceded, has made a faithful officer. The chances to-day appear , to be in favor of Gresham, but they ; are pretty weir balanced by Milroy.; If Milroy can be provided with anything else, Gresham will be elected'.; !.The latter is backed up by the solid : vote of tbe Southern, part' of. the State'. ', ';' 1'1 -

The candidates for Directors of the State Prisons are very nu merous. Two are to ' be elected for tW Southern and three forhe Northern1 Prison Ghee, of Vincennes, is a 'candidate for the Southern, and Capt. Hart, well known to' our readers, for the Northern." TTri mi '-- 1 1 W hue liepuoiican members are in great request by candidates for Legis lative favors, the .Democratic mem bers are having a very quiet time of it, and have little to do. There was a conference at the Herald office last night, but it U said to have been a cold and cheerless affair, and slimly attended. ' ' The State Agricultural Society, now id session at the Capitol, to-day elected a new Board of Directors, composed mainly of the old members. Gen. Sou Meredith' was a candidate for Director and President, but his claims were, quiqtly .sei aside. ' Gen. ;Sol. is decidedly, below par hereabouts. Van derburgh is represented in the Society by Jso.S. Hopkins; Posey, by Lewis Pelham i aqd Knox, by J. ,D: Williams. No other counties of the First District were represented in: theVses'8iori3 to-day. This is . a great, over sight. Athe Agricultural Societies should .have had' delegates. ." -rj 'The Legislative, caucus will be held to-'night, and both Houses organized to-morrow. The Governor's Message .will prob'ably not bo .'delivered, .until Friday morning. It i&Iongtby, but an able document,, aqd should be read by every citizen. - ' ..' J wri. F. : The. Democratic Governor of Dela-1 ware, trae to his instincts, announces in his late message that he intends, to enforce the State law forbidding color ed men to carry arms, and 1 he eulogizes the system of selling colored criminals into slavery as the best method of preventing crime. He ignores the civil-rights bill, ' modern progress, and the National Constitution. He forgets that, by the predominant law, colored men are citizens, and that as citizens they are entitled to the civil rights. He seems never to have heard of the "right of the people to bear arms, or to imagine that an old pro-slavery statute of his State will justify him in violating it with impunity. His predilection for the barbarous system of selling colored men convicted of crime into slavery, a punishment which he would not dare to propose for white criminals, is another illustration of the general disposition of the South . to devise -plans for evading emancipation and re-establishing their favorite institution in a new form. The ex -rebel Generals Lee, Beauregard, Johnston, Kirby Smith, G.' W. Smith, Buckner, Lovell, Hood,' Longstreet and Hardee, are working hard for an honest living, and trying to restore the prosperity of their sections, while the Southern politicians of all stripes and sizes who did nothing but agitate before and during the rebellion, still doing their little utmost to revive trouble and bad feeling. Northern copperheads, who had not the courage to fight for or against the government, ought to profit by the example of those whose candor led them into the rebel army. Since they could not accomplish their wish, they ought to keep quiet and say nothing. It may be important to some to know that a late act of Congress required all deeds, dated between the 1st of October, 1802, and the 2nd day of May, 1805. to be stamped prior to the 1st day of January, 1807, under severe penalties. To avoid the penalty imposed, those who have had unstamped deeds recorded should have had them stamped, and the record corrected accordingly. After the 1st of January, deeds not stamped at the date of execution can only be stamped upon application to the District Collector of Internal Revenue. - ' The French officers of the City of Mexico have a free and easy Way of 'eettliug differences with outside bar barians.' ;The correspondent of the Ncw iork lltrald says that one of them ,i-ade his. . hirse j over a . youmr 4ABernn. "'naitfccV1 Pope whereupon! the latter indulged in sundry " carramttus." The French warrior had him arrested and severely flogged by a negro.

Presidents Veto Messase of the Dls-; trict Suffrage Bill. , ., , Washington, Jan. 7.'; To the Senate of the United States': l! I have received and considered the

