Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1867-01-09
me to have been aburdautly exprcsscd.--


would have been astonishing if the people
had failed to approve them. That every
person, born in the United States, and
free, whether by birth or manumission, is
citizen OF the United States, and that
no State has right to abridge the privi,
leges of citizens, Of the United States
these are principles which were never Sc
riously doubted anywhere, until after the
insane crusade in favor of slavery had
been for some time in progress. What
is called the decision Of the Supreme
Court Of the United States, in the Dred
Scott case, has made it eypedien, and prop
cr TO rc-assert these vital principles in an
authoritative manner, and this is dons in
the first clause Of the proposed amend
mcpts.
The right Of prescribing the qualfica.
tions Of voters is exercised by the repec-
tive States, under tie Constitution of
1883; thrcc-fifhs of the slaves we're
counted in asoertaining the representa-
two population of the several Ststoa.--
The amendment to the Constitution abol-
ishcd slavery in all the States and Terri
tories. Though it was formerly other
wise in most, if no, all, Of the old South
ern States, ye. for many years past free
negroes have not, in any OF these been
permitted to vote. 1t present, therefore,
the late slave Slatcs would be entitled to
count the whole of their former slave
population, as a basis for representation,
instead of three .ff,hs thereof That is
TO say, they wopli have in the existing
ratio about twenty more meubers Of Con
grcss than they had before slavery was
abolished and the free States would lose
the same number, making difference OF
.boat forty members Of Congress, or, say
5ne-sx:h Of the whole body. In other
words, the treason Of he robellious States,
tic suppression of which has cost us so
alauy hundreds Of Thousands of precious
iivcs, and 50 many thousands of millions
of treasure, would be rewarded by giving
them Il vast increase If political power
THIS absuTdi'y, tIe second clause Of the
proposed amendments, designs to prevent,
by the just, equal ana moderate prov's
ion, that in future, the representative
population CT each State shall be ascer-
teinei by making a Proportionato d7due-
ton from the whole population thereof, II
It's laws exclude irom the privilege OF
voting. any male citizens, not criminals,
Of tho age of twenty one years. | have
yet to learn that any plausible objection
can be offered to such a provision.
Tie third clause Of the proposed
amendments excludes from Congress, and
from the College of Electors, and from
al Offices, civil and military, Of The
United States, or Of any State, persons
who as iaac.ionarics Of the United States,
or as Executive or Judicial officers Of any
State, have heretofore sworn to support
the Constitution of the Unitol States, and
afterwards violated their oath by cn1aS-
ing in rebellion against the same, unless
Congress by vote Of two thirds, shall
have removed the disability Of any such
persons. 49,,
The fourth clansc afirms the validity
Of the bo5t Of the United States, and
prohibits the assumption OF payment ct
the rebel debt, or @! any claims Tor the
loss or emancipation of any slave.
The fifth clause provides that Congress
shall have power to enforce the Provls-
ions of the other clauses by appropriate
legislation.
That these wise and moderate proVls-
ions viii! meet the hearty appreciation OF
the Iocislaturc, | cannot doubt. II pro-
posed by two thirds OF each House OF
Congress aud ratified by eefourths ct
the Legislatures of the States, the Con
stitution provides that they should stand
as adop.od amendments Of that lnstru-
meut
A question has been raised Whether the
States lately in rebellion, and not yet re-
stored to their privileges by Congress, arc
to he counted ou this vote-in other
words. whether those who have rebeiled
and BEEN subiued shall be entitled to a
potensial voice in the question OF the
Guarantees to be required Of them Tor tu-
ture obedience to the laws. So Monstrous
a proposition IS, it appears TO me not sup
ported by the words or spirit o. the Con
sti.ution. The power to suppress lnsnr-
rection includes the power OF making
provisions against It's breaking out afroSh.
These States have made an unjust war
npon our Common Government and theIf
sister States, and the power given by the
Constitution to make war on our part, IL
cludos the power to dictate, after our sue
cess, the terms Of peace and restoration
The power OF Congress to guarantee to
every State a Republican form of Gov,
ernment, would cover much more cogen'
action than has been had.
The duty imposed upon Congress to
provide and maintain Republican govern
snents for the States is to oe accepted IN
the broadest meaning Of the term. 1t Is
not mere formal or unnecessary Pfosi
sion. The power WAS conferred, and i;aa. tnt
duty enjoined, to preserve free institution: n:
aca:ust all encroac!ments, or the 'hoi' more
violent elements of dospotisrl and aaaTcny
And now that treason has, By rebellion
snbverted the Governments OF nuIio',
of States, forfeiting for the people aii '.l' -:
ECrstl-EtlOD, IL