The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1867-04-18
Republican Rcmodelled Opinions

Auo SOuHcCliCVb SiCCV'oh, "h'S" ~
suited In . Democratic victory, is re-
costing and remodelling the Republi-
can party all over the United States.
Several radi ,al newspapers are speak,
ing out against the result.to which the
theories of Sumner and Stevens are
leading. They say that the little no.
ton of Mr.. Sumner that Congress may
impose upon the loyal States generally
impartial suffrage, or any other altera-
ton or dictation concerning suffrage,
under the Constitutional amendment
abolshing slavery, is simply "bosh."
We would be glad to give the Hon
Journal readers the opinions of some
of these radical organ editors, but must
content ourself with the subjoincd re-
marks Of the Chicago Tribune, a very
radical sheet. After awhile the Radi-
Gals of the North will find out that in
imposing outrageous violations ofCon-
stitutional law upon the Southern States,
the consequences will affect the North
ern States, and they in turn will lose
their liberty or haveto fight to retain
it. The Tribune says: We see that
Mr.. Sumner, who, 30 far as we can re-
member, never originated practical mea-
sure, Though lie has arrested or impedea
tho passage Of many, has introduced a
bill into Congress abolishing all State
laws and Constitutions, and making
suffrage universal. This bill is based
upon the same reasoning that suggested
the Maryland memorial. 1t assumes
that because impartial sutTrageis right
and just in itself, that therefore Con-
gress is warranted in restoring to any
measures that will establish that policy.
The Maryland memorial asks that the
United States shall declare that because
the Legislature Of that State proposes
to have the Constitution remodelled,
and excludes the colored population
from voting for the delegates, or upon
the ratification of the Constitution, that
the State is without republican form
of government, and should be placed
under military authority like North
Carolina or Louisiana. Mr. Summers
bill assumes that all the States wherein
impartial suffrage is denied are depri-
we'd Of q republican form Of govern
ment, and he proposes not to displace
the existing Governments by organi-
zing new ones, but to remedy the de.
feet in State Laws aud Constitutions by
tie fine and imprisonment Of all persons
who aid or abst in tile denial Of impartial
outrage. OF the two propositions,
Summers is the least practical, and
therefore the most unwise, while it is
equally with the other inconsistent with
the constitutional functions of Con
gress. Why should Congress interfere
in the case of Mary land, and not in that
OF Kentucky. A State Convention has
been called in Illinois to amend the
Constitution, and negroes are to be
excluded from voting for the delegates
to that Convention; why not as well
ask that the Government of Illinois be
deposed, our Constitution and laws set
aside, and have Convention called by
military officer? There is hardly Il
State in this Union in whose State Con-
stitution thelc is not some provision
antagonistic to the broad principles of
republican equality. Illinois and Ken
lucky deny suffrage to free citizens who
are not white. Rhode Island denies
suffrage to white citizens Of foreign
birth unless they have aproperty quail
ifcation. New Hampshire excludes
members Of the Catholic Church from
the privilege Of holding office. Hill
nois discriminates against citizens OF
foreign birth by requiring orthe'n four
teen years OF citizenship to be eligible
to certain Offices In some Of the States
the period OF residence to eutitle citi-
zens to vote is six months; in others
one year, and in Others two years. In
some States persons Of African descent
are entitled to vote on al equality with
the whites in others they are denied
the privileges altogether, and i'll 9th
crs are required to have property quail
iications. II Congress is to exercise
the power Of deposing State Govern
mcnts, blotting out State Constitutions
and laws, and under military rule or
penal law, require them to be all of one
standard, in one instance, why stop at
Maryland In the meantime, while
this work is going on, what States will
come into the Union!
SCENE IN A PRINTING OFFlcE.-A
notrou Of n cprtuin upwSDaDpr once said