Indiana State Sentinel, Volume 23, Number 40, Indianapolis, Marion County, 7 March 1864 — Page 2

WEEKLY SENTINEL.

MONDAY, - 31 ARCH 7. The flight of Suffrage to "oldler The Journal of the 2nd instant conUina a let ter written by HissT P. Datto.t, of Company "F" Tib Regiment Indiana Volunteer, ie wbicb tba following question if propounded to tbe editor: ' Will the aoliiera ho may be in the army be allowed the right of suffrage at the coming election or not." In answer to that interrogator the Journal says : ' 2J. Will soldiers in the field be allowed toe right of suffrage ? If it depended on the Union men of the State, or on the Governor, they would, bevond all question. But the late Legislature, through which alone the steps lo secure this right could be taken, was coutrolled in both branches by Copperheads, who refused to allow anything to be done, just as the same party has done iu Maine, Connecticut, Wisconsin, New Jersey, and everywhere where the attempt has been made to recognize the civil rights of the citizen in arms. We believe the soldier has just the same right to vote now that he had before be enlisted, and that iu taking up arms be has added to, instead of d'minished, his claims to the fullest exercise of the right; but the Copperbeads don't think so, and thev, accideuully. had the power to do as they pleased at the only time when anything could be done. In New jersey th.t party has introduced a bill into the Legislative not "only refusing soldiers the right to vote, but foi bidding them to go within a mile of any poll if io the city or vriihin two miles if in the country. In this State the party, wbicb happens for the time to own the Supreme Bench, is "dead set" against soldieirs' suffrage, and agairwt soldiers in all relations, and of course possess in the Court the means to make their hostility effective. So we fear Iodi ana soldiers will be dU - francbised by the Copperbe ids. We do Dot believe that even the editor of the Journal ever wrote a more false, wicked and malignant article than the foregoing. We do not doubt that Mr. Dattox wrote his letter in good faith, desiring and ex pec ting an honest and truthful answer. Our soldiers in the field are greatly dependent upon their friends at home for correct informati n. and the utmost fairness and truthfulness should characterize all of our intercourse wiih them. Who can conceive of the depravity and ma'ignityof the heart that prompts a man to deceive where confidence has been reposed, and to utter a deliberate, willful and malicious falsehood against his neighbors and fellowcitizens? The object of the Journal was to deceive and mislead the soldiers, and thereby to excite and exasperate them against the Democratic party. The Journal, in answer to the question whether soldiers will be entitled to vote, says, "if it depended on the Union men of the State, or on the Governor, they would, beyond all question." , If this be true, then the Union men of the State and Governor MoaTox are in favor of a flagrant violation of a plain and express provision of the S.ite Constitution. The framers of our Constitution, for tba purpose of guarding and protecting the purity of the ballot box, declares that all voters "shall be entitled to vote in the township or precinct where he may reside." We presume that if the framers of the Constitution could have fore seen the present war, they would have made provision for the emergency. The same provision is contained in the constitutions of several other States. The Legislatures of Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Counecticut and New Hampshire, in violation of this express requirement of their constitutions, passed law3 permitting soldiers who were absent from their States to vote. The result has been that the Supreme Court of each of those Stales, composed of Republican Judges, Lave decided such laws to be unconstitutional and void. To remove all doubt upon this question, we will quote from these decisions. The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania says: ' The term ' residence.' in the Constitution, is the same as doniicil a word which means the place wbere a man establishes his abode, makes the seat of bis property and exercises his civil and political rights, and that the right of the soldier to vote, under the Constitution, is in the d:strict where he resided at the time of entering the military service." The Supreme Court of Connecticut says: These provisions of the Constiution, together with numerous other incidental and accessary provisions in the same instrument, clearly indicating an unquestionable purpose, in those who framed as well as in those who adopted that instrument, to require electors to vote only within the several towns where tliev hare their residence, and at the time and place within such towns of holding the regular annual meeting of electors for that purpose, leave no room for construction, and afford no room to doubt, that any act of the Legislature authorizing the rotes ot electors to be taken at any other place, or in any other manner, does conflict with the explicit and unequivocal provisions of the Constitution, and is therefore void." The Supreme Court of New Hampshire says: " A these views lead us to the conclusion th-tt this bill, in iu most prominent lea lures is in conflict with the provisions and the spirit of our Constitution, we have not deemed it necessary to consider whether it might also be objectionable as uneq'ul in its pnctical effect, or, a dispensing with those opportunities lor conference and consultation that h i ve heretofore been deemed im port int. if not essential, to the successful operation of our institutions; or whether it contains provisions otherwise in conflict with the funda men .at law of the State " The Supreme Courts of several other Slates hare decided the same way, but we have not before us their opinions. The Constitution of New York contained a similar provision to ours. The L-gislitare of that State, believing that the soldiers eoul I imt rote without an amendment to the Constitution, have proposed one, which will soon be voted on by the people of that State. The only way in which oar soldiers who are abteilt from their place of residence can rote, is by an amend meut to oar Constitution. How can the Constitution be amended, and bow long will it take? Sections 1 and 2 of article 16 read as follows: "Any amendment or amendments to this Con stiuitioii may he proposed by either branch of the General Assembly, and if the same shall be agreed to by a majority of the members elected to eacb of the two houses, nucSi proposed amendment or amendments shall, with the yeas and nays thereon, be entered upon their journals and referred to the General Assembly to be chosen at the next general election; and if, in the General Assembly so next chosen, snch proposed amend ment or amendments shall be agreed lo by a majority of all the members elected to eacb houe, men i h ill be the duty of the General Assembly to submit such amendment or aineudments to the elector of the State; and if a majority of sai l electors shall ratify the same, such amendment or arueodtaenU hall become a part of this Constitution. "If two or more amendments shall be submitted at the same time, they shall be submitted in such manner that the electors shall rote for or against each of such amendments separately; and while an amendment or amendments, which shall hive been agreed upon by one General Assembly, sba'.l be waiting the action of a succeeding General Assembly, or of the electors, no additional amendment or ameridmenUsuallbe proposed." When an amendment is passed by one session of the Legislature it is submitted to the next succeeding Legislature, and if it is approved by that, then it is to be submitted to the people for their approbal or rejection. So it will require nearly three years to amend our Constitution in this rcode. We now come to the question whether the Democratic members at the last Legislature are responsible for the defeat of this measure. We can and wi'I demonstrate that they are not, but that the Republican Legislature of IfcGI is responsible for the soldiers not being permitted to vote at the appreaching elections. The Legislature of 1S61 was largely and intensely Republican. During that session three propositions to amend the Constitution were agreed f cd wert waiting the action of the last Legislature. The first relate! to the right of suffrage, and reads aa