'.bill entitled lt An -act to ' regulate the. elective franchise in , ther District 0$ Columbia," passed by theSenate oq the 18th of -December,', and by'r House of Representative oil the McVj ceedins dav It was presented for myapproval on the:26th .ulf .', six"' days af ; . per ;tne adjournment or congress. 11 is now referred, with my objections, to the Senate, in whieh House it originated!.1 ' Measures having been intro ' duced at the commencement" of the first session of the 'present CoirgresS for the exteusioh;of the elective franchise to persons of color in the' District of Columbia, steps were taken by the corporate authorities of Wash-' ington and Georgetown to ascertain ' and make known the opinion of the people of the two cities upon a subject so immediately affecting their welfare as a community. The ques tion was submitted to the people at the special elections, held December, 1805, when the qualified voters of Washington - and Georgetown, with great unanimity of sentiment express-: ed themselves opposed to the contemplated legislation in Washington in a vote of 6,556, the largest,' with but two exceptions, ever polled 'in that eity. ; Only 35 ballots were east for negro suffrage; while in Georgetown in an aggregate of 819 votes, a number 'Considerably in v excess - of tire average vote at the fourth preceding annual election, but one was given in favor . of the I proposed "extension ' of 1 the elective franchise'.' l- As' theSe:i elections seem to have been cotiducfed with entire fairness the result must be" accepted asr a truthfid "expression of' the'iipeopla of the'Dlstrieti- "on ;,the! question, which evoked it. i( Possessrng 4 as au organized'cdmuaunitT. the sauiei popular right ai inhabitanrs'of a tate tr Territory," tor make' kn'owii their r will on i matters 'which iaffeet their f social and political conditi6rf," tlVey could have selected 'no more 'appro nriiite mode of memorializing 'Co'iigress upon the'-feubiect of-thw-'' Mlf than jthrpugh. the fenffrage' of their OualitieU votersf'!! f n .-' U w I ' - Entirely disresardinffltlie' wishes of the people of the District ;f Uolum-' bra, Congress has deemed it right and expedient to pass the '-mcasare now submitted for my signature; ; It"' there fore becomes the dutyftf the Execu tive, standing between the' legislation of the one and the will of the other party as expressed, to ; determine whether he should approve the bill, and thus aid in placing upon the statute books of the nation a law against which the people to whom it is to apply have solemnly, and with such unanimity protested, or whether he , should return it with his . objections, with the hope that unon recon sideration, Congress, acting as the representatives of the 'inhabitants of the seat of Government, will tiermit them to regulate a purely local question as to them may seem best suited to their interests and condition. The District of Columbia was ceded to the United States by Maryland and Virginia, in order that it might be come the permanent seat of Govern ment of the United States. ( Accepted by Consress, itr at once became sub ject to the . exclusive legislation for which provision is made in the Fed eral Constitution." It should be borne in mind, however, that, in exercising the functions as the law making power of the District of Columbia the authority of thenation, the Legislature"' is not without limit, but that Congress is bound to observe the let-, ter and spirit of the Constitution, as well as, the enactment' of local ' latvs for the seat of Government legislation common to tne en Union. - Were .it to be -admitted thatftheright to exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever conferred upon Congress unlimited power within the District of Columbia, titles of nobility might be granted within the United States boundaries; laws might be made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Despotism would thus reign at the seat of government of a free republic, and as a place of permanent residence, it would be avoided by all who prefer the blessings of liberty to the mere emoluments of official position. It should also be remembered that in legislating for the District of Columbia under the Federal Constitution, the relation of Congress to its inhabitants is analagous to that of a legislature to the people of a State under their own local constitution. It does not, therefore, seems to be asking too much, that in matters pertaining to the District, Congress should have a like respect for the will 1 . nil 1 1 . anu interests 01 tne lnnaoitants as is entertained by a State Legislature for the wishes and prosperity of those for whom they legislate. The spirit of our Constitution and the genius of our Government require that in regard to any law which is to affect and have a permanent bearing,; upon a . people, their will should exert at least a reasonable influence upon those who are acting in the capacity of their legislators. Would, for instance, it be justifiable; for the Legislature of New York or of Pennsylvania. oijQf.IIii diana, or of any State in the Union, in opposition to the expressed wilrofa large majority of the people whom they were chosen to represent, to arbitrarily force upon them as voters all persons of the African or negro race, and make them eligible for office,

without any other qualification than acertain term of'(residence within the" State? ' tin neither of the States woulil

