Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-11-15
99l llaeellaueQNa,
THADDEUs STEVENS
His views upon the Past and Prescn
of our Government briefly expressed
[From the Philadelphia Prossl

From the Philadelphia Pressl
4 short and desultory discourse. between
NJ d. G. Pieiffer, w. D., L. i. D., some
time OF the German Universities; for the
last City years aud more, aud inhabitant OF
America; having left his native country for
the sake Of enjoying entire freedom OF
thought and action, and who has been in
the habit, as he has been afforded the op
portunity, Of having consultation and inter
course with Thaddeus Stevens, resident in
another portion of the same country-both
still surviving said Ihaddeus Stevens,
NJ. G. IDoCToR.
DEAR FRIEND: Sitting here in my seclu-
ded study, it occurred to me to consult you
with the familiarity of ancient times, IS 20
your opinion of the present prospects Of our
country. and whether we now are likely TO
approach any nearer to the true principles
of liberty than our fathers did under their
old and constrained Constitution; aud to
ask you at some little length 70 point out
the means by which the great blot-that
heiuous crime-of our Constitution IS il
was, could be got rid Of without further dc
lay or further convulsion.
IN. c.
Ny DEAR FRIEND: | shall not decline to
suggest a few ideas in reply to your ques.
ton although | am quite sure, you are as
capable Of answering them as ! am But
our ancient intercourse bas inspired you
with confidence, / see. in your friend, which
would be better justified had pos essed
the opportunities Of deep thought and study
into the law of nations, which you had be-
fore | knew you.
Whatever construction shall be given TO
the Constitution in it's present condition by
this Congress, and those nearest the great
events which have modified It, vii! be likely
to be accepted, through future time, as lis
true meaning 1t is important, therefore,
that the most beneficial Interpretation
should be given to it, and that it should be
most literally constructed, so as to secure all
human rights.
In the changed condition of our country
! and Of that instrument, which, while IT, as
| to the old States, may not be perverted, is
not so inhezible as to be incapable Of yield
ing to the changing necessities OF humanity.
Before the Constitution was amended,
could not agree with some Of nay learned
friends that Congress could intermcddle
with State laws relative to the elective fran
chise in the United States The circum-
stance of slavery seemed. while It was sub
united. to, to prevent it. After the amend
lIeHL diOllchlE SldfIiJ oAtii fAIii'fAf anu
proposed a constitutional remedy on the 9th
! dav of December, 1868, in the following
/ words: IAN national laws shall be-
equally applicable to every citizen, and nc
/ discrimination shall be made on account o
race and color
| Since the adoption of the fourteenth
amendment, however, | have no doubt ot
/ our full power to regulate the elective fran.
| chise, so far as it regards the whole nation
/ in every State oi the Union, which. whcI
tried, hope will be so formed as TO be ben
ciiciai to the nation, just to every citizen
aud carry out the great design Of the fra
merS of the Government, according to thei]
views expressed in the Declaration Of Eaoe
/ pendence
1t cannot fail to be beneficial aud couye
nient, when weconsider the trouble and in
convenience which a citizen Of one Stat,
encounters, when he travels temporarily Ia
to another. Instead Of being a brother Il
/ home. he Is now an alien in bis native land
! While he participates IN all the burtben
] and anxieties Of the Government, he is for
/ bidden, if a nonresident, to take part il
/ selecting the Magistrate who is TO rule hi
destinics for the next four years.
! In this there Is no principle OF republican
j,sfice The Constitution of 1889 did no