tdtrn

followst "Laws may be passed fixing as a qualification of voting, the length of time during which an elector shalLhave resided in the coun ty and township, precinct or ward in which be offers to vote under this Constitution See Acts of 1661. p. I5d. This proposed ameudment couUined a reatriction and limitation snd not an extension or enlargement of the right of suffrage. The other two propositions related to the school law. See Act of 1861, p. 186 These propositions were pending before the last eesaion of . the Legislature. What could they do? The Conatitntion eapreaaly declares that "while an amendment or amendments, which shall have been agreed upon by one Gen eral Assembly, shall be waiting the action of a succeeding General Assembly or of the electors, no additional amendment or amendments shall be proposed." . . - Let as uow inquire what action was taken by the last Legislature upon this subject. Ou the first day of the session. Mr. Griffith, of Lagrange, submitted a resolution instructing the Judiciary Committee to report a bill amending our election laws so as to permit our soldiers jn the field to vote, which was passed. The Judiciary Committee was composed of four Dem ocrats and three Republicans, aud it unanimous ly reported that the election laws could not be changed in the mede asked without a change in the Constitution, and this report was unanimous lv concurred in br the House. See House Journal,' pp. 14 and 178. - On the 24th of February Mr. AjtDxasox.of St. Joseph, introduced a bill to amend the election law so as to permit soldiers to rote. This bill was, on its second reading, referred to a select committee; but Mr. AsnEaso.i, shortly after wards, following the example of Jtrr. Davis, Toombs & Co., violated bis oath of office by va eating his seat, with others, thus preventing all legislation; and the bill was, on the last day of tbe session, reported back without action. On the 16th of January Mr. Casox, of Boone, Introduced a joint resolution "in reference to amending the Constitution, so as to allow sol dicrs of this State to vote at the annual State aud county elections." On the second reading cf this joint resolution, Mr. Moboax, a Republi can member from the abolition count v of Henry, raised the constitutional question that this amend ment could not be proposed while the amend ments proposed by the Legislature of 1661 were awaiting the action of that Legislature, and it w3 referred to the Judiciary Committee, which, through Mr. Axdersox, a Republican, unani mously reported "that it would be ui.consitutional to propose an amendment to tha Constitution while there is a proposed amendment to the same pending and undisposed of;" and this report was concurred in by the Houe. See House Journal pp. 102. 222. 223, 247, 284 and 25. Where now rests the responsibility! If the Republican Legislature of 1S61 had proposed an amendment to the Constitution so as to permit the soldiers to vole, the last Legislnture could and wonld have passed it, aud it could have been submitted to the people at the April election o 1863, and our brave and patriotic soldiers couK hare voted last fall and at the elections this fall The Journal says, "Rut the late Legislature thiough which alone the steps to secure this right could be taken, was controlled in both branches by eopperheads, who refused to allow anything to be done, just as the same party has done in Maine, Connecticut. Wisconsin, New Jersey, and everywhere where the attempt has been made to recognise the ciril rights of the citizen in arms The editor of the Journal knows that the above naracraDh contains three deliberate lies. Lie No. 1. If the Joiitt Resolution of Mr. Casox had been pissed by the late Legislature, it would have to be submitted to the Legislature that meets iu January, 1865; and if passed bv that Legislature, then it would have to be submitted to the people for their approval or rejection some time in the year 1865. So it could not have become a part of our Constitution until long after the elections this fall. Lie No. 2. The Journal says that the copper beads defeated the same proposition in Maine, Connecticut and Wisconsin. The editor knows that the Legislatures of all of these States are largely and intensely Republican, and that the copperheads bud no power to defeat the measure and besides be knows that the Republican Legis latures of Connecticut and Wisconsin passed laws on this subject which their. Republican judges held to be unconstitutional. m Lie No. 3. The Journal says that the last Leg islature was tie only time, and through it was the only way in which steps could be taken to amend the Constitution. The editor knows that to amend the Constitution in the mode pointed out therein so as to permit the soldiers to vote this fall, it was necessary for the Legislature of 1861 to have taken the first step. The editor knows that this was not the only way in which the Constitution can be amended. There is a much horter mode, and that is by calling a Convention. If Governor Mortox and his Re publican friends are so anxious lor the soldiers to vote, he aud thev cau give them that right. Let him call an extra session of the Legislature Let it call a Convention to amend the Constitu tion. Let the Convention amend tbe Constitu tion so as to allow soldiers to vote in the field It Cau all be done iu lime for the October elec tion. Will Governor M oar ox and his friend pursue this course? If not, they should hare the decency to quit slandering and defaming better men and purer patriots than themselves. The Journal could rot close its article without goiug out of its way to assail and blander the Supreme Court. The right of tbe soldiers to vote has not been and cannot be without legislation, before that Court. The judges thereof have expressed no opinion or taken any action on the subject. Then why drag thrra into tbe contro versy. The only reus n that can be assigned is that the editor watted to vent bis hatred and malignity against the able aud upright judges of the Supreme Court, who Mind in the way of his Republican trends, in their attacks upon the Constitution and the rights of the citizens o Indiana. The Exchange Question. As this question is exciting a considerable in terest in the community at the present time, w republish from the New York World the following account of the negotiations and the present condition of whet has occurred in reference to the exchmge of prisoners between the Federal and Rebel governments: From information derived from Washington, Fortress Monroe and elsewhere, and which we know to be utterly reliable, ,we make the following statement of the past history and present condition of theexchanze of prisoners question: 1. From August, 1662, to August 1863. the exchange of prisoners vas conducted through Lieut. Col. Ludlow of Gen. Dix 'a staff, on the one side, and Robert Ould ns the agent of the rebel government on the other. As ail the pre liminaries under the eartel had to be arranged by theae gentlemen, the duties of the positions they held were much more delicate and arduous than they could possibly have been subsequently; but as both agents were determined to agree rather than differ, and as there was no disposition 0!i either side to overreach the other, the exchange went on without interruption until Col. Ludlow was relieved. During tbe year, he was on duty, it will be remembered that the rebels had the advantage iu the number of prisoners, but be succeeded somehow in getting them all exchanged. 2. We further understand that neither Colonel Ludlow nor Mr. Ould were embarrassed by Instructions from their respective Governments They eacb, therefore, bad fall power to settle all question as they came up. Gen. Hitchcock, who figures in official documents as Commissioner of

