The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-04-07
saturday Morning. April 7, 1868.
Mr.. Stewards Amended Proposition.
PORTLAND.

nAT. otoWarCb Amouo0Q EfOpO81tlOn.
Our readers will remember the proposition
which Mr.. Stewart of Nevada lately offered to
the consideration of Congress to the effect
that each State lately in insurrection should
be recognized ard its representatives admitted,
after 1t should have amended its constitution
50 as to do away with distinctions as to civil
rights based on color, and should have repudi-
ated all debts incurred for the rebellion and
yielded all claim for compensation for slaves;
and that upon its complying with these condi-
tons general amnesty should be extended to
all It's citizens for their part in the rebellion
10 this was added a request that the other
States should incorporate in their constitu-
tions respectively the same principle of equal
ity in civil rights. This proposition, coming
from man of Mr.. Stewards known political
afinities, was warmly welcomed even by such
radicals" as Sumner and others, as despite Its
many obvious defects is was thought to en-
body the MAN points which the friends of free
dom and equal rights desire to see attained.
More recently MIR. Stewart has proposed
some important notifications of his original
plan. Instead Of leaving the matter to the
State organizations he now proposes to amend
the Constitution OF the United States as fol-
lows:
NO discrimination in civil rights and djsa-
pnties, nor In the exercise OF the elective fran
cnise, snail exist among the population of the
onitef states indians not taxed excepted)
on account Of race, color, or previous condi-
tion Of seryitale; but in case of restrictive
qualifications by the States, this provision
shali not work Acknowledgement of any per-
sons now entitled to vote.
Without wishing to be understood az en-
dorsing the plan of settlement suggested by
Mr.. Stewart, we would call attention to the
obvious advantages of this second proposition
| over the first. 1t is point which events are
daily forcing more and more home to the con-
victions of the people that whatever is to be
surely done to secure the inviolabiity of the
rights of the citizen must be done under the
authority of the Government of the United
States. State constitutions are too easily al
tered AID realtered, they are too subject to the
mutations of party caprice and local prejudice
TO be intrusted with the control of that in
which the rights and interests of the whole
nation are involved. The government of the
United States, which demands the allegiance
of every citizen, no matter where he may have
bis residence, should certainly be able to pro-
tect the rights of every one of its citizens
throughout its entire territory. The proprie-
ty of this principle is fully recognized so far as
| foreign powers are concerned. When sny
! IA---.~--.. abroad receives wrong or
injustice at the hand of any foreign power,
the government ofthe United States does not
pause to inquire whether he had his residence
in the State of Name or of Alabama, or in some
far off region of the West where no state Or
ganization ever existed, but straightway 1t
reaches out its strong arm for his protection
1t Is preposterous to declare that the protec-
ton which it may accord in foreign countries
it is p0~erless to extend within its own terri
torial limits, because forsooth the assailant
OF the citizens right chances to be some state
or local law, the outgrowth Of prejudice Or
blind class-interest.
One good result which must necessarily
grow out of recent events will be that these
and other important principles are likely to be
bIought more forcibly to the attention of the
people than they have hitherto been. Large
bodies move slowly, and the more extensive
the governing classes in any country, the
longer the time requisite for them to work out
in their own minds the great problems which
they are called upon to solve. But though
the people are slow, they may be counted on
as sure. Their determination in this matter
of equal civil rights is fixed; they only hesl-
tate in regard to means and methods. Give
them time and they win have settled these
also. In the meantime we cannot do better
than to give to the principles involved the full
est and freest discussion. by such means
more than by any other shall we secure the
early adjustment of the important points in
controversy, and the satisfactory settlement OF
exciting these questions, which to be settled
finally must be settled right.