The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-10-31
The Southern Politicians the Constitu
tioual Amendment.

The Southern Politicians the Conssifu-
tioual Amendment.
The old ruling class Of Southern politicians,
rs by common instinct Of self-preservation
against their manifest destiny" are coming
out in fierce hostility against the constitutional
amendment proposed by Congress as the basis
of Southern restoration. From Virginia to
Texas they denounce 1t ~ an outrage upon
State rights, Southern honor and Southern
chivalry, and counsel its indignant rejection by
every Southern State concerned. We have be-
fore us, for example, the "report Of the Com
mittee on Federal Relations" Of the House Of
Representatives OF the Texas Legislature, to
which was referred this proposed amendment
= report which will serve to show the objec-
tons against this amendment universally en-
tertained by those old dictatorial politicians
who ruled the South before the deluge.
The committee in this report begins with the
objection Of Mr.. Sharkey, OF Mississippi, late
Provisional Governor-that ~ the constitution
contemplates the participation by all the
States, through their representatives in Con-
gress, in proposing amendments and that "as
States were excluded from the Congress pro-
posing this amendment" this whole proceeding
Is y nulliiy According 10 this theory the
amendment abolishing and interdicting
slavery, which has become part and parcel of
the constitution, is nullity: for in the Congress
which passed il nearly one-thrd Of the States
were not represented. The committee here are
only playing the play Of Hamlet with tho part
Of Hamlet left out They leave out the late re-
belliou, with the consequences Of its failure,
and start from the delnsive notion that the
rights OF the states and The people concerned
are just precisely the same as II nothing had
happened in the South in the shape Of final
appeal TO the sword
Thus this report goes on 10 say that this
amendment in /" its first section proposes to
deprive the States Of the right which they have
possessed since the revolution OF 1776-to
determine what shall constitute citizenship of
State" and that Its object Is 20 declare
| negroes TO be citizens Of the United States
and Of the several States just so. But the
committee 10 not think II proper or desirable
that 1.-The broad, comprehensive principles
which from tbe beginning have pervsded the
constitution on this subject should be aban-
doaed. Here is another great oversight The
] principles referred 10 recognizing and author
ring political distinctions between the white
and black races were all sbolished with the
abolition Of slavery. How often shall we have
| 70 remind ihese an,ediluvian southern politi-
clans that there has been deluge and that
thc constitution 10 IL was has ceased 70 exist
that with the abolition Of slavery all races Of
mep In this country. excepting Indians not
sxed,- stand 10 The constitution on footing
Of equality lie who believes tina, slavery is
censtitutionslly abolished. therefore, can have
no valid objection 10 this new smendmen,
touching the civil rights Of the negroes AZ
citizens. 0 sls-.-
This Texas conmiitee next object 10 the
second section ~ scheme Ito force negro SUI
ftsge upon the Southern States" But II IL nc
such thing. Each State may regulate its suffrage
10 suit isss,f All that h required n thai sufSg,
ssd sedsr,l rssressn.atI2n shsII n t2gsthes