Exchange, bad nothing to do with the matter

hue Col. Ludlow was in charge: indeed, under the cartel there is no such officer recognize I as Commissioners, only agents areepoken of. Gen Hitchcock was, and we believe still is, a kind of general. military adviser of the President aud Secretary of War, and this title was given him to lurnUh an excuse for bis presence at the War Department. i - - . 3. During the Ludlow Ould regime it was muually aereed that their correspondence should be confidential, and should not be given to the public. ' It was felt that the adjustment of the delicate questions that would arise would be se rious!- erobarraseed,. 1 not reudered impossible. by makiug them the theme of violent partisan distribes North and' South,' which 'would be In evitable uon their publication. The results which bare followed the publicity given to Gens. Meredith's and Hitchcock's letters show bow wise was this precaution. 4. The difficulty in the exchange question com menced with the first iuterview between General Meridith and Mr. Ould. .The agents of the two governments bad previously met as equals, each anxious to perform the duties assigned to him. Gen. Meredith, however, at once assumed that he was the representative of a legitimate dealing with a rebel power. ' With this idea, honestly entertained, no doubt, be undertook to dictate rather than agree to teims Ould promptly resented the change of tone, and matters have gone on from bad to worse ever since. Unfortunately, as it proved, Meredith asked for instructions when be got into difficulty, and as the questions in dispute could not possibly bs under stood at either Washington or Richmond, he received imperative orders which made matters worse than ever. Tbia was made manliest when the correspondence between Ould and Meredith was published. The latter, as Administration papers like the Boston Advertiserand Springfield Republican admitted, was put clearly and explio tly in the wrong. This became so evident to tbe War Department in time that be was super seded and Gen. Butler appointed in bis place. d. . t he appointment of General Butler led to a new complication. He had been outlawed by the rebel government, and Ould could jiot treat with him. Now it may have been very foolish in the rebels to bare done this; but it is clear that if the Federal Congress had outlawed W ise, Floyd, or any other Southerner, the Administration would never consent to hare formal relations with them. It is a recognized rule among all nations ' that its ambassador, charge, or consul, shall not be personally offensive to tbe power with which be is to have official relations. It is against all precedent, therefore, for the Govern ment ot tbe United Sutes to force a peculiarly obnoxious agent upon the rebel government. It it will be seen, therefore, that the difficulty touching the exchange of pi doners commenced hen Col. Ludlow, was relieved, upon Gen I. Dix being sent to another i!epartraent. Had an other officer of equal discretion, and with the same power he wielded, been sent In his place, the brave fellows who have been captured while fighting in the same armies of the Union would have been saved the long months of weary cap tivity, which have fallen to their lot for want of a little common sense, moderation and tact on the part of the Washington War Department and its agents. We do not wish to be understood as indorsing Colonel Ludlow at the expense of cverv one else. There are no doubt thousands of officers who would prove as efficient as he has been, but unfortunately the war Department does not seem to have h id them at hand. As the War Department has submit!! to Congress the Hitchcock and Meredith correspondence, would it not be well for some senator or repreental:ve to call also for the correspondence between CjI. Ludlow mid Robt. Ould. which is understood lo be on a file at Fortress Monroe, in the care of Gen. Butler? 1?' this should see the licht, we have no doubt that it would show why Col Ludlow succeeded so well, and also why Meredith. Butler, Hitchcock, and Stanton bare not succeeded at all, in exchanging the prisoners. ' Col. St re I gilt's Encape. . Colonel Strxight, of the 51st Indiana, who made his way out of Libby Prison by the famous under ground passage, arrived at Fort Monroe on the 21th of February, in company with tbe following officers: Col. Chas W. Tilex. 16th Maine. Major 3. H. Hooper, 15th Massachusetts. Capt. B. F. Fisher, Chief of Signal Corps, Army of the Potomac. Capt. H. B. Cu amber lai ic, 97th New York. Lieut Randolph, 5th C S. Artillery. Colonel Streigut reached Yoiktown twelve oays after leaving Richmond. The New York Herald's Fortress Monroe correspondent gives the following account of Col. S. and Capt. CiiaxBERLAIX: It was about 9 P. M when tbey left tbe prison. Passing up Canal street two squares, they turned to the left and went into Second street, thence going to the right and keeping on the east side of the town. At this early hour of the evening it was impossible not to meet and pass a good many persons, but they did so without exciting suspicion Going by the fortifications, they saw no one. Taking a nortli-easterly course, they continued their journev, proceeding slowly and cautiously, of course, until 4 A. M , when they halted iu a dense wood close by the Chickahominy swamps, and remained the next day. Several times during the day squads of rebels, eent in search of the missing priitoners, passed close by them, but happily without discovering their place of concealment. At dark, they started agtin on their journev crossing the Chickahoininy on a fallen tree, and, as good luck would have it, encountering no pickets. They got into a terrible thicket, and thi niht accomplished only five miles. They lay in this thicket all the r-econd day, and the frequent firing of guns about them materially dissipated whatever of poetical enjoyment they uiight otherwise have derived from their wilderness lodge. Thus far they had slept but little in the day; but, nevertheless, on the third night, they made another start, now striking for the Pamunkey River. The detours they had to make to keep themselves under cover of the woods, and swamps to traverse, mtde the journey slow, mi daylight only found them midway between Chickahominy and Pamunkey. Next day, they passed in a swamp. Rebel scouts were still prowling about: but they lay low and quiet, and were not discovered They suffered greatly from cold Next night they reached the Pamunky.neir Piper's Ferry, and some ten miles above the White House. How to get across the river which here, although not very wide, is deep aud dangerous, and the weather, mnantime, bad reached a decree of coldness in iking swimming it an impossibility was now the question, and it wt', a difficult one to solve. Thus far they had btained from coming in contact with any one, white or black. They were compelled to call in contraband assistance, aud iu accomplishing this were four days At length they get a negro, aud the negro got a boat, and in this way they pot across the river. And now good fortune smiled on them. This negro turne! tbein over to another negro, who piloted them fifteen miles down the opposite bank of the river. As a good many of the rebel soldier, and particularly the cavalrv, living in this vicinity and Gloucester county, were home on furloughs, they Mil! had to move with exceeding caution. But the kindness of the ne jrroes saved them from capture. They were brought down, to York river, and set across by a skiff st Bigelow's Lauding. From here they went down the river, passing West Point in daylight. Here, seeing no one save negro solders on picket, was the first positive assurance of reaching our lines. 7lr;irllan' ICeporl. Thin document has been in the hands of the public for some days, and has been extensively read by the more intelligent portion of the people. "It has," sajs the N.Y. Herald, "fully established that soldier before tbe country as the only person who at the outset of tbe war fully appreciated t.ie rastness of the rebellion, and bad a clear comprehension of the means by which it could be put down; and in this way, this reort amply justifies the eclat with which he is received wherever be makes bis appearance, especially by tbe soldiers, and gives the lie to all the malign statements made against him by tbe Administration and its supporters." Since McCialla' removal, the Army of the Potomac has done little which will tend to shorten the war. The President bas carried on a struggle the only result of which seems to have been to impoverish ' the country without doing the enemy much harm. The HeralJ thus sums up the doings of the Administration: The administration InVjrfered with the Peninsular campaign, and. by lis withdrawal of sixty thousand men, from the number that had been assigned as necessary to carry that campaign to a successful Issue, caused its failure. The administration, by h-j suspension of General Me Clellao in August, 1W52, caused the successive

