Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-11-21

Whne Stm0eBmambnhp NVOutO AS@'
Some Republican journal expresses dis
approval with tone or tw0of the best and
ablest journals Of the Republican press" "
for having set sup the doctrine that the
win Of the majority is above written
Constitution" II Is strange that any Re
publican journal should find fault with
this sort of doctrine now. For years, men
who are now prominent in the Republican
party gave persistent advocacy to the doc
trine that there was "a law higher than
the Constitution" and that they owed
allegiance to this "higher law" instead of
% the Constitution. This doctrine has
taken root and spread just as the Republi-
can party has been enlarged. Any provl-
sion of the Constitution that came in con-
tact with their avowed notions of consci-
entiOus duty to "higher power" they
treated as nugatory---as not In the least
binding on them. That these men should
construe the result of the recent elections
as aafflrmatory of their political views
views above, or outside, of the "wrltten
Constitution n-is very natural.
vs. =
Radical leaders having, when in the mi-
nority, put into practice their "lligher
olaw'' notions touching the Constitution, it
lis singular that it does not occur to them
with force, that were they to incorporate
into the ''wrltten Constitution" by reason
Of representing the assumed sentiment of
the majority Of the voters Of the adhering
States, provision insulting to the senti-
ments and feelings of the Southern people,
who constitute part Of the membership Of
the Union, that the Southern people can
quote as q precedent their past conduct
giving them plausible warrant to nullify
1t. Wrong to the utmost must be a pro-
vision in Constitution that in any particu-
lar Is degrading and abhorrent to the peO-
pie Of thirteen States alone. Craftsmanship
will neither bring forward nor insist upon
the adoption OF such provision. OF neces-
sity, it will either become nullity, or will
have to be enforced by the Federal arm,
and thereby provoke continuous dis
content and trouble. The office of
Statesmanship is to prevent this by
misunderstanding all measures that are Of
an irritating character. Thirteen States
unitedly refuse ratification of the pend |
ing Constitutional Amendment. Thirteen |
Stateswill unitedly refuse to adopt Impair
tial Suffrage. Thirteen States will united
ly refuse to give to the lately emancipated |
Slaves unqualified suffrage. These meas
ures, one aud all. are degrading to their
self-respect and to the manhood of the |
people, and, therefore, abhorrent. Where
fore, then. should any one Of them be forced |
on that people? What conceivable good |
can result from such enforcement? Shall |
1t be done to show that the North has |
superiority in numerical strength? This
is abundantly understood and recognized,
and needs no such exhibition to make it |
more palpable. The South in good faith
will abide by the Constitution as it is,
amended forever prohibiting Slavery. The
Constitution without this Amendment was
regarded as sufficiently good by the Fathers
Of the Republic. Should it not be held to |
be good enough by us, amended as it is
Craftsmanship would so decide, could it
have potential utterance in Congress.