Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-01-03

of the excluded states 10 representhtion 70
sought to he made dependent upon their
adoption of this amendment. The right OF
he excluded States TO be represented 10 Con-
rress does moi depend upon the adoption or
Rejection of this amendment nor indeed upon
the will or pleasure ofthe Congress that pro-
posed Il, but exists l,y virtue Of their charac-
Ter of States in the Federal Union under the
provisions Of the Constitution, and the denial
Of this right is the exercise OF unwarrantcd
arbitrary power,---is, in word, usurpation
and revolution. Whether the American peo-
ple will submit either 10 the denial oil the
right of the Southern States to representa-
ton. or that that right shall be made 10 ue-
pend. upon the will ola party in congress
representing minority OF the people OF Tue
country. are questions that cannot long re-
main undetermined Acquiesccncc in such |
usurpation will inevitably lead to despoiisin. |
Apart however from these considerations, |
there are objections to the proposed amend. |
mcnt Inherent in itself, sufficient to warrant |
/ and demand It's rejection by the Legislature
of this State. The necessity OF the amend
meni is prcdcatcd by Congress upon the pro-
pricty OF curtailment of the political power
Of tic Southern States, and in one aspect
the amendment Is framed with that view
but il is apparent. an Interior purpose, the
bcsiowal OF tho elective franchise on the Al
ricnn race in this country, is likewise CON
templated in the proposed alteration oil the
Constitution. Neither Of these objects can
be accomplished in the manner proposed
without manifest departure from the spirit
Of The Government as formed by the fathers
of the Republic, and without manifest wrong
and injustice to the States to he ahected
thereby. The possession Of an undue pre-
pondcrence of political power by either sec
tion of the country would inevitably tenn 70
ln,rict
the other. SO far therefore as II can be nc
complishcd an equalization Of power bc,
! tween the two sections Of the country should
! he maintained. Certainly il would not be
the effort of enlightened statcsnanship to IN
vest either with such controlling influence as
would constitute il permanently the govern
, Ing section. Such however is the av0wed
object of the proposed amcedment to the
. Constitution. The majority in Congress de-
r sires to secure to the Northern States,
r through this amendment, the permanent CON
r troll OF the Government, either by diminish
- ing the number of representatives, from thc
! Southern States or by compelling these States
;. TO confer the elective franchise on the negro
population within their limits, through whose
!, influence and votes they hope to secure the
i permanent control of the legislation of the
country Incredible as il may appear, such
y is the proposition submitted by the Amcri'
70 can Congress, through this amendment, tt
In the Legislatures of this and other States. II
"a may br ..iuvcly doubted, leaving out of view
Il the demand that il made of the Southern
Il people, that they shall osracisc and dis
&c grace forever many Of the best men amonl
Ia Them, --whether the Congress Of the Nati0i
"a contemplated or desired an acquiescence .,
=. the Southern people in these unjust md OF
y fensivc demands, or whether the rejection o
N this amendment, was not desired that il nigh
-, be made the pretexi for usurped cOns0lida
n ton of power in n Congress composed eN
i, clusiyely of representatives from Northern
i States. Whatever may have been the ex
!, pcctaiion or object of Congress, the rejectio
~ of this amendment is demanded alike b
~ every consideration OF justice, patriotism an
,;r humanity. and il is TO be hoped tliat tn
~ Legislature of no Southern or Border Stat
ID will hc found 50 wanting in selt-respect, q
~, regardless of the rights and dignity OF til
W. State they represent, as to hesitate 10 rcjct
w a proposition so unworthy of consideration
~, The issues upon which the members of I'll
Of present General Assembly were elected, M
= the emphatic declaration Of the will Of IL
30 people OF the State, as expressed at the pol
20 ~ at the recent election, indicates so clear
~, tlat you will withhold your approval from
H.; ts proposition so manfestly absurd and unlu
~, as that contained in the amendment referrt
-, to, that deem il unnecessary to summit
~ recommendation to that effect.
m COVE SALISBURY.
H., DovEg, January !, 1867.
Ith To his E,ctA,ncy q. Sanisbvry: Ia coSpiia'i
,es mifh The provisions Of a Joint ResotufiOn 81
nit General assembly Of he State Of Dstdiro'
he Passed at Dorer, Ftbrua,y11 1866 !. l.. Thin
~ SfJfe Jrepsurey. submit The fOWUWtnQ.