disasters of Pope's campaign. And the administration, by the removal of General McCIcilan

iu the fall of 1862,' caused directly the massacre at Fredericksburg, the gieater massacre at Cbancellorviile, the advance of Lee iuto Penayslvania, where the country was saved by the stubborn qualitiea of our soldieis, and Lee's eventual escape across the Potomac, which gave another year of existence to tbe rebellion.- AH- this the administration has done; but it bas not given an Ractive blow in the Et towards the destruction of the Confederacy siuce Gen'l. McClellan was sacrificed to tbe clamor of the radicals. 4 ritO.U WASHINGTON "Ole Abe" See Ulnar Ke-eleetlwn ata at Joker Ilidlcule of bia Pretensions by the Soldiers Positions of the Lincoln, Chaie and I'remsnt Fat tlonat&c! Ac, Ac. . . f Special Correspondence of the Chicago Times. Washisgtc, February 25. Old Abe is going in for a re election on a most remarkable and funny record. He wants to be re elected as a joker. He points to bis expiring term, with pride and pleasure, as a great joke. The record is a sorry juke to the couutry. Already the newspapers in the interest of the joking aspirant are collecting his "little anecdotes." and spreading them before the people for political ef fect. . Is it possible that the great American nation are to be wheedled into the support of a can didate for tbe Chief .Magistracy whose chief claim to support, as urged both by himself and bis friends, is, that be is a clown? Lincolo may get a little fictitious popularity by bis jokes aud stories, smutty and otherwise; but wise men may discover,, in bis disposition thus to tride with great and serious questions, a dis qualification for the very important position be seeks to retain. Our army, on whose rotes he largely relies, has already made the discovery that he is the wrong roan in the right place, and the men are not backward in showmg their contempt for bim. 1 hey ridicule Ins pretensions If Old Abe wants to enter the contest on tbe etrengtb of bis smuttv stories, his jokes and wit ticisms. I fancy he will find the soldiers more than a match for him Iu a former communication I pointed out the three prominent factions that were contending in the so-called republican Union ranks for the succession. At the head of the list, just at this moment, is the Lincoln or Seward facti on. When compelled to define its positiju on political questions, it points to Old Abe's record exultingly, aud says. Are we uot sound on the abolition question ? Nobody will dispute the abolitiou tendencies of the administration. Tbe proclamation of emauciption, uow a year old aud over lias settled that. Every act of the administration has proven its loyalty to the doctrine of abolitionism. But both tbe Chase and Fremont factious take issue with Lincoln, singular as it may appear, on this very question. . An abolitionist all over, in every act of his public career, these rival candidates come forward and denounce him. It may not be unprofitable to attempt a discovery of the points in which they disagree from the present incumbent of the White House. It may at lesat expose to the gaze of the great laboring masses of the North west the poiut towards which we are rapidly drifting, and from which we may only be saved, by the earnest efforts of every patriot in the laud. Mr. Chase with his followers are advocates of immediate and unconditional emancipation of the blacks everywhere within the boundaries of the United states. It will be remembered tli.it Mr. Lincoln's edict only emancipates the slaves in certain States in rebellion at a fixed date. It leaves the statu of the negro in the border States that had not rebelled unchanged. But, at the same time, Lincoln shows his willingness and desire to tree the neirroes everv where, bv pressing upon Congress and the border States his schemes for gradual emancipation with compensation to loyal owners. So there is no question)sitmn as a genuine out and out aboli tionist. Chase vews his purpose to go further. He would ignore the Constitution more completely than Lincoln has done, and would exert the might of the Executive in aid of universal emancipation, and would support it by tbe army now in existence and subject to the orders of yie Executive. He comes before the people as a candidate for the Presidency on this ground, and on this issue he contends with Lincoln. If Lin coln is an abolitionist, he is a more perfect one. He would have no slave in bondage, but releasing them, would elevate them to the grade of the

white man, or rather, would degrade the whiteor its recent copperhead course in opposing a

