Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-03-21

From the New York Evening Post.
ONE OR TWO RESULTS OF THE LATE
CHANGE IN THE CONSTITUTION.

The Constitution Of Rhode Island limits the
right of suffrage to the citizers Of the United
States, and, under this provision, colored per.
sons have been allowed to vote in the elections
held In that state. But this was under the ole
state of things--under the federal constitution
which was in fJrcc ill last week. 1t is, however,
an indication Ut the manner in which hat corsti-
tuti, n has been all ulUng interpreted. Nobody in
Rhode Island has till nov supposed that a colOred
man. born within the state, within the jurisdiction
OF O republic the founders of which declared that
Fall men are created equal" was not u citizen,
not entitled as such to vote in the elections, aud
prosecute his civil rights IN the courts OF Inc
United States, was no moro n member OF eivll so-
ciety, in the view of the federal constitutions, than
q horse or a dog. but was left precisely where
Judge Taney in his late decision Of tho bred 5 OF
case afirms him to lhge been found 10y those who
frame ed the cunstitutiun-tha Is 10 say, IN the con
ditiOn of one who has mo rights which the whlte
man is bound to respect" no claim to protection,
no power to demand justice from the federal trlbn'
nails in any possible case OF wrong or oppression
Nobody in Rhode lSlard, until the new constitution
was promulgated oy Judge fancy and bis associ
ates, looked upon the colored man ~ literally an
cutcast, simply on rcc1unt ot his race, disowheu
by the government under which be was born, and
without q country.
Something. of course will he done in his favor
now that the federal constitution is amended fo
cording to the new reading Of the slaveholdins
judges. The Providence Journal Ut yesterday
says:
"The subject should receive the immediate at
tention Of the General Assembly, so that the
amendment (Of the state constitution securing th
right of suffrage to culured men il it is necessary
may be submitted to the people in the coming po
litical year."
We shall have plenty Of agitation Of matter
like these, in addition to n spirited discussion o
the grounds of the conclusions assumed by .Judg
fancy and his fellows. In ali the free states, tn
I a ,;alat,raa ,rtII Ia ,nn,ia1 ,Vifh l,,li pr "
their state constitutions, to see whether an,
amendment be necessary tn meet the exigenc,
which has 50 suddenly arisen, and supply, If til,
occasion should require i, the want OF protection
TO the colOred man so pectedly created
Plans Of amendment to the state constitution
will be prepared plans of legislation to counter
vail the effect of the decision will he brought for
ward, and whether anything he done or not, we
shall have plenty OF agitation. Where we stano
since this judicial nuOvatiun-whn part OF the
opinions Of the majority OF the court viii, accord
ing TO the usages and principles of administering
law, govern in future cases--what part OF them
mag be explained away the elect OF what part
may be avoided by the ingenuity OF state leg'slt.
ton, will be fru,tipl sources VI earhesV anu "h'
mated discussion.
More earnest than this. and more universally
interesting, will be the discussion Of the means
BY which we may defeat and break in. pieces the
political party formed to difUse and propagate
slayery-a party the doctrines and practices o
which have SO infected our judiciary AS to make !
the instrument of II local ~oligarchy in wrestin!
the constitution 10 bear a meaning which nnthln!
bur = perverted ingenuity could lind IN 1t, an'
which contradicts the Judgement OF the wlseS
and puress men Of the fest half century OF GU
republic. Now that this party has brought owe
che judiciary to lie its accomplish in nationaI'zin
slavery, the necessity Of thrustinS it out OF po"'
is more manifest thar ever. The more wlde'spref
is the conspiracy the greater necessity OF an enc
petic concert OF autian aneng ourselves. Thes
assaults, made one after another, from Congress
from the Executive, and now from the judiGiar.
on the rights Of the free States, should drive t
athens of those States into IL closer union, as
compost drives o scattered crowd under a comml
shelter.