Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-01-19
NO 3

ton WOui0 Dc WITHOUT any POSITIVE law.
In answer to this view ofthe question,
it has been said that the voter may vote as
he pleases. Within the limitations i'm
posed by the Constitution, State and Fed
|eral. he may vote as he chooses; but if he
votes over and against those limitations, be
is guilty ofIegal or moral wrong. Though
no specific penalties may have been defin-
ed, anu no legal tribunal Instituted to en-
force them, yet the wrong is not the less
clear and disastrous This argument also
implies all absolute and unqualified. right
OF property in suffrage. If this right ex-
lists, why cannot the vote be sold? = It will
be answered: because the law prohibits.
Exactly SO; but this proves that the right
is qualified onc-tbat there are restfc-
tons upon ITS ex srcise. This is all cop-
tend for. contend that the right of SUI
trage is a political or qualified right, that it
must be exercised in conformity to the
limitations of the Constitutions, and that
the fundamental Limitation is, that 1t shall
not be SO used as to make religious tests
Suffrage is qua fled political right given
to individuals in correlation TO public duty
and the latter reacts upon the former.
AT this point may answer an inquiry
pu: by the gentleman from North Carroll
ma, MIR. Reade. He enquiries, .'if we
would vote for any one hostile to civil lib
erty and the Constitution" Ianswer him
frankly, that would not. But he does
not put the question fully. Does he be-
lieve that every member Of the Roman
Catholic church is hostile 10 civil liberty
anG the Constitution? II so, does he be-
lieve them 10 be thus hostile to them be.
cause Of their religion? If he does not be-
lieve 5oth OF these propositions, then be
cannot shelter himself behind his imp plea
ton. If there be any number of Roman
Catholics in this country who ere true to
the Constitution and civil liberty, then the
Roman Catholic religion does not make its
voaries false TO their civil duties and OBJ.
LEGATIONS and their political prescription
must be because Of their religious faiih.-
Thus, IN this event. the gentleman makes
religious test Nor will he fare better on
the other horn of the dilemma. II he al.
leges all Roman Catholics to be hostile TO
civil liberty because of their religious
creed, he pron0unces sentence against the
Constitution. and takes issue with the saprs
and founders OF the Republic The Con.
ssitutlon declares that there is no incom-
patibiiity between republicanism and the
Roman Catholic religio and the saees Of
the Republic believed that Catholics miobt
be as loyal citizens as the followers of anv
other faIth. II the gentleman believes
ih's provision IN the Constitution to be I'm.
wise, he should strive TO amend it in the
way provided in that instrument ITSELF
While 1t exists, II is the law. aud disobedi
ence to il is The "hioh.r IL ~
pass now, sir, from this branch OF the
inquiry OF my colleague. He asks me. al.
so, il approve Of the Presidents message.
| 40 approve Of il, mos empha!icalIy. Ii is
bo'd, WISE, and statesmaniike document
and should commend itself 10 the sanction
OF the public judgment. in this copree.
ton, too, will say. that while am oppo.
sed to the representation of my State in The
Democratic nominating convention at Gin.
clnnati. ii President Pierce is the nominee
Of the Democratic party. will chee,fully
and cordially support him, and doubt not
my State will do so. Think he has hieh
claims upon the party; and in this be-
heve but express the judgment Of the
people OF South Carolina.
M, object, Mr.. Clerk, was to define nv
own position. l will add however. thatI
believe the Democratic party Is, TODAY pu.
rer' and truer 10 the Constitution, than IT has
been for years. 1t has passed through fire
and water, and many olits impurities have
been consumed OF washed away. Ithas
the smell Of fire upon its garments and
while II moves on in the historic track of
the founders OF the Republic, shall bid it
God speed Many ofihe halt. and lama
ana blind have fallen by the way; had this
fate overtaken all such, il would have been
better.
The gentleman from PENNSYLVANIA IMr.
Campbell says that the Democratic party
came into this Hall two years ago upon
the crested wave OF popular power; and he
asks, where is itnow? He says it is fee.
BILE and scanty band, clinging to its broken
altars.. Why feeble and scanty? Because
It has been much more friendly TO the
South, and truer to the Constitution, than
either OF the other parties. Clnging. SAYS
the gentleman, to its broken affairs! WHY
sir, to what else should 1t clings While
Abolition fanatacism is sweeping over the
free States. pronrating the guarantees of the
Constitution. and tearing down the remain
ing pillars Of our republican edifce. where
N"o"'aHe party DC, out within
the sacred precincts, lighting down the
foe! while the lust Of northern DONNA
ton and Free-Soil propagandism is dri.
wing the chariot Of sectional power over
the remains Of the Constitution to whar
should the Democratic party cling but to
those affairs. reared by the founders of the
Republic? II il be true to the Conslitu-
ton, and steadiast in the faith OF the faith.
ers, lei il bind itself to the horns the al.
tel; and as the ANGEL descended to -..-,,
the son OF the patriarch even ffbh, the nm
nitec Gnlie, SO may the genius of tb,. band
s'oop down to rescue it from tie CLEANING
dagger Of the fusion cohorts.
( DEATH FROM Tick BrrE.--We learn.
ed hon one of our physicians the o,h..