man to the level ot the nec-'O. Fremont goes even futther than either of these " loyal " gentlemen. Having allied himself with the German red republicans, he halts at no pros peciof anarchy and bloodshed, but rather gloating at the prospect as affording a dim promise of military renown, and educated by his other allies of the Wendell Philips school, he would not only at once free the negroes, but would also give them the right of suffrage, with social equality iu every respect wi;b the whites, including the right of intermarriage. On these latter points he secures the most hearty support of the extreme radical abolitioirsts, with whom amalgamation is nu essential. Each of the aspirants for Presidential honors, with their followers, claims for himself the most perfect "loyalty. "' It is most remarkable how easily thrr nnnage to deludo their adherents with the id'ea tint those who see the constitutional objections to their revolutionary schemes saying nothing of objections of a moral and social nature are disloyal, and how readily they manage to convince them that the ground they tre;d noon is concentrated to the purest loyalty and patriotism. And yet each one of them openly and clearly violates the fundamental law of the land, the only difference between them be ing in the extent to which they go in their disloyalty. Is it possible, then, that tbe people of the Uuitei States will extend the reign of n class of men whose only claim of support is their persistent purpose to introduce an inferior race into the workshops and upon the farms of the North, to compete with the white woikingmen, to their great il.inngt? Abolitionism h is never before, in the history of our country, been so b ld in the avowal of their designs. It is to be hoped tint this boldness wiil aork its overthrow now, as all wise men and true lovers of their country, i's peace und prosperity, unite in believing it will do Mohris. egr r.qu Uly, "ocially and Politically I IieJ Itlglit ot .suffrage to be jiven to African. .Special Correpondetice of the Chicago Times. ' Washingtox. February 26. It is worth ever ItodyV while to stop and ask, Whither are we drifting? Take the following, clipped from a Washington newspaper, as an illustration: "Yestrrdiy afternoon, as a colored boy in med Henry Clay, carrying a bucket of oysters, wms 'tooting his luirn to bring up customers, a man named James Whaleii told him to 'atop a toot ing,' but Clay kept on 'a tooting,' und turning aro'iud, put the end of his horn into . Wbtleu's face and gave a loud 'toot,' when the latter effectually put a stop to the 'tooting' by dapping the 'tooter iu the face. Oracer Hurley arrested Whalen aud took him before Justice Barnacle, who held him to bail to keep the peace." This is from the local column of the Sur, a paper whose editor, at the commencement of the war, was a idave-owner. Since the war, the patronage of the Administration has so dunged his views that he now considers a white mm deserving of i unishment if he resents an insult offered by a negro. The Administration now has four papers in its interests in this c!tv:the Intelligencer and Starrelics of by gone days surviug on departed glory and the droppings from the tables of the more immediate "organs," the Chronicle and Republican the former of which is owned and controlled by tbe renegado Forney, and the latter by a bfctch of discharged correspondents of the New York press. All these papers are printed in the interests of the Administration and the abolition party. Ouly a few days ago, these papers united in a shout of virtuous indignation because, iu the cky of New York, the street railwuy companies prohibited negroes from obtruding theii odoriferous prisons in the same cars with white passengerstaking occasion at the same time to deal some bits at Boston and Philadelphia for alike reason, and holding up the city of Washington aa a bright and shining example of a better state of things, because, in this goodly city, tbe negro is entitled to the first choke of seats not only in the street cars, but at all place of public rexoit. The public h is nut failed to notice that at the levees of the President, thus far this winter, the negro bas been the leading person in interest aDd distinction. Rising above the importance of Senators, Secretaries, Judges, forein Ministers, or any other dignitaries. Sambo bas occupied the highest seat and received the moat marked atten tion from the Chief Magistrate and his courtiers In the Senate Chamber, we find the distinguished Afrban not a bit less, conspicuous.

Clothvd in the army blue, all covered over with Ct f . 1 . f A Anil Itka.a kuMnna l A Ima r. (f Ii i a

