New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-02-10


Beyond all question: the protection Of colored persons In
civil rights is essential TO complete the abolition OF
Slavery but the protection OF cooLsa persons 10 pot
ica rights Is not less essential and the power az
ample in one case as In the other In each case you
egsae for the maintenance Of coored persons in that
legislation is just as appropriate in one case in tho
other The protection Of cOored persons In their civil
rights by Act OF Congress viii be great event viii
be great in ITSELF 1t will be greater STILL because IL
establishes the power OF Congress- without any further
amendment Of the Constitution to protect cooed per-
In all their rights including OF course the elective
franchise. There are precedens OF Congress, as wen
as OF courts which arc landmarks and this one Of
then.
Therefore as authority for Congress. you have two
sources the Constitution itself first the guaranty
clause and secondly, the constitutional Amendment;
each suicientthe two together OF twofod suiclency
To establish the Equal Rights Of all DO further amend
ment is needed. The actual text is exuberaDt Instead
OF adding new words it viii be enough If you give to
those which exis. the natural force which belongs to
them. Instead II negectiug them, use them. instead
Of suppementing them interpret them AN gstfi S;
magistrate once retorted upon an advocate who ois
satisfied with ruling OF the court Threatened to ouf1
his books you had better read them and so would
say now TO all who think the Constitution needs
amendment you had better read it, Yes sir, read 1t
in the principles proclaimed by the fathers before tne
Revolutions read it in the declarations OF the fathers
when they took their place as Repnenc; read p IN
lie Acts Of the fathers; and In all this beam ne gns
you will discern It's true meaning. Then again READ
In that other light which, as rom another sun, he~y
gress to "enfDrce' the abolition Of Slavery. AND tneu
again read It in the glowing illumination OF the war.
But in whichever light you read L you VIII una siw 'v
doubtful the war makes it clear. The victory which
overthrow Slavery has carried with II all the CLOSES ana
constructions by which this wrong was Originally tas.'
ered upon the Constitution. For generations the Con-
sttuon has been interpreted for Slavery. From this
time forward be Interpreted in harmony with the
Declaration Of Independence so that Human kights
shall always prevail be promises OF the fathers must Dc
sacredly fulfilled This is the commanding rule super
sedng all other rules This is Of the great victories
of the war-perhaps the greatest 1t Is nothing less
than the Emancipation OF the Constitution ITSELF
The BALLOT, THE ONLY SUFFICIENT GUARANTY.
Mr. President such is the testimony OF history, au.
thorty and Constitution which binds the Judgment on
this occasion leaving no alternative linus far, nave
done little but bring The diversified testimony together
and weave il into body 1t Is not who speak l
am nothing. 1t is the cause whose voice am which
speaks to you But there are yet other things which.
this long review, am brought back to more general
considerations, and end as began by showing tne
necessity Of Enrenchisement for the sake OF PuDno
Security and Public Faith plead now for the ballot.
as the Great uarantee and the only SUFFICIENT Guarantee
being In itself peaeemaker. reconehe schoolmaster,
cessy ard every reason; and speak, also, for the
good Of these States well as for the glory and safety
Of the Republic that 1t may be an example to mankind
Let me he understood. What especially ask Is i'm
partial suffrage which IT, Of course embraced in Uni.
versal suffrage the greater in the less What is uni
yerss is impartial on. For S. the present
that in the enjoyment OF this right, there shal be no
restriction which is not applicable 10 ALL Any further
question, in the nature OF qnalihcatlon oeongs 10
another stage Of the debate And yet have no besa.
ton In saying that universal suffrage IS universal
right subject only to such regulations as the safety OK
society may require These may concern % age g
character. CO. registration, az residence. NOBODY
doubts that minors may be excluded and So Also per-
SOILS Of infamous life Registration and residence arc
both prudential requirements for the safeguard OF he
ballot.bor against the Nomads and Bohemians OK
politics and to compel the exercise OF this franchise
where a person Is known among bis neighoors anu
friends. Education also. may, under certain clreum.
valuable in Republic where much depends on ths
In el gence Of the people, These temporary restric'
tions DO not In any way interfere with the rgn' SUI
f5age r they Leave 1t Ss'0.y sses, be easily over
come At all events, they are not IN any sense insur
mountabe. and this is the essential Requirements Oh
preston Of poverty in what depth of obscurty or with
what diversity OF complexion you may have been born
you are nevertheless csen-the peer Of every ONCE
citizen, and the ballot is your inallenabe right
The ballot IS peacs-ssdks,. and. afe We rot told
Blessed are the peace High among Inc Beat'
tudes let it be placed for there 1t belongs DENY u,
and the freedman will be the victim OF perpetual war
fare In ceasing to be slave he only becomes sagr
fee Grant it. and he is admitted to those E}uai hels
which allow no sacrifice. Plutarch records ina. tne
wise man Of Athens charmed the people oy tne ss!t
that Fonalty causcs no Var and both the rich and
poor repeated it," And so master ana save VIZ H.
enjoy tie transforming power OF this prlhcips, Iii
stand with tranquil serespect in tue presence u n
master Brute force disappears. Distrgst Is at an emu
The master is no longer tyranI Inc neeaaa ~; Az.
longer dependent. The ballot comes TO hun n us uc
pre- sion and says "use and be elevated ~ comes
10 him in his passion. and says 'use me and 90 noe
gh% II comes to him ii IN n Dis Sa myan lnOSf''
The ballot is reconciler Next after peace is recon-
citation But reconciliation is more than peace IL
nto harmony They learn to live together; They
earn TO work together. They are kind 10 eacD e'ne
wen II il be only the Arab and his horse: ana TINS
INV the ballot promotes this great boon because It
brings all into natural relations OF justice. WHOM
which reconciliation is vain thing do you WISH 10
sse harmony truly prevail 20 that industry, socety
civilization may all prosper and the re
public may wear a crown Of true greatnessi linen 90
not neglect the ballot.
are of nestimable value hut the ballot teaches what
these cannot teach 1t teaches manhood; Especially
ia II important TO race whose manhood he's been De-
MED The work OF redemption cannot be complete ntne
ballot is left doubt The freedman already knows me
friends by tie unerrng instinct OF the heart owe blm
the ballot and he will be educated into the principles OK
government Deny him the ballot and ne WIZ continue
an alien In knowledge as in rights. His claim ~ ex-
ceptiona us your injustice is exceptional For genera
tions you have shut him out from al educaloo' mahg
II crime TO teach him read for himself the BOOK OF
life Let not the tyranny Of the past BIO an apology i0r
any further exclusion Prisoners for long time in.
INJURED in dungeons sometimes bnaed as tney come
forth into the light OF day; but this Is no reason ior
continued imprisonment. To every freedman the BAL
lot is the light Of day
The baot Is protector. Perhaps, at the present mo-
ment this Is it's highest function. Slavery has ceased
In name bat this is all The old masters still assert an
inhuman power, and by positive statutes seek 70
bind the freedman in new chains. Let TINS conspiracy
oroceed unchecked and the freedman will be more IN.
Ranpy than the early Puritan who. seeking n1ery OK
conscience escaped from the lords bishops ony 70
ra nnser another name az according 70 Milton.
New pre,byter 10 bu, old price. writ large.
s.,,,om or apurenticeshp is slavery in another guise
To save tho freedman from this tyranny with all its ac-
cumalated outrage your solemn duty For ,nis We
ar 2, 49, crsrantee IA the ballot. Let the freedman
n,s and he will have In himself under the law con-