The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-04

power of leqislatng for freedmen? protest
against it. claim this power Tor the nation.
ii IL be said that the power has never been exer-
cised, then l say that the time has come when
il should be exercised. / clam 1t on at least
three several Prounds:-t1rst, there rs the Con
stitutional amendment, already adopted by the |
people, which invests Congress with plenary |
powers 10 secure the abolition Of slavery; ay,
its eXtirpation, according to the promise OF the
Baltimore platform, including the rlght 10 sue
and testify in court, and the right also TO vote.
The distinction that has been attempted be.
tween what aIe.Called civil rights nd poltlcal
rights is a modern invention. ThcSetwo words, |
"clv.l' and political, in their origin have the
same meaning. One is derived from the Latln |
ano the other from the Greek. Each signifies
that which pertains to city or citizens
besides, ii the elective franchise seem "apprO- |
pr1aten to assure the "eXtirpalion" OF slavery, |
Congress has the same power to secure this |
right which it has to secure the right to sue and |
testify in courts, which 1t has already done. |
Every argument, every reason, every considera-
t0n by which you assert the power for the pro- |
lection OF cOlored persons in what are called
their civil rights is equally strong Tor their pro-
lection in what are called their political rights
In each case you legslate to the same end-that
the freedman may be maintained IN that liberty
which has so taTdily been accorded TO him, and
the legislation is just as appropriate" III one
case as i'm the other. Second. There is also that
distinct clause OF the Constitution, requiring the
Unued States Ito guarantee to every State IN
the Union a republican form OF government"
Here rs a source of power as yet unused. The
time has come for its use. Let it be declared,
that State which dsfranchses any portion OF
its cuiZens by discrimination in its nature in
surmountable, as in the case OF color, cannot be
considered a republican government. The Drin-
Cipe is obvious and lis practical adoption would
ennoble the country, and give 10 mankind new
definition of republican government.
Third. But there is another reason which is
with me peremptory. There is no dscrmlna.
tioG OF color in the allegianCe which you
require. Colored citizens, ike white citizens
owe allegiance 10 the United States; therefore,
fhpN nv pl n pIn not iptl ac nrtuI
other words, allegiance and projection must be
reciprocal. AS you claim allegiance of Colored
persons, you must accord protection. One is the
consideration OF the other. And this protection
must be III all the rights OF citizens, civil and
political. Thus again do / bring home To the
national Government this solemn DUTY. Ii this
has not been performed in times past, it has
been on account OF the tyranniCal influence of
slavery, which perverted our Government.
But, thank Coo that influence has been over
thrown. Vain are the victories Of the war If
this influence continues to tyranntze over the
national Government. Formerly the Constitu-
ton was interpret always Tor slavery. |
insist that, from this time forward, it shall be
terprcted always for freedom.
This is one OF The great victories of the war,
or rather 1t is the GROWING result Of all the VIC
tones. One OF the most important battles in
the worlds history was that of Tours, in France,
where the MOhammedans, who had come up
from SPAN, for three days contended with the
Christians under Charles Martel. Ga this battle
Gibbon remarks, that had the result been dlt-
teTent, perhaps the Interpretation OF the Koran
would now be taught in the schools OF Oxford,
aud her pupils might demonstrate the sanctity
and truth of the revelations OF Mahomet." Thus
was Christianity saved, and thus has liberty
been saved by our victories. Had the Rebels
prevailed slavery would have had voices every
where, and even i'll the Constitution itself. But
il Is liberty now that must have voices every
where, and the greatest voice of all is the
tional Constitution, and the laws made IN pur-
suanCe thereof In this cause | cannot be
frightened by words. There Is q CRY against
"Centralizati0n," consolidation" "imperal
ism." all OF which are bad enough when deaf
CatCd to any purpose OF tyranny.
AS the House of Representatives is renewed
every two ears, it Is lnConCrlvable to suppose
that such body, fresh from the people and
about to return to the people, can become
tyranny, especially when 1t seeks safeguards for
human rights. government inspired by llD-
erty IS as wide apart from tyranny as heaven
IRON hell. There can be no danger in liberty
assured by central authority; nor can there be
any danger III any powers to uphold liberty.
Such Capitalization, such consolidation, aY,
sir, such an imperialism, would be to the whole
country wcll-spring OF security, prosperity and
Ienown. 10 md danger in 1t is 10 lind danger
in the Declaration OF independence and the Con-
sttution ilselt, which speak with central power;
1t Is to find danger IN those central laws which
govern the moral and material world, binding
men together in society and keeping the planets
wheeling in their spheres, Often duIihg the
war the cause OF our country seemed to appear
in three different forms, each essential Itself,
and yet together constituting one unit.
1t was the shamrock or white clover, with its
triple Leaf, originally used to illustrate the
Trinity. 1t was three in one These three diff
ierent iotms Were-lirst, the national forces
secondly, the national finances; and thirdly, the
ideas which entered into the controversy. The
national forces and the national finances have
prevailed, The IDEAS are still IN question, and
| even now you debate with regard 10 the rights
| OF citizenship. Nobody DOUBTS that the amy
and navy iall plainly within the jurisdiction Of
! the national Government, and that the finances
! fall plainly within the jurisdiction OF the
| national Government; but The rights OF citizen
! ship are thoroughly national as the army and
! navy or the finances
Obviously you cannot without peril cease 10
| regulate the army and navy, nor without peril
cease 10 regulate the finances; but there is
| equal peril IN abandoning the rights of citizens
who, wherever they may be, or IN whatever
State, are entitled to protection from the nation
! 1.-THE very least as feeling her care and the
| greatest as not exempted from her pOweT.'
! An American citizen IN foreign land enjoys
! the protecting hand of the national Govern
ncnt. He should not enjoy that protecting hand
! less at home than abroad
OUR PRESENT DUTY.
| Felow-citizens-As l am about to close,
allow me to gather the whole case into brief
| compass. The President, welding the Ope-
| MAJ. power has assumed preroeatiVe over
| Congress utterly unjusliiable, and has under
| taken to dictate q fatal "pollcy" OF reConsruc-
| tion which gives sway to Rebels, puts oil the
| blessed day ol security and reconciliation, and
| leaves the best interests OF the Repuolc In
| ieopardy. TTePCherous to party, treacherous TO
| the great cause, and treacherous to himself, he
has set up his individual will against the peo-
| ple OF the United States in Congress assembled.
| Forgettul of truth and decency, he has as
| sailed members as "assassins," and has de-
nounced Congress itself as revolutionary
| body, "called or assuming TO be Congress-" ana
changing on the verge OF Goyernment' as II
| this most enlightened and patrl.t CONGRESS ala