pviu av ea iiva LSI CS.ö UUUVIDt 11V f 9 VU aJ 13 WU scious importance In tbe calleries, while the Sumners, and Wilsons, and Chandlers, expound to nim their views of bis sucerior creamers to the white race. ." . To what are we drifting? - Social equality, iu theory and practice, beins already virtually established oetween the races, through the machinations of tbe ruling power, - the next step is amalgamation. This ateD must aod wiil follow as surely as the sun will continue to rise from day to day, if tie present party is retained in office. For this, our rulers are laboring with all their migbU-.To this -cod, are they pledged. Tbe right of suffrage will be given to the ne gro in the next Presidential, election. Of thia there can be no question. It is a part of' the programme.. It is now under advisement by the abolition leaders in Congress whether any legislation ia necessary by Congress in order to gire the soldiers a rote iu that election. Already the wall of partition is broken down. - "Soldiers," means black soldiers, as well as white.' It is resolved that all wearing the Federal uniform shall rote. Fifty thousand blacks will doubtless be wearing that uniform next fall. Indeed; it ia churned by tbe friends of the administration that that number are now uuiformeo. One hundred thousand more are with tbe various armies as teamsters and servants.and an endless nunibei are subsisting on tbe government in the various contraband camps and "Freemen's Homes" scattered throughout the country. If the few who are uniformed are enabled to rote, wilt not the same authority that is raked up to permit the outrage also permit and enable others to vote ? . These points demand the attention of tbe sober, thinking masses of the country. Let it be remembered that not only is a white man in the city of Washington compelled to pocket the grossest insult a negro may offer him -an insult that no gentleman would quietly receive from a white man, but he must receive the same negro and all his greasy fellows into fraternal intercourse aith him, ride with . bim, dine with bim, walk with him, and forever remain with bim as an equal, and, if anything, entitled to more consideration than a member of the unfortunate white race. . -These are facta thrown out for the consideration of the people. . Morris. A New Copperhead. Tbe leading radical paper iu New York has been converted to copperheadism. In view of such a change, what may not be expected? Here is the new statement of creed: "To a considerable extent, tbe Administration is so identified with the Government that, in times ot serious public peril, they must stand or fall together." To a considerable extent ouly! Here is a vast change of opinion; an evidence of the return of wisdom; a clear indication of conversion to copperheadism. The most virulent of the Northern opponents of the Administration never pretended to any other doctrine than this, that the Administration is not ideutical with the Government, and is only identified with the Government "to a considerable extent.'.' Only a few weeks ago we were told by the radical men that the .Administration was the Government. Our readers will remember how we prophesied that when the Presidential campaign should opeu the radicals would repudiate their own favorite theory. Here is a notable instance of the repudiation we foretold. It follows, by ouly a few days, a series of articles in the same parser, pronouncing against Mr. Lincoln for re election, aud as a necessary part ot the pnicess of opposition. Now let us put a few plain questions for the neophytes in this doctrine. To tudy and answer them will do them good, and assist them along the path of wisdom they are begiuning to follow. W h y is it not perfectly right for the President to set aside the constitutional provision lor an election, if in his judgmeu: the rebellion can best be put down by bis continuing in office? Why is it not just as proper lor bim to deprive a milliou of free Americans of their privilege of the ballot in the entire North, as to deprive one man of his libert) t Why does not the doctrine of military necessity justity the violation of the Constitution in this matter as fully as in the matter of seizures and searches of papers, suspension of newspapers iu the mails, banishing the candidate for Governor of Ohio, dismissing Air. Edgerly from the army for voting the Democratic ticket, or auy similar act? Why is it not the dutv of Mr. Lincoln to deny the ew 1 oik I ribune circulatiou I ft I rial m a 1 1 continuance of his administration? Wha is the distinction in principle betweeu any one of the arbitrary proceedings of the Administration heretofore, and absolute seizure of the reins of power for four years longer? Finally, ought not Mr. Lincoln to use the same measures for suppressing the copperhead friends of Mr. Chvse and Gen. Fremont, that he has used to suppress other opponents of his administration? Would he not be perfectly justified in imprisoning and afllicting (hem and, if not, why not? N. Y. Journal of Commerce. Great Out rage in Du)-ton The Office of the Rniplre Itiddled. Another of those acts of lawlessness and crime which have become so frequent, and which indicate how entirely the public mind has become demoralized and debased, took place iu Dayton yesterday. A number of furloughed soldiers went to the office of the Empire, the Demur-ratio organ, and riddled it. Although the leader of tlie-c men assumed the entiie responsibility of the act, it is not difficult to see behind bim the real authors The sjldiers have derived their information of the Empire from the misrepre&eti t:tins of the abolition leader, and were uu doubiedh instituted by them to the commission of an act that the 1 Itter were too cowardly themselves to perform. We du not think any commentary is needed upon stich acts as this. Every calm ami rational man rau see where they !e id, and can discover the Feeds of violence tint the are sowing in the community, which will produce, ere long, most bloody and destructive fruits. It is very certain that nil such acts of mob violence, of outrages upon freedom of speech and ol the ptess, .-(lengthen the pirtv agiinst whom thev are directed the Dmocraticorgani zatioti, which it is vainly supposed can be crushed out by them. We warn the gentlemen of the Republic in pally of this fict. They are allow ing a policy to be pursued that is covering them with shame and disgrace, and which the tide of time will never efface from the pages of history. These violent and oninxeous attempts to de slrov the liberty of the Democrat c press, when the Republicans h ive two to our one in the State and country only shows the desperate straits their party is driven to, aud will awaken the natural and patriotic emotion of very true- lover of liberty throughout the land. It wiil, as sure as there is a just God. rect'il w'uh terrible relri bution upon the heads of the real authors. There is an instinctive lore of justice in all men. no matter how much they may be prejudiced iu the hour of passion, that will, in their reflective moments, condemn all such infamous acts. It is a poücy that tends but too surtly to the overthrow of all I he guarantees of life, liberty and property, by which we have been surrounded, and surrender tip to unrestrained anarchy and license. Cin Euq. ALIiSUItTS OF I'AIIAGUAHIIS The receipts of the Brooklyn Sanitary Fair already exceed $230,000. The rebel General Price has received a perpetual furlough and gone to Mexico. The conrention for the improvement of the Ohio river, held at Louisville on Thursday, passe! a series of resolutions terminating with a requirement that an appropriation often millions be asked of the FeJeial Government. Gor. Seymour, in bis speech at the opening of the Sanitary Fair in Albany, declared that ticn to be .he oldest iu the country, next to St. Augustine, Florida; to have beeu the seat of the convention which, under Benjamin Franklin as chairman, first took into consideration a union of the colonies; aud to be the city In particular for whose defense tbe national flag was first unfurled. At a select ball given by the Empress Eugenie at the Tuileries on the evecing of January 26, Her Majesty was attired in a white dress shot wit'i gold, jl with gold fringe at the bottom of the skirt and the upper part of the corsage. A belt of gold encircled her waist. Her head dress was in green velvet ornamented with diamonds and emeralds, and the necklace formed of several rows of pearls with drops of emeralds. In the new book called "Miscegenation," writteu by a young mulatto woman, there is the following" complimentary passage explaining "what's de matter" with New England: ' "Tbe white race which settled in New England will be unable to maintain its vitality as a blonde people. They need tbe Intermingling of the rich tropic temperament of the negro to gire warmth and fullness to their natures. Tbey feel the yearning and do not know bow to interpret It.

THIHTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS.

