, 1866-01-31

This takea the place of the ystes basis amend
ment prpeaosed. by 9chenck- Fourth An
amendment proposed by Sumner, guarantee
! tnr the ELECTORAL privilege to all male citizens
! irresncctiye of color, race Or religion.
Now these four constitute al the smend.
mcnts t1at sro seriously thought of or d,s
cusecd in Congress- Each proposition Is nrs.
scntcd in different phraseology by different
members. The "votcr basis0 amendment
for Instance, has been offered 10 the House n
twenty Varieties Of form, but each and al hay-
trg ono common purpose and all to be ID
duced to one amendment.
The President ta not justified by the facts IN
sa5ing hat propositions to amend the Con.
sbtut'on were becoming as numerous as pre-
smolea ead resolutions nt town meetings. :"
nc vas exceedingly 1oose in his remark ind
ol6fespectfM to co-ordinAte branch Of coy-
cfnmcnt, In which Is exclusively Invested this
very power Of framing amendments and
proposing them to the States for
ratification. And it is none of
his business If Congress proposes thousand
during the present session. Congress conatt-
tutes part Of the power to chxnce the Con.
etitution and amend 1t, and the State Lepfa-
latures the other part. Congress proposes.
AA~ SAS 1esASN Tally or reject.
The Executive Is not consulted In the premi-
ses. An amendment must have two-thlrds
majority In both Houses, and no executive
Feto can defeat any measure that receives
two-thtfds vote. But, in case of Constltu.
t3onal amendment, the President has no veto.
He cannot arrest such an act, and send
1t back TO Congress for review. II
goes to the States without his signature.
lie may Sign It, AZ Mr.. Lincoln did the
Freedom amendment, to show his hearty an.
prova1 Of II but his signature gave il M
validity that It would not have had with.
ont It.
Again, OF the four ancnd ndments named. the
Prealdent can mot object TO three Of them
he has expressed himself repeatedly against
assuming the rebel debt or allowing auy of
the States to do SO; against the right Of q
State TO seccde on any pretett, and very
warmly In favor Of making voters the basis Of
representation In Congress. Hence he stands
committed to the principle Of three of the
four amendments. And as to the fourth, has
he not publicly declared that If he were In
Tennessee, he would favor extending the ballot
10 the colorcd men?
What valid objection can be made to The
people OF the United States amending their
Constitution 60 az to abolish class legislation
and odions. undemocratic determinations,
among citizens, and to guarantee In the "su.
preme law Of the land, the equal political
rights Of all abiding citizens If be deems
himself a successor Of our martyred Presl.
dent worthy 10 unloose the latchet OF his
shoes, he will not oppose the adoption OF that
amendment. It is hard enough national
calamity 10 have the great and good Abra-
ham Lincoln-the elected President of the
American people, snatched away by the bull
let Of Copperhead assassin. But 1t would
make the misfortune too srieyons
to be endured. u his prp TEN
successor should prove unlaithtul to the prin-
ciples or which the real President was the en-.
bodtment and repository. All men instinc-
lively Anoto that bad Lincoln lived, those
amendments, and especially The laa. named.
would have received his hearty sanction and
sincere support. The loyal people OF tho
United States. who elected Mr.. johnson to
preside over the deliberations OF the Senate as
Its speaker" now that he is unexpectedly
and accidentally called to discharge the duties
Of Mr. Lincoln's high Office, expect him to
carry ont the principles and purposes Of h1s
lnustrions predecessor. Any other course
will hare tendency to diminish the feeling
of confidence and respect ofthc people in their
acting Chief Magistrate, and make them long
for the expiration Of his term OF Office.