The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1865-04-20
Upton, IOWA, APRIL 20, 1865

by an analogy between the life material
and that to CONS, bears ~, in dream like
fantasies, to tho endless pleasures Of ;
celestial existence, in IN unknown realm
Of infinite space. Az the anchorite,
courting privation, peuance and isolation
from his kind, solaces bis selfimposed
solitude With anticipation Of . heavenly
crown, 30 should We bear the burden Of
the heavy laden, the misfortunss and
tolls of the present state, in contempla-
tion Of the more perfect happiness Of .
future life. JOE.
What II q Constitutional Majority Of the
etatesi
The question-what number Of States
10 required to pass the constitutional
amendment abolishing slavery-while but
little discussed BY the press, has not been
overlooked in tho private discussions of
our citizens. Il is, after all, question
which can be properly adjudicated only
by the constituted authorities-the final
arbiter being the highest tribunal Of the
nation, tho Supreme Court itself.
Those who assume that the States in
rebellion must necessarily be included in
the proposed vote on the amendment,
overlook, it seems to us, many important
facts in the theory and practice of our
republican institutions.
Nothing is better known, no fact is
more universally acknowledged, thsa that
town or a county, as we'll as tho indi.
vidual eitisen, has been again and again
deprived of its vote, even at most import
ant elections, and on vital matters, by
failure to comply with the provisions Of
tho law-thus DISTINGUISHING itself -
Criminals under confinement for alleged
or convicted crime may not vote, even
though their ballots might change the
whole result Of warmly contested cleo.
ton. Be State as nearly balanced in
its parties at an election a. possible, who
rightfully complains that county's vote
il cast out, for illegal returns, even though
its vote might, if admitted, wholly change
the issue of the election?
The principle so we'll known and 90
universally admitted, when applied to in
dividuals,1 towns or counties-that the
electoral franchise can be lost by even in
formality and illegality-surely is not
inspplicable even to States, which, not
less than the former, are amendable to
completely as they. The fact that the
principle has never before been exempli-
fed or tested, ~ applied to States, docs
not altcr its force, pertineuce or applica-
bility.
If by voluntary rebellion, by overt aud
foul treason, State has put itself in open
hostility to the nation and its Constitu.
tiop, and thereby deprives itself of all
representation in the Federal Govern
ment, snd is in no relation to vote and
act legitmately on national affairs, surely,
if 10 any matter, or on any occasion, it
fails of its vote, the fault, like the loss,
is its own. It is not disfran chised by the
nation: it has disfranchised itself. Hav.
ing ignored, ssorned and disowned its
duties of loyalty and fidelity, it is no
wrong if it lose at the same time, by its
own act, its privileges and franchises -
If such disfranchisement from illegality
be justifiablo in the case of county, why
not in tho case of State? If univers-
ally admitted right in the less, why de-
nigh it in the greater? In the former,
the sin may be only of ignorance or in
advertence; 10 the latter it is deliberate,
willful, incapable guilt.
We have presented these few thoughts,
not as covering tho whole case and its
argument, but simply as a oaulion to those
who hastily arraign and denounce the
opinion that the States in rebellion are
excluded by their own act from the i'm.
pending nationol vote on slavery-abolit.
ion.
It is to be hoped, however, that the
question may not be brought to the test
Of our courts. The prophecies of events
ell point to q more harmonious issue
Appearances are indeed hopeful, that
enough restored States-lats in rebellion
will cordially vote for the proposed
amendment, so that the national triumph
of Union and emancipation will be un.
questioned aud complete Chi. Journal.
Mr.. Stewards Speech...Our FOREIGN
Relations.
q