. ; ' House. ; ; . Washington-. February ,23. Tbe bill reviving the grade of Lieutenant Gen era I waa signed to-day by the presiding officer of each House, and only awaits tbe f reeident s signature to become a law. In the House, Julian of Indiana introduced a bill to secure to persons in the military and naval service homesteads on confiscated and forfeited e-tatea in insurrectionary districts. Referred to the Committee ou Public Ludj.., . --. Mr. Ross of Illinois offered a resolution that the pay ot officers and soldier in the army and navy be increased to about 33 per cent., and that the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to immediately report such a bill. Mr. Wilson, ot Iowa; introduced a bill that each and every person Indebted, or who may be come indebted to the United States prior to July 1, lb65, on account of duties on imports, may discbarge one tenth of the amount of such indebtedness by payment id legal tender Treasury notes of the United States. . Also, a bill providing that the provision of the set of Congress of Itfil, which authorizes a direct tax of $-2,H) .000,000. shall be suspeuded until April I. 1H67. Both bills were referred to the Committee of W ays and Means. Mr. Arnold asked leave to ofier a resolution of inquiry as to the expediency of putting rebel prisoners to work, in order that they may earn a livelihood while under our care. ' Mr. Blair of Missouri objected. More than an hour was consumed in repealing a joint resolution heretofore passed authorizing the clerk of the House to procure a copyright of Lan man's Direcrory of Congress. nie bill reported from the Committee of Ways and Means, last week, and which was then published, authoring a change in tbe form of a part of the loan authorized by the act of March last. I Thia is the bill for tbe issue of $20,UU0,00Ü 5 40 bonds. SENATE. . . . Mr, Grimes introduced a bill for the protection of overland emigrants to the Pacific. Referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. ' Mr.' Sumner, from the Select Committee on Slavery aud Freedom, presented a repurt on tbe Fugitive Slave Law, recommending a repeal of all laws for the rendition of fugitive slaves. The bill to extend the payment of bounties to April 1st, was recommitted to tbe Finance Com ruittee lo await the judgment of the President and Secretary of ar. , . , The Senate then considered the bill equalizing the par of soldiers. Mr. Chandler presented a joint resolution from the Legislature of Michigan asking changes in the enrollment law. Referred to the Military Committee. Mr. Chandler presented a lengthy petition from the ambulance corps. Relerred. . Mi. Lane, of Kansas, introduced a joint resolution of the Kansas Legislature asking for in formation In reference to certain school lauds in Kansas. Mr. Chandler moved to take up tbe Senate bill to make Parkersburg, V a., a port of entry. Mr. Nelson, from the Military Committee, re ported a bill extending bounties to April 18th, as passed by tbe House. -'Mr kelson thought we were enlisting men much faster than we could provide for them. We were enlisting them at the rate of 2.00 per day. If we had to make a draft it would be but a small one. : We have over 31)0,000 already under the last call. Mr. Fesseuden moTed that the bill be recom mitted. Mr. Sherman thought if the Secretary of War wished that extension of time fur the payment of bounties, he should say so iu writing. He would oppose it without such an endorsement. Mr. Lane of Indiana concurred with Mr. Sher man. II we Mime out tne j..uu-ciuse mine present law, it wouUl secure men enough without Impoverishing the country. Mr. Nesmith offered to give an extension of the time named in the resolution; that the bill should go to the Senate Finance Committee, but the Military Committee found it on their tables, this morning, and brought it before the Senate as it came from the House with the clause extend ing the payment of bounties to April 1. It would incur'an expenditure of $30.000,000. The bill wis recommitted to the Military Committee On motion of Mr. Conness, it was ordered that 10,000 copies of the Report of the Committee on Freedmen and Slavery, with the accompanying bill, be printed lor the use of the Senate. Re ferred to the Committee on Printing. The Senate proceeded to the consideration of the bill eoualizing the pay of soldiers, the ques tion being on the pending amendment of MrJ Wilson to insert the word free before tbe word persons in Mr. ColUmrs amendment. Mr. Fessenden was apposed to the retrospec tive character of the bill. - tie was not willing to put his hands in the treasury to pay tbe colored troops money they did not ask tor. Adjourned. HOUSE. Washington, March 1. Brandegee offered a resolution fixing the 31st of May, the Senate concurring, for the adjourn ment of Congress. The House resumed the consideration of the bill to establish a bureau for Freedm in affairs Mr. Knapp, of Illinois, opposed and Mr. Price of Iowa, advocated the bill. A message was received from the Senate tha the committee of conference on the Whisky bill had been unable to agree. Mr Washburn, of Illinois, offered a resolution that the House insists on its disagreement. Mr WashburneV resolution was adopted 76 to 67. The consideration of Mr. ressenden bill was resumed, and. after debate, wag pas.ed bv two ini'iritv. Sir Pendleton, of Ohio, moved that the House recede from its disagreement. Negatived, 43 against 7?. Adjourned. ., - SENATE. j After the presentation of various reports from committees, the bill to provide for the protection of overlaud emigrants to ti e Pacific coast was passed. The House joint i evolution of thanks to tbe officers and aoldie a who have re-enlisted was passed Mr. Fessenden reported the House act supplementary to the act to provide ways aud means for the Mippoit of the Government, approved March 3, lfc63. Mr. Powell moved to strike out the 2d section, authorizing an additional issue of $1 1 ,000,000 in 5-2f I bonds to persons who subscribed previous to Jan. 21jst, 1SG4 The motion was rfjeoteJ II to 27. A debute arose ou Mr. Hendricks motion to strike out 6 per cent, and iusert 3 in the $20,000,000 5-20 loau bill. The motiou was finally rejected." Mr. Morgan offered an amendment to issue $11.000.000 of bonds to be solJ to tbe highest bidJer, which was rejected. The bill, without amendment, was passed. On motion of Mr. Sherman, the report of the committee of conference on disagreeing rotes, was read. Tbe Senate insisted upon its agreement, and the matter was referred to the House for its action. Mr. Sherman said he withdrew his proposition to instruct the Senate Committee, until tbe House had voted. Mr. Wade presented the petition of a German political club of Cleveland, io relereuce to the polier of reconstruction. . Referred to the Judiciary Committee. Mr. Sumner presented a petition of citizens of Ohio praying for the rc.il of the fugitive slave law and "amendment to the Constitution. Referred. ... Mr. Nesmith called up the bill to protect the overland emigration. Patted. Ort motion of Mr. Howard the resolution was adopted, calling on the Secretary of the Treasury to furnish copies of the reports of tbe Union Pacific Railway. The Senate went into an executive session af ter which i; adjourned " . WasHisetO!, March 3. HOUSE. The House by 8 majority re committed to the Committee oo.lbe Judiciary the bill declaring the jurisdiction of the Court of Claims, as rowing out of the military and naval operations uring the present rebellion, also providing .for the settlement of claima for Quartermasters aud Commissary supplies befoie the proper bureau, making provision tor Boards of Commissioner to ascertain other claims with a view to their future settlement. , Another bill reported from the Committee on the Judiciary was taken, providing for the settlement of the claims of Quartermasters' and Commiasary supplies ou the preseuUüou of proper vouchers. v . " This bill, after some debate, was auo recommitted.

