Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1867-02-14

being the bnals, WHAT matters " 70 our
people what the rplc of suffrage IL In
toorgiaf II, for local reasons, they
give to those over City years Of age
alone the righ, 20 vote, it does not Ia
any manner affect our right TO vote.
10 does not ia any manner affect our
rights. Their whole population OBJ
tains It's proper weight in Congress,
whilst ours docs the same, and IN cleo
tions for President The Same rule APP
plies. A preponderance Of one class
Of nonvotcrs may exist in one State,
and Of another class IN another State.
In South Carolina negroes are the pre-
ponderating class Of non-voters in
/ Massachusetts, women are that class.
Yet in both States they are represent
ed. and in each tho white voter acts
for the non-yoter.
Gross inequality and oppression
will follow this amendment it unlimi-
ted negro suffrage be refused by the
Northern States. Direct taxes, under
the Constitution, were imposed in tho
same manner as representatives arc
allotted, and rs the rule now stands
every negro is counted one in making
up the basis Tor taxation. II is not
proposed to change this rule, but il is
proposed to change the rule for repre-
sentation, unless suffrage be conceded.
The result of the adoption of tho
amendment Is, that If suffrage ba de-
med, the States deriving Y are taxed
upon every one of their population.
whilst in several States not one-half
of them are represented. Let this el-
ement Of inequality be introduced, and
a fruitful source Of discord exists. Its
practical effect upon Pennsylvania is,
that we will be taxed for at least ono
hundred thousand more people than
Congress yields MS representation for,
unless we will consent TO strike ths
word "white' from our Constitution
The power TO give vitality to this
amendment was never granted TO
three -fourths Of the States; it destroys
the equality Of the several States; it
will be found most vicious in practice;
It will act as a clog upon the product
i've resources of the Southern States;
il will tend to ALLEVIATE and disafIect
their people, and may be the induce
ment to a conflict of races
The third section embodics the spirit
OF iron handed subiugation. 1t is not
the temper displayed by Grant and
Sherman, in receiving the surrender
of defeated foe. Had that spirit in
fuenced Congress, tho Union would
long since have been restored, and tho
bitter passions which led TO the war
have been sinking out Of sight. The
North holds an immeasurable superb
ority over the South, in Congress, in
the Electoral College, and in every
partment Of the Government. Ii IS
futile to say that this Is necessary for
our protection. 1t is the last for
power armed with the spirit Of hate.
It is unworthy of our history, and de-
grading 90 US as nation. II asks
men who have proven their devotion
to a mistaken cause with their blood,
TO aid in endorsing theirown disgrace.
Let them be. tried and punished by
the laws they have broken, but let us
avoid this stigma upon our charity as
a Christian people.
Prescription and disfranchiscment
serve bot TO in1ame and alienato.
Clemancy and kindness are the surest
roads to restored and reinvigorated
Republic. The example Of the fathers
of the Constitution, in their treatment
of the loyalists and tories Of the Revo-
luton, stands out in history as the act
Of far seeing, Christian statesmen; and
it served to aid in placing us upon the
highway TO national greatness Pro
scribed and conquered nationalities in
the Old World point out 70 US the in
evilable consequences Of such acts.
Even heathen Rome, in the days of
her Emperors, furnishes us an illustri-
GUS example Avidius Cassius REBEL.
cd in Egypt against the Emperor
Marcus AureliBs and attempted to de-
throne HIM. The Roman Senate Bit
terly prosecuted Cassius and all his
relatives, but the Emperor himself in
teriered in their behalf, and in an ora
ton to the Senate he said "As for
what concerns the Cassian rebellion
| beseech you, conscript fathers, that
laying aside the severity of your cen
sure you will preserve your own and
my clemcncy Allow thismuch TO my
present times that, in these conspira-
cics framed for the erection of tyranny,
tho blood of them that fell in the tu-
mutt itself may suffice, and that the
punishment may proceed no further"
The Senate acecded TO the request
Of the Emperor, and he thus establish
ed more sure footing for the power
of himself and his Empire.
Shall we be less magnanimous than
this heathon EmperorG
The security OF the national debt is
a pretext to aid in making these
amendments palatable. Its validity
has never been and cannot be ques-
toned. Taxes to meet it are imposed
by Congress, and in Congress the
North has already an overwhelming
majority which will continually in
crease.
| have already expressed my opposi-
tion to the assumption Of the confed-
crate or State debts, but the theory of
conquest now held by a majority in
Congress will bring about such a re
suit, despite this amendment. lbelieve
that the right thus to amend is within
our power. The overnment is per-
petual the right of secession does not
exist The States attempting to cx-
o....n. al.na - Il Il = - 49,.