The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1867-04-03

same, and ascertain VINO are CHOSEN ~ aC-
cosding to the returns Of the officers who
conducted said elections" by such means,
and with this sort OF agency. are the con-
ventions TO he constituted. III 4
AS the delegatesare TO speak Tor the peo-
pie, common justice would seem to require
that they should have authority from the
people themselves. M convention so con-
stituted will in any sense represent the
wishes Of the inhabitants OF these States
for, under the alb embracing exceptions OF
Sc laws. by . construction which the IN,
certainty Of the clause as to dlstranchise-
! ment leaves open to the board oil officers.
the great body Of the people may be exclud-
ed from the polls. and from all opportunity
of expressing theE own wishes, or yotlag
for delegates who will faithfully reflect
| their seRtiments.
do not deem il necessary further to in.
vestigate the details VI ihls.bill. No coasi
deralion could induce me to give my ap-
paoval to such an election Law for any pur.
pose. and especially for the great purpose
oi framing the Constitution Of State. IL
ever the American citizen should be left
10 the free exercise ot his own judgment.
il IS when he is engaged IN the work 81
forming the Fundamental law under which
he Is 10 live. That work il his work. and
liz cannot properly be taken out Of his
lands. All this legislation proceed, upon
the contrary assumption that the people
of each nf these States shall have no cam
stItatIun, except such as may be arbitrarily
dictated by Congress, and formed under
the restraint ol military rule. A plain state
ment oil facts makes this evident.
II In all these States there are existing con.
situations, formed in the accustomed way
by the people. Congress, however, de-
cIarcs that these constitutions are not 10y
al and republican," aud requires the people
, to form them snew. What, then, IN the
opinion OF Congress, is necessary to make
the Constitutes "loyal aud republican y
The original act answers the question IL
lis universal negro suffrage question
which the Federal Constitution leaves 10
the States themselves. Al. this legislative
machinery OF martial law. military co-cr.
ciun. and political dislranchisement, Is a.
yowcdly Tor that purpose. aud none other.
, The existing Constitution OF these ten
States conform to the acknowledged stand
/, ard ]. Of LOYALTY and repuollcanism. Indeed,
. II there are degrees IN republican forms Of
!, government, their constitutions are more
! republican now than when these States
|. four Of which wereimembers OF the origl-
! ual thlriecn--hrst because members oi the
Union.
Congress does mol now demand that =
!, single provision of their constitution be
i changed. except such a contne sufiras 70
: the white population. Its apparent. there.
! fore, that these provision, de not conform
(. to the standard of republ,canlsm which Con
:, sress seeks To establish. That there may
!. be no mistake. II is only necessary that re-
: terence should be made to the original act
!. which declares "such constitution shall
:. provide that the elective franchise shall DC
enjoyed by all such persons as have the
!. qualifications herein stated for electors Of
!. delegates" What class Of persons IS here
meant clearly appears in the same section
;. That is to say !" The male citizens oi sala
State twenty. lone years old aud upwards. I"
whatever race, cnlot. or previous condition
!, who have been resident in said State io
i one year previous 10 the day Of such elec
Al ton
! without these provisions no Constitution
: which can be framed in any one u the te
!, States vii! be Of any avail with Congress
:. This, then, is the test Of what The Const,tu
II ton oi State Of this Union must contain
y 10 make Il republican. Measured by such
~ standard. how few oil the States now CON
4 posing the Union have republican Constltu
,d tions! II. in the exercise OF the constl'u
!. tional.. al...guaranty that Congress shall secur
4. to every State a republican form OF govern
d. ment. universal suffrage Tor blacks as we
y. as whites is Q sine qua non. the work oil &c
il construction nav as we'll begin in Ohio
Q. in Virginia, in Penusylyaais as in Mort
he Carolina.