Mr. Wilson of Iewa offered a resolution to provide for 1U,0U J additional copies of Grant's niiiliUry report.' Referred to the Coramitlee cn

Printing , Mr. Ambrose W. Chirk, from tbe Committee On Printing, reported in favor ot printing 63,000 copies of the Agricultutat Report for lbC2. A debate ensued, during which Mr. Grinuellof Iowa spoke of tbe propriety of disseminating tbe report at the public expense, leaving the circulation of the document of . military candidates at tue private cost ol gentlemen. Mr. Mai lory asked what tie gestie&un ntict bv military candidate. -.Mr. Griuoell 1 meaa military candidates for the Presidency. Mr. Mallory Does the rentlemao mean Geo. Graut 1 Mr. Grinnell Geo. Grant Is a candidate for Eutting down tie rebellion. Tbe other candidate as been dead some months. - - - Mr. Mallory Who is that ? Mr. Grinnell I mean Gen. McClellan. Mr. Mallory You mistake McClellan, be Is a ive man. Mr. Stevens, of Penusvlrania. agreed with Mr. Steele.of New York, that of all the printed documents, none was more valuable than tbe agricultural report. It was Door economy to becin with priutiog when the trial trip of a steamboat would cost two times as much as the number of copies proposed. Why not economize in the ex penditure of millions on mi'.lionsso lariably appropriated. ' i he resolution for printing 63,000 copies of the agricultural reoort was ordered to be nrinted. . . Mr. Fen ton replied to the remaiks of Fernando Wood and Brooks, saying the Secretary of the Treasury, amid the greatest difficulties, bad man aged our fiscal affairs with unrivalled ability and success. Mr. Hoi man moved to lay tbe gold bill on tbe table. The motion was Dot agreed to 51 yeas to 53 nays. Mr. Moore, from the committee of conference on the whisky bill, reported that they weretnable lo agree. - Mr. Morrill moved that the House recede from its disagreement to the Senate amendment. The House refused to recede from its disagree ment. Adjourned. SENATE. Mr. Davis Introduced an amendment lo the joint resolution to amend the Constitution, pro viding that no person whose mother or grandmother is a negro shall be entitled to the benefit of citizenship; also, that the States of Maine and Massachusetts tdtall constitute one State to be called Est New England; that Vermont, N II., Rhode Island and Connecticut constitute anotli.;r to be called Wet New England. Ordered to te printed. Mr Wilson introduced the joint resolution of the House for the contiuuanceof the payment of bounties until April I, as reported from the Military Committee, with a letter from the Secretary of War recommending that it be immediately p.-ed. r'r '. T " . ; - . The resolution was passed without amendment. .... The bill to prevent military and naval officers from interfering in elecrions, was called up in order. Mr. Powell addreed the Senate at length. Several memorial petitions Ac, were presented, including resolutions from tbe Missouri Legislature in favor of extending bounties to April 1st ' Mr. Powell conJemnel the interference by military with elections. Saying we were the only people who would tolerate it, and held the President responsible for all such infringements upon local laws of the States. Adjourned. HOUSE ' WASHixt.To.'r, March 4. The private calendar was considered. The contested election case of Mr. Rice and Mr. Sheppard came up. Mr. Da wea spoke in favor of Mr. Rice and Mr. Sheppard, contestant, replied in bis own bis own behalf. A rote was taken, and Mr. Rice waa declared entitled to his seatAdjourned. SENATE. Mr. Sherman, from the Committee of Confer ence on the disagreeable votes of two House on the Sen st e bill, reported that tbe Committee of the Senate was unable to gree with that of the House. He moved that the Senate recede from tbe amendments, disagreed to bv tbe House, which motion was adopted by ayes 23; nays 19 , Note. Bill, as it now stands, provides a tax of sixty cents on all domestic liquors, manufacfactured or removed for sale, after the passage of the act unt'.i July 1st, 1664, and forty cents on imported liquors on band. Powell continued his speech on the bill preventing Interference in the State elections. The Senate resolved that when it adjourn nd, it shall be till Mooday. Adjourned. HOUSE WAsnrsGTOx, March 4. The day was devoted to speech making. Mr Baldwin, of Massachusetts, spoke of the doctrine of State rights as a mere instrument to break down nationality. Mr Boyd, of Missouri, made a speech in reply to Mr. Blair. He maiiitiiiied that the Radical member were the true representatives of the Ufion sentiment of that State, and the President had said to him, "if the throats of either the Conservative Ctaybanks or those of the Radicals had to !e cut. he would pure the Radicals." Mr. Yoorhees, of Indiana, said: The American Republic is dying, lor under the present Administration justice iff no. longer established, nor ate the biessit.gs of liberty secured to tbe citizen. STATU ITET1. Tbe first number of the Lafayette Daily Argus will appear on Monday evening, the 14th inst. The Democracy of the hth District fhould give this enterprize a liberal support. Hill vs. Dcxhaii. At the election in 1E53 one Hti.L bad his name placed on the ballots in several counties as a candidate for Secretary of State, and received in some 16 counties about lt.000 votes out of the 200,000 cast in tbe Sute at that election. No notice was given of a vacancy or of an election to be held for tbe office, aud there waa no opposing candidate. Col. C. L DrxiuM held the office of Secretary of Sute by appointment of the -Governor to fill the vacancy occasioned by the rv-aignation of Major McCu ci after the October election in lb58. At the election iu 1853 McCn ar was elected Secretary for two years from tbe 16th of January, 1859. He did uet qualify, nor decline the office in any manner whatever. The commission was not tendered to him under tnat election Ly the Gorernor, neither bad be ceased to be a resident of the State. Under the election, the circumstances of which we bare noted, Hiil demanded his commission lor the office of Secretary of Sute, which was refused. At the October election in 1SG0 Wt A. Plklle was elceted Secretary of State, iu January following was qualified for the office, and for two years discharged iu duties. Hill brought a suit iu the Commoa Pleas of this county against Dcxbam for tbe salary and perquisites of the office from October 1859, to the 16ch of January, 1661, Hill claiming that as DcsnAM was appointed to fill a vacancy, be could only hold the office from tbe time of his appointment in October, 1859, to tbe nsxt general election. Tbe cae waa tried on Saturday last, and Judge Rat decided that tbe election claimed by Hat was illegal that it could not be regarded as a valid election in law. If the decision of Judge Rat bad sustained tbe claim Tot Hill, hu electiou would bars entitled bim to have held the office from October, 1S53, to October. Ifc6l ; hence there would bare been no vacancy in the office to be filled until the election of 1S61. And if Hill's claim against Dinuam for the salary and perquisitea of the office from October, lb'59, to January 1E61, bad been sustained, a claim against Pxelle for the perquisites and salary of the office from January, 1 6th." 161 , until the October election or the same year would have been equally valid. J. E. McDonald and 0. B. Hoso for Dciihax; N. B. Tatlos and H. C. Nawcomb for Hat. ' " . -