National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1866-11-30
THE CONSTITIJTIONAL
AMENDMENT

Nothing is more common than for
ex-rebel newspapers and orators to
talk about the humiliation of the
South. I'm view of the proposed
! amendments to the CONSTITUTIONS
Stephens of Georgia has just been
doing il, and scarcely day passes
/ in which some of this yapld non
sense does not find its way into the
public prints. We never see it with
out being led to distrust the honesty
of those who make this objection,
! and can not but feel that there is
some lurking treachery behind it all,
which does not come to the surface.
The first section of the proposed
amendment simply guarantees the
privileges of all citizens, and says
that no State shall deprive any
person of life, liberty or property
without due process of law, nor de
ny any person within its jurisdic-
ton the equal protection of the laws"
This applies North as well as South.
Is there any " humiliation about
this 3! If SO, point il out, gentlemen,
and let us see it.
The second section bases repre-
sentation upon the actual number of
voters. This also applies to all
States of the Union alike. Can any
fair and honorable object TO this
Is it not perfectly handed in
its operations Is there the least
show of injustice in anything per
tanning to it! No, by no means.
and there can be no objection on
any such grounds; and, if not must
not any other plea be presunIptuous
and utterly unworthy of the least
consideration. If slavery is dead.
is it not right and Just that the old
three fiiths rule should die with it !
Can anybody discover the ghost of
any humiliation about this
Take, now. the third question:
This DISTINGUISHES certain classes OF
=, rebels from holding any Office, State
or National, who before had taken
the oath to support the Constitution
of the United States. Here if any
where, must be found the So,callcd
humiliation. But the question is
+, which wonld be the most humilia
ting to us as a natiOn-to have the
Amendment pass and be put IL
force. or to see those peWured mer
f AS the world wonld regard them
L back again in the halls Of Con
. grcSs? Would not this last steI
I prove such singing disgrace be
z fore the eyes of all nations that uC
= people under heaven could stand be
e fore it Such a thing would max,
us kissing and hyword and woult
4 operate with more terrible effect NJ
t on the men themselves than any
n where else. Has tie nation no RICH
J. at all to any check upon the rcpcti
J. ton Of the bloody crimes of the las
: five years? With property restored
= with civil rights restored. with al
S the privileges OF free people, can
+. not the South be satisfied short o
Z thruSting the old ring leaders OF re
bellion into Congress, to strip strt,
Hnd dlscord rs OF yorc! 1t Is Ger
tain the loyal North will never sub
I nit to any such insult and hRm, ia
$ ton as is here asked of them. ant
n that Ii the South sees NJ TO mcke {
X dIder piH Of This matter they alon,
e VIII have to take it. But. right,
l. understood, it is not to GO rcgar,le,
a in any such light. 1t is marci:, f,
:. question of selfprotcction. which
= Shall be perpetual and operate in a!
l. sections and portions Of the Cnio
G alike.
;. The fourth and last section of I'll
proposed Amer dmcnt guarantee
the National debt and repudiat,
the rebel debt. If there is any hi
= initiation about Reputation. it is
10 pity it was not SO considered yeal
e. ago. We apprehend that thousand
IS of Northern c.editors and Europea
~ bondholdcrs would have been Ii
!, tie colnforteo for their immens
u losses if they could have had an
assurances That those oldrcpudiatol
OF had any sense OF Shame, or Il
At smallest modicum of humiliation f,
- their needless and most dishoncr
re bic treatment of their financial obi
e. cations. Instead OF that, these ,co
H. deiJuNy punctilioMs debtors have bee
lg accustomed only too often heret
II, fore to pride themselves upon the
C. smartness in this matter to glory
at their shame and we think il will |
Is some time before the world can |
v made to believe that any new scns
Is, of humiliation would weigh the
~, down on account of the rejection |
cs our Government of any debts co
IS tracted in aid of rebellion.
is 1t i, only too plain that all tn
n talk about humiliation is shan
H. and that all such stuff is fitted ON
nd to make matters worse instead
Il better. No one has any desire
ne humiliate the South: but the Go
he eminent has right TO protect itse
10, and by fair and just means put as
be off as possible the evil dav when
'ir bellion shall again raise her bloc,
tly hand against the life OF the Repu
es- Memphis (7ean.) Post.
10. ---->~---
DISCHARGE OF FENIAN PRIso
ERs.-TOrOntO, Nor. 19.-On Sat,
~ day night thirty.nin Fcnian prise
IA ers were released from custody.
", Their discharge was conducted wi
=, great SccreSy, only about an hon,