The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1865-12-23
From the San Francisco Examiner.
THE CONsTITUTEONAL AMEND
AaENT...THE DUTY OF DEMO.
Gratis.


Gratis.
For the past few years the American
people seem to have forgotten every prin-
ciple of free government upon which our
system rests. They have apparently
been creeping in tho dark, or rather en-
gagged in some bacchanalian debauch, in
which no excess has been fOrbidding to
be INDUCED in. With senseless cry Of
+" Union" on their lips, they have tamely
and deliberately surrendered everything
that was once considered valuable belong
ing to that Union. They have seen the
States stricken down at the feet of Fed
eral power-their sovereignty Knocked at
and ridiculed-their rights invaded with
out decent pretext or slightest sanction OF
authority-their code of laws and courts
utterly ignored-the Constitutional privi-
leges of the citizens invaded aud outraged
jim short, all the most valuable bulwarks
and safeguards erected by our fathers as
barriers against the encroachment OF
power, broken down aud destroyed. In the
hight Of the war there may have been some
pretext for these things, although no jus
tiication. Men phreniEed by great pas
sions and prejudices frequently approve
what the calmer judgment would never
sanction. 1t seems strange, however,
that now has come time for Thought
that now the Outrages Of the past have
become history. the masses still grope on
IN darkness, prepared to acquiesce in any
thing that an unscrupulOus, anatical and
domincering party may see proper to i'm
pose on them.
i Attention has been heretofore called to
the Constitutional Amendment prohibit
itiug slavery in the States. So far as the
practical effect Of such measure by it.
self is concerned, it amounts at this time
to little. Slavery has been destroyed BY
the war, and the Southern States have
been coerced to recognize the fact The
assertion Of right, however, on the part
Of one class Of States to destroy institu-
tions and vested rights in the others, is
violative Of every principle of common
sense, reason or justice, and utterly incon.
. sistent with civil liberty. But passing by
this view-what more is attempted by the
getters up Of the Amendment? BY one
small apparently insignificant clause, but
really boundless and sweeping in extent,
Il Congress is invested with unlimited pow.
Ter over the whole question of suffrage in
the States. They not only pretend to
abolish slavery, but asif conscious of their
inability to do 50 in the mode proposed,
they 60 on to say that Congress shall
have power to enforce this article by ap-
lpropropriate legislation. Appropriate
Legislation! What does that means Let
Senator Wilson Of Massachusetts, answer
that question. In recent speech at
Yonkers he thus explained its scope. We
copy from the Bulletin:
The Republican party, then, has written
its name for justice, liberty and humanity,
while the Democracy has ever voted against
all the measures for human liberty. They
say they support the policy Of Mr.. johnson,
but say they do no such thing. Did they
support the Constitutional Amendment
There is not man in the country 50 strong
. supporter IS Andrew johnson. Do you
know how much there is in this amendment
1t authorizes the Congress of the United
States to make these slaves emancipated IN
all respects freemen and citizens of the Unit
ed States. That provision is now endorsed
BY more than twenty States, and l tell yoU
Congress will act mp to It's appropriate legis
lation. We can declare null and void ans
: black code of any State They say they arr
in favor Of the policy Of Andrew johnson
: Dare they stand By him on that measure
They favor his policy of reconstruction D.
they know what It isf There are differences
between us on several Of these points, bu
the Republican party was born Of free dis
eussiOn, has lived. and thrivcd, and conquer
IL L. - Rs,v H..
Iday that he had never made any discrimina
> ton between those who favor negro suffag,
or what is known as his policy. That he i
in favor Of free discussion, from which woulC
eventually come forth the truth.
Here, then, is the scheme Of these in
famous fanatics IF q lawless and un
, principled majority in Congress choose {,
say that It is essential to the perfect free
dom of the negroes that the whites of tn,
Z South should not vote, they eau 50 declar'
under that clause. If they can I" declar,
null and void any black code in an,
: State" they can on the same pretext de
clare null and void any white code. The,
can establish an oligarchy of skin, ant
make the negro's ebon vestment badg
of pre-eminence They can say that it j
|. essential to his perfect freedom an,
EQUALITY that there should be divisiol
lof landed estates for his benefit. The,
!. can thrust him into all public places, ant
make it personal offence to deny him 80
eial equality. In short there is nethini
Infamous and yillainous and revolving t
the instincts Of decent men that the "a
natics who now control Congress would no
and could not do under the unlimite
power of & appropriate legislation" VIII
the insertion Of the clause The Con
stitution already confsrs upon Congress
the right to make all needfnl Legislation
to carry ont granted powers. What ne
cessity then for its reiteration in thi
latitudinoRs language? Evidently for
purpose, and that to destroy ali State ~
fhoEity and consolidate ell power in Con
algress. It vas intended as party WeapOl
for seif-perpetuation and continued dom
ination.
The amendment Bill doubtless pass tn
e Legislature Of our State. Nowhere hav
the anprineipIed men who rule the Ian.
had M1ore blind and snbseTvient follower
than IN California. They ara prepares
to surrender every valued right that be
longs 70 State at the bidding and dIcta
tien Of their masters. We hope, hoWes
Ter, no Democrat will vote fw t. To d
lsO he must ignore every platform adopte
+. BY National Democratic Conventions. II
must acknowledge khat henceforth we aE
. TO have . Government Of unlimited poE
lers, and that or fathers whe 80 earafull
lruarfed the rights of the States weF