Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-05-09
WE APPEAL TO THE coNs7yT1Tyo

We APPEAL TO THE CONSTITUTION.
We reproduce, to-day, from the New York
independent, an article containing a most
important letter from Charles Sumner, CON
corning the vital issue of this present hour.
The opinions therein expressed by the great |
Senator are no new Ones prepared for the |
occasion, and developed from the progress of |
circumstances, but convictions well weighed, |
long cherished, and now at last near to real |
ization in fact.
Mr. Sumner says of the question of Uni
yersal Suffrage-the comforting the ballot on
the colored citizen in the Border, and I'M
Republican Northern States-as follows: -
First. "This question must be settled
| without delay"
Thank God for that II ought to be, GER
tainly, for its settlement is demanded by
Justice as well as sound Policy. 1t will in
deed make g the old pro-slavery party, con-
ceived in oppression and gathering strength
from injustice, "kick the beam, forever.
Second. Anew constitutional amendment
to give Congress the power to act sis need
less Instead OF amending tho Constitu-
ton, read it,"
This is true. Iflanguage means anything,
, if the National Constitution, considered and
; weighed step by step, word by word, syllable
ysyllablei TO be taken as in earnest, there is
a ample authority-nay, positive command
: in it, that Congress shall take care of the
# now injured colored citizens of the Republic.
y l ,ppnl Laws horA la,,rt-a1 sc II
: and have set up in many ofthe subdivision,
i Of the country, by so-caled Estate" enact
e ments, system of government entirely anti
c republican in FORM Here, then, comes tc
the ears of the National Congress the appca
of these citizens whose right is tramplcd un
s der foot, and that body is not only recrean
It to moral trusts but wilfully disobedient o
! its controlling authority, if it refuse to hea
e their petition and grant them swift redress.
'e Third The authority is cumulative. 1t il
3. three-fold; il is triply sufficient GLOW
', under National Constitution, which doe
4 not contain the word white, or black, cal
le there be any exclusion, on account of color :?
ii And further still, there are two recent con
u stitutional amendments, each Of uhich ft,,
e. niShcS ample and cumulative po,Uer."
n Will the Congress of the United State
e. hearken to these facts? Will the men VIII
lie have given political rights to the colore
ne Americans in the South, refuse them to til
p same class in Delaware? Why should they
OF by virtue of your interference. gentlemen
e. the Congress, vote in Virginia, but becaus
| al naNlppt IN ip,a ~ NJ
& ryland? Here there are
an In Delaware. &c
le In Maryland. ,0(
ng In West Virginia. q
ed In Kentucky AS, On
rd In Missouri. on
N American born freemcn, true to the uni
IN Of the country, having proved their devoti,
& by endangering their lives; possessed
Ter your guarantee, of their Civil Rights gull
ey Of no crimes, social or political but dep
his we'd for some thirty to fifty years, of a igj
ern which, in tile foundation of the Republi
ex- they enjoyed in common with other either
adj but which was taken from thom by fore
ur- against their consent, by barbarous syste
md which your legislation, and the AmendmeI
ms to the Constitution, by your action secure
m have destroyed and swept away, forever,
foreign to our institutions, unjust to our ne
me pie, and dangerous to our existence.
$ What will you do for these one hundr
how thousand American freemcn? Can you
~ dare you-do them less than prompt co
al Il plete justiceS
lust Gentlemen in Congress, you dare I
any pause in this work. Eguai rights Of 8
/, in .frdge 10 every american citizen, is
,.,,' manded at your hands 1t is National,
my a local, question, and National law must s
oDs. tie 1t.