the .colored population, when acting mKmpr,: uu ajyie iu pruuuee any great, social or political result. Yet in New - . 1 1 t 1 .. a. 1 . kY'Ofk, before he can vote, the. man of color, must 'fulfil! conditions that are "not-..required of the white citizen. In .Pennsylvania-' the" elective franchi$e is? restricted to 1 white ffreemen while: iaIndiana negrpea .'jand mulattoes are expressly excluded from the - right -of.'.i suffrage. '1 It (hardly teems consistent ( with the principles of right and justice that the Representatives' of States, 'where suffrage is either denied the colored man, or granted him on' qualifications requiring intelligence or property should compel the people of the District of Columbia to try an' experi ment, which, their own constituents have thus far shown an unwillingness to' test for themselves ; nor does it accord with our republican ideas that its firinciple of selr-government should ose its force when applied to residents of the District, merely because their legislators are not, like those of the States, responsible, through the ballot, to the people for whom they are the law-making power.--,-. .: -.-1 The great pbiect of placing the seat of government'under the exclusive legislation of Congress, was to secure the entire , independence of the general Government .from undue State influ--ence, and ,to enable it to, discharee. without! danger, of interruption or in-. lriugeujcnt, 01,11s, auiuorny4 ine mga functlons!for wbich, it was created by the people,,. For, this importaut purbose ft was ceded .to tht ITn i terl Sf.afoa by4 Marjlaqd and .Virginia, ,and it eel . fainiy never. cpuia have been contempiateu as oe, Qi.xne .onjects to oe.at L'r(.r ii;i -1 1 . 1 . t-ajnec Dy piaemg tlt under . the cxclusiyeMurisdiction A)t (LVr(o;res.s-. that, it ' ' .v? tvjV.p voptyraiidists , or poiiucui parties) ia....piaoe.i ttian. experi men faT of.,, then; :-,peiMC?ples.-and "c'.'Mer... ! vilhil.1 .'I.. I 'Hi ' ' ,v hi lei 5B,jQeJj;thevrt!.sidints of the seat of .Government:. are. no citizens 6rany 'hfate and are uoiwtherenue a! ,1 lowed a'vmce .in the .ivtora'u t-oWi lege'vo'r'rt'preseiitatioi,ip' the reouuii8-.

pt :tnc Ji;iT pi),.uie: .ari, MaverLhcless, I n Bp.- 7 1-'Having r-nTcnni during Atnov'f;!)!; ,v:irtftu titled i,-as sueh.j the- attff jryeflrn-pf;!' iiur.ll war, 'tq eVfci-y li.ii, fttherCoHitutiou;.-j.Mfl luayivell pause to inquire whether td every .b'em;S,!! of.ah laws,- and to 'latter so brief ayp'rohaJieaV tliey are.''?.every .right.whit-h eriviins to citizen.-! as a;cia4. capalde of an intollicent

ot Our cotunion .culm try, ; in all -mat ters; alftScting : thqir domestie -Jifi'airs, The'piji-it of our democratic' form of government demands- that their wishes should be cousuued and respected, and tlyjy ou.ajht to fee! that,, although not perinrtted pr.-ictlally to participate in putioual couecriis, they are, nevertheless, under a jVuternal gov ernment regardful of their riglit, mindful of their wants and solicitous for their prosperity. It was evidently contemplated that all. local questions would be left to their decision, at least, to an extent that, would not be incompatible with the object for which Congress was granted exclusive legislation over the seat of Government. When the Constitution was yet under consideration, it was assumed by Mr. Madison that its inhabitants would be allowed a municipal legislature for local purposes, derived l'rom their dwh suffrages, i When for the time Congress, in 1S00, assembled at Washington, President Adams, in his speech' at: its opening, reminded the two Houses that it was for them: to consider whether , the local powers over the District of Columbia, vested by the Constitution in the Congress of the United-ctates, phquld be immediately exercised ; and he asked them tg consider it as the; capital of a great nofmn o rl Ti nm r cr iiri-f Vi n nnv.i .-. . 1 rapidity in the, arts, in commerce.-in

as .,n,l wealth, aud in population, and possntire messing within itself those resources

which, if not thrown away or lamentably misdirected, would secure to it a long . course of prosperity and selfgovernment. ; -luree years bad not elapsed .. when Congress was called j upon to determine the propriety of,

re-ceaing to Jiaryiana ana V lrginia j Dy their own olhcers, ana Dy tne exthe jurisdiction of the territory which ercise ot all the -municipal authority: they had relinquished to the Govern-( among the rest, of power of ixaii'.".i ment of the United States. j over property in which they have n It was urged on the one hand thai iutt-.rest. In Mas -ac-liuittts whore exclusive jurisdiction was not neces-; they have enjoyed the oenerits ii' sary or useful "to the Government: , a thoroush educarioml system, ;

that it deprived the inhabitants of the District of their political rights; i that much of the time of Congress was consumed in legislation pertain- : ing to it; that its government was expensive; that Congress was not com- j Eetent to1 legislate for the District, ecause the members were strangers I to its local concerns; and that it was j an example of a government without ; representation, an experiment dan-' gerous to the liberties ot JStatcs. On the other hand, it . was held among other reasons, and successfully, that the . uonstitution, the acts ot session of Virginia and Maryland, and acts of Congress accepting the grant, all contemplated the exercise of exclusive legislation by Congress, and that its usefulness, if not its necessity, was inferred from the inconvenience which was felt for want of it by the Congress of the confederation; that the people themselves, who, it was said, had been deprived of their political rights, had not complained, and aia not aesire a retrocession; that tne evil mighft be. remedied by giving them representation in Congress, when the District should become sufficiently fiopulousjaud in the meantime a local egislature; that if the inhabitants had not j political rights,' they , had great political influence; that the trou-. bltV and. expense of legislating. for the District would not be great, but would diminish and might in a great measure be avoided by a local legislature, and the Congress could not retrocede the inhabitants without their consent.

