The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-08-23
THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
From the Chicago Tribune

constitution proposed by Congress than the
studied silence with which the Johnson par
ty treat that amendment, aud the care with
which they avoid all discussion of it upon
its merits Their papers aud their orators
are very fierce in their denunciation OF negro
suffrage and negro equality and as fierce
in their advocacy of the Presidents policy,
and of admitting loyal Senators and Repre-
sentatives from States that ''have never
beernout Of the Union, but they will not
meet the amendment upon its own merits
they will not discuss it, will not argue itsjus
tice or necessity but seek to go into the cleo
! ton upon the general cry of supporting the
policy of the President for an immediate
restoration of the Rebel States to the Union.
We allude to this the more particularly at
this time for the purpose of impressing upon
the people the vital necessity of having that
amendment ratified without delay and to
warn our friends against permitting the
Copperheads to divert them from the actu-
al issue. That amendment is the great
practical issue before the country. It's adop-
ton is the first requisite of peace; its re-
lection remands all things to that uncertain
condition out of which the rebels hope to
see another war; this time with the Presi-
! dent and his Cabinet at the head OF the re-
=, bellion. The amendment contains four
propositions, each of which is unassalable;
| that amendment has been submitted by Con-
| gress to the Legislatures that have to be
elected this year for ratification, and there
| fore it is a practical question that cannot be
avoided. 1t has to be met, and the Copper
heads should be compelled in all discussions
before the people people to state what rea-
sons they have if any, why it should not be
ratified. The amendment declares that all
persons born in the United States, or who
may be duly naturaized, shall be citizens
| of the United States, and citizens OF each
State Heretofore, it has been in the power
| of any State to exclude citizen of the Uni
ted States from the grade of citizen OF that
State and the anomalous condition was
presented of man who was citizen of the
whole country, being denied citizenship IN
part thereof. This amendment destroys
that absurd condition, and makes the native
born and naturaIized citizen of the United
States, citizen Of every State thereof. Will
the Copperheads give their reasons why this
wholesome provision should not be adopted
Will they discuss it upon its merits, and
tell the people why man born in Illinois
and citizen of the whole United States
may not lawfully claim to be citizen of
Missouri or any other State of the Union
to which he may go. .ll
Let these Copperheads tell the people
what objection there is to the second clause
of the amendment. Let them answer, If
they are in favor of continuing the basis of
apportionment which gives to one white
male adult in one State duplicate represen
tation i'll Congress and duplicate votes for
President, and denies it to the white voter
in another. Make them explain why it is
that they insist upon retaining a basis of
representation which gives to the late slaves
thirty two members OF Congress and thirty
two electoral votes for President, and gives
the election of these members of Congress
and Presidential electors to the white peo-
pie of those States, in add ton to their own
regular number of representatives and cleo
tors. Ask them, if they are for an exclusive
white basis of voting why they are not in
favor of an exclusively white basis Of repre-
sentation, and if this is white mans Gov
eminent exclusively why is it that they
insist upon having the late slaves 70 ig In
Congress through their Representatives, and
voting for President i'll the electoral college,
upon an equal footing with the white men
If Illinois and Ohio Ask them why they
| will not vote for an establishment of this
new basis of representation, which will place
| the white man of illinois on an equality with
the white man of Tennessee Ask them
why it is they oppose this amendment,
when its whole object is to place for the
first time in the history of the country, the
white population of the North on an equali-
ty i'll representation with the white popula
ton of the South.
The third clause in the amendment fur
DISHES equally searching questions. 1t pro-
poses TO disfranchise from Office every man
who holding office under the United States,
forswore their obligations, abandoned their
flag and their country to take up arms
against both this Acknowledgement,
however, to be removable whenever the Con-
gress by vote of two-thirds, shall upon
the facts of each case, think justice requires
it. Remember who the men are that are
thus excluded, and then put the question
home to these Copperheads whether they
wish that these double traitors should again
hold Office under Government they have
already officially betrayed.
The fourth and fifth clauses respectively
affirm the invioability of the National debt
intending the pensiona 70 the Union soldiers