The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-06-29
THE MINORITY REPORT.
Plea for the COnSti-
~ tuition.
Right Of Admission Fully Dem.
Onstrated.
AN ELOQUENT DOCUMENT.
[concludedl
THE SEVERAL AMENDMENTS.

lie undersigned, is impolitio and without
kecedent. The amendments suggested have
connection with each other: each, if adopt
/, would have its appropriate effect, if the
hers were rejected, and each, therefore,
ould be submitted as a separate article,
thout subjecting it to the contingency of re-
etion, If the states should refuse to ratify
rest. Each by itself, if an advisable
Aasure, should be submitted to the people,
not In such"a connection with those
|sfch they may think unnecessary and dan
Nous, as to force them to reject all. The
s5sudiation of the rebel debt, and all obliga-
EM to compensate for the loss of slave prop
.Sk, and the inYiolab:lity of the debts of the
&xernment, no matter how contracted, are
EEided for by some of the sections of the
endment. We have no doubt that these
sures would meet the approval Of all the
les, but these no state can sanction with
Ri sanctioning others, which we bslieve will
f&S be done by the southern states or by
lie of the northern states. To force negro
.*rsge upon any state, by means of the pen
NE of the loss of part OF its representation,
s@ not only, we think, be imposing dis,
&Xaging provision, but Is virtually TO inter
<H with the clear right of such state to reg
Il be suffrage for itself without the control of
M government OF the United States. Wheth-
/ That control be exerted directly or indi.
LILY, it will be considered, as We think it is,
Etal blow to tho right which every state in
{ boast has held vital-she right to regulate
l4franchise. To punish a state for not reg
t. ing it IN a particular way, so as to give
n classes of the people the privilege of
II fkage, is but seeking to accomplish inci-
n Eally what, if it should be done at all,
k4x*3ld r., dopo M raorop ha
'aIkH Of the undersigned, can be suggested for
eourss adopted ,other than q belief that such
3l9ot interference would not be sanctioned
VII the northern and western states,
st as regards suoh states the actual
Instrumentation, because of the small
II ortion of negroes within their
ks#, viii not, in the least, lessen their repre-.
Xsi4ative power in congress. or their infn-
10TH in the presidential election, and they
4 81 therefore sanction it. The very Unequal
gIRE its operation on the states renders the
u Edsure, in our opinion, most unjust, and
I 1'aIS.ng to the peace and quiet of the country,
s1Eas impolitic.
ssta THE MANNER WITHOUT PRECEDENT.
We mode advised is also without prece-
NJ When the constitution was adopted, il
ss,p bought to be defective in not sufficient
s4otscting certain rights of the states and
people. With view of supplying a
5ks sdy for this defect, on the 4th of March
sAa various amendments, by a resolution
additionally passed, were submitted fol-
acasion to the states. These were twelve
AZ IA mber. Several of them were even less
ssndsnt of each other than are
ssNs recommended by tho committee
FIT did not occur TO the men of tina
aMI that it was right to force the
ssdssf to adopt or reject all. Each was there
sEF REPRESENTED as q separate article. Tn,
age of the resolution was that the fol
ssfA.g articles De proposed to the legislatures
.s several states as amendments of tht
4 al Intuition of the United States, all or any
tshich articles, when ratified by three
ms of the said Legislatures, to be valid tt
MA tents and purposes As part of the consti
The congress- of that Day wal
to obtain either Of the submit
/ Tsssaas.amendments, to get q part ii no
q #t5Es to procure the whole. They
!. s.Als.ht, and In that we submit they
III Ats55(nform to the letter and the spirit of III,
as Abs Ha.ory clause of the constitution, tina
s|* fopls have the right to pass seyerally OF
proposed amendment. This course O
III III sthers, however, is now departed from
tb3 Nae result will probably be that no on,
sa@FaH suggested amendments. though SOM
ssAbe approved, will be ratified. This viii
& kSE 4#nly be the result unless the states ar
sxfhsis,g practically to relinquish the RICH
Pave always enjoyed, never before ques
kSsi1 by any recognized statesman, and all
u. ,,s1ttant to their interest and security, tn
6ssfo regulate the franchise in oil thei
II pms,
sssds&& GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
# 8Ere are, too. some general observation
3E3fear on the subject, to which we vii
4 5g&sEpfsr.
5iN H1t, one of the resolutions of the Chicag
4ashtion by which Mr.. Lincoln was frs
! s. s lated for the presidency, says shat th
d fsnancs inviolate of the rights of th
<r M is essential to the balance of power o
Ssf@ the prosperity and endurance of on
\ a;ss Hal fabric depends" In his inaugur.
III lf2ss on the 4th of March, 1861, which r,
i &EX the almost universal approval of til
II -, among other things he said no state
ffn mere motion can lawfully get out
~ Ned hion, "'sand that in view of the constit,
Mad the laws, the Union is unbroken, on
s|If Sextsnt of nv ability [ shall take care ;,
institution itself expressly enjoins upc
* lat the laws Of the Union be faithful
W. He'd in oil the states"
#Eond, actual conflict soon afterwards e
81 a zEs The south, It wassbelievsd, rnisappr
the purpose OF the governments
Il ing it On, and congress deemed in in
2Se to dispel that misapprehension by
IL k*9@E what the purpose was. This W,
En July, 186l,b their passing the f.
9E resolution of Mr.. Crittenden:
Iat In this national emergency, congress
q Ting all feeling of mere passion or r
IN, Int, will recollect only its duty to tt
Il eountry; that this war is not wage
NJ slr part in any spirit of oppression nc
sANM purpose of conquest or subjugatiol
pose of overthrowing or interferin
lhe rights or established institutions {
3SaHif,* tates; but to defend and maintain til
aN hacy of the constitution, and TO pr,
be Union with oil the dignity equality
NJ eskhts OF 1e states unimpaired that q
hS Nd these objects are accomplished tb
n ght to cease"
III n IN vote in the mouse was 1l9 for and
gaIt it, and in the senate : q
|&I II ", H.nd against it. The a,
conquer or subjugate, or to cursail .
81 Re in any way with the rights of state
10 strongest terms thus disolaimed an
" ayowed object asserted to be 81
5sA and maintain the spirit of the const
flH and to preserve the Union, and Il
equality, and rights of the sever
&&s &nimpaired." Congress, too, by the q,