The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-03-06

game laws and regulations which they
are unwilling to accept if left to them
selves. The negroes have not asked
for the privilege of voting-the vast
majority of them have no idea what
it means. This bill not only thrusts
it into their hands, but compels them
as well as the whites to use it in a
particular way. If they do not form
Constitution with prescribed arti-
cles IN it, and afterwards elect Il Lee
gislature which will act upon certain
measures in q prescribed way, neither
blacks nor whites can be relieved
from the slavery which the bill I'M
poses upon them. Without pausing
here to consider the policy or impo-
hey OF Africanizing the Southern part
of our territory, / would simply ask
the attention of Congress to that
manifest, well-known and universally
acknowledged rule of constitutional
law, which declares that the Federal
Government has no jurisdiction, au-
thority or power to regulate such
subjects for any State. To force the
right Of suffrage out of the hands Of
the white people and into the hands
of the negroes is an arbitrary viola
ton of this principle.
The bill imposes martial law at
once, and its operations will begin so
soon as the General and his troops
can be put in place. The dread
alternative between its harsh rule and
compliance with the terms Of this
measure is not suspended, nor are
the people afforded any time for free
deliberation. The bill says to them,
take martial law first, then deliberate.
And when they have done all that
this measure requires them TO do,
other conditions and contingencies,
over which they have no control, yet
remain to be fulfilled before they can
be relieved from martial law An
other Congress must first approve
the constitutions made in conformity
with the will of this Congress, and
must declare these States entitled TO
representation in both Houses. The
whole question thus remains open
and unsettled, and must again occupy
the attention of Congress, and in the
meantime the agitation which now
prevails will continue to disturb all
portions of the people.
The bill also denies the legality of
the Governments of ten of the States
which participated in the ratification
of the amendment to the Federal Con
stitntion abolishing slavery forever
within the jurisdiction of the United
States, and practically excludes them
from the Union. If this assumption
OF the bill be correct, their concur
renee cannot be considered us having
been legally given, and the important
fact is made to appear that the con-
sent of three-fourtbs of the States
the requisite nur.Der-has not been
constitutionHi.y obtained to the rati-
fication G that amendment, thus
leaving the question of slavery where
1t stood before the amendment was
officially declared to have become a
part of the Constitution.
That the measure proposed by this
bill does violate the Constitution in
the particulars mentioned, and in
many other ways which / forbear to
enumerate, IS too clear to admit of
the least doubt. 1t only remains to
consider whether the injunctions of
that instrument ought to be obeyed
or not. think they ought to be
obeyed, for reasons which I will pro-
ceed to give as briefly as possible.
In the first place, it is the only
system of free government which we
can hope to have us Il nation. When
1t ceases to be the rule Of our con-
duct, we may, perhaps, take our
choice between complete anarchy, a
consolidated despotism and a total
dissolution of the Union; but na-
tional liberty, regulated by law, will
have passed beyond our reach
1t is the best frame of Government
the world ever saw. No other is, or
can be, so we'll adapted to the genius,
habits or wants of the American peo
pie. Combining the strength of a
great empire with unspeakable bless
lngs of local self-government-having Q
central power to defend the general
interests, and recognizing the author
lty OF the States as the guardians Of
individual rights, it is the .'sheet
anchor of cur safety abroad and our
peace at l.ome." 1t was ordained to
form more perfect union, establish
justice, insure domestic tranquility,
promote the general welfare, provide
for the common defence, and secure
the blessings OF liberty to ourselves
and to our posterity" These great
ends have been attained heretofore,
and Will be again, by faithful obe-
dlence to IT. hnt thnv ara onrto;,, +