The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-03

States abolishes slavery everywhere within the
laws, or regulations of any State or Territory
in aid OF slavery, or growing out OF the same,
stitution in another provision recently
adopted, declares that, mo state shall make
or ENFORCE any law which shall abridge the
privileges or tmmunities of citizens of the
United States;' and, whereas, also, Congress is
empowered by appropriate legislation to en-
force these several provisions, which cannot be
done without securing the elective franchise
TO citizens who have been slaves, or who are
the descendants OF slaves, or who are deprived
of equal rights by reason of race or color; and
whereas, further, 1t is expressly declared in the
Constitution that the United States shall guar
raniee TO every State In The Union republican
form Of government, and IL is plain that any
inequahiy OF rights Is inconsistent with
mlses of the Declaration OF Independence
"Be il enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives OF the United States OF America
in Congress assembled, That every citizen of
the United States. although he may have been
slave, or is the descendant of a slave, or by
reason of race or color is deprived of equal
rights, shall In every State and Territory have
the the right TO vote at all elections for members of
Congress, for Presidential Electors, for Repre-
senlatives, and Senators to State or Territorial
Legislatures, for all state, county town, and
other offices OF every kind, upon the same
terms and conditions, and no others. as white
citizens are and may be allowed To vote; and
every provision of every Stale and territorial
constitution, statute, and ordinance which is
now or hereafter may be enacted, and every
custom and principle, OF law heretofore reoog-
foregoing provisions, are hereby declared null
and void"
Now, whether the above be a constitutional
amendment or an act Of COngress-Or one, or
both-it is just, expedient, and indispensable:
it is equal in its operation, North as we'll as
South; it provides one and the same benefcent
law for the whole land. Shall it be adopted
If we could speak with hundred tongues,
they should all cry Amen. The negro now
has less law on his side in Connecticut than in
Mississippi. Congress, reassembling in july
ought to provide for his immediate relief.
There was an outcry against giving the negro
his civil rights; but when the deed was done,
the whole land acquiesoed. There is similar
outcry against giving him his political rights:
but once given, there will be a general appro
baton of the gift. If negroes who have been
brought up in slavery are allowed to vote in
the south, why shall not negroes VINO have
been brought up in freedom be allowed to vote
in the Northl
Not only is Mr.. Sumner right as 10 the
power OF Congress in the present case. buL
long ago he was right as to the power of Con-.
gress to govern the unrecenstruoted States as
conquered provinces. He then stood almost
alone in the Senate in an opinion which he
mas since seen adopted by his brother Sena-
tors. We trust his compeers will agree 10 his
present bill. We happen to know that Thad-
deus Stevens-who, even when sick, Is more
Wen than most men-is preparing, on his sick
Ded, an argument in support of Mr.. Summers
plan, We happen to know Also that Chief
Justice Chase agrees with Mr.. Summers view.
Let the midsummer Congress adopt the bill as
a Fourth of July measure. It's passage win
thrill the country. 1t will hoist flags, pull
bell-ropes, light arbarrels, and fire guns. II
will rekindle the glorious enthusiasm which
followed Abraham Lincoln's Decree Of Eman-
cipation. |
4, Blow, bugle, blow Set the Wild echoes nyingr