Continuingto live substantially under the laws that existed at the time of its s session, and such onlv hnvinir been

-made as were suggested fcy thcmseivps, ' . j ;

life, pe.upie ui iub juisirici nave noi sought by a local legislature that which has generally been willingly conceded by the Congress of the nation. Afta1 general rule, sound policy requires ; that the Legislature should yleldto the -wishes of arpeoplewhen, uot in''consistent witn'the C6nstitutioh and laws. The' jnaasjures suited to one community might not be well adapted to the condition of another, and the - persons best Qualified to determine such questions are those whose interests are to be directly affected by any proposed law. ? , r -, I In Massachusetts, for ' instancej male persons are allowed to yote without regard to color, provided they possess a certain degree of intelligence. In a population in that State of 1,231,006, there were, by the census of 1800, bnly 9021 persons of color, and of the males over 20 years of age there were 339,086 white to 2,602 colored. By the same official enumeration, there were in the District of Columbia 60,764 whites to 14,316 persons of the colored race, . : Since then, however, the population' of the District has largely increased, and it is estimated at the present time that there are nearly 100,000 whites to 30,000 negroes. The cause of,-the-augmented numbers of the latter, class needs no explanation, j Contiguous to Maryland and Virginia, the District -daring the Avar becaaie a place, of refuge for those who escaped: from servitude, and 'it is the abiding place of a . considerable proftortion of those who sought within its imitsr a shelter from bondage. Until .thenjheh! in slavery, and denied all 1 . r 1 .1 i opportunity lor mental ciuturc, their kfirst knowledge of Government was acquired (when, by confcrring'npnj themireMom, it became-tlie beaetactor of their race'. "The ' Tcit"8f their capability fbrMjmprotfient began when-. for! the first "time the reponsibility ftrfifl-ee industry and theaveuues t;inibl'ijrci e we.e openea to them.,.,, fhoe advantitges bufa J.'o-ei-n 4 limitecL tlhie. the !rrater'j viobri:rexercise 01 ine rigi.t u snurage. the rigi.i oi snurage. an 1 qualified to discharge ihe duties of an offit.-iai. position. . The peojle who are daily witnesses of their!randc.siot' living, and who befenme tamuiar . with, hpir Jiaous 01 thought, have expressed the conviction that they are not 'competent to serve as electors, and thus become eligible tor office in the local governments under which they live, clothed with the ; elective franchise. Their number is already largely iu excess of the demand for labor, and would be soon increased by an influx from the adjoining States, and drawn from the fields where employment is abundant, they would in -vain seek it here, and so add to the embarrassments already experienced from the large class of idle persons congregated in this District . ' .Hardly yet capable of forming cor- , rect judgments upon the important questions that often make the issues of a political , contest, they could readily be made subservient to-the purposes of designing persons, r i hile in Massachusetts under the census. of 1860, Vthe ' proportion of" white, to colored males over twenty years of ..age, "was 6nc hundred and , thirty to. one, here the black raceconBtitutesnearly one-third of the entire -population, while the same class surrounds the District on all sides, ready to change! their 'residence at a mo- ' meut's notice, with all : the facility of a nomadic'pe-jple, in' order to enjoy here, after a short residence,, a privilege they ' find nowhere else. It h within their power in one year to come into the District iu such numbers as .to have the supreme control of the white race, and to govern them qualification of intelligence is voquli- . ed, while here, suffrage is extended t all, without discrimination, ;ts well to the most incapable who can prove a residence in the district of one year, as to those persons of color who, com paratively tew in uumbev, are purniunent inhabitants, rind having given evidence of qualification are recognized as useful and responsible mem -bers of the community. Imposed upon an unwilling people, placed by the Constitution under the exclusive legislation of Consress, it would be received as an arbitrary exercise of power, and as an indication by the country of the purpose of ('digress to compel the acceptance of negro suffrage by the, States. It would . engender a feeling of opposition and hatred between the two races, which, becoming deep-rooted and ineradicable, would prevent them from living together in a state of mutual friendliness. Carefully avoiding every measure that miffht tend to produce such a re sult, and following the clear and well ascertained popular - will, we should . assidously endeavor, to promote kindly 1 relations between, them, and ..thus, .when that popular will leads the way, prepare jfor.a; graduT and harniCYnjOus.' , introduction of this new element inter the poIitical'6owerN3f the country.', r?,(i " It cannot De urged that the pro- ' posed extension of suffrage in the District of Columbia ib necessary to enable persons of color to protect either their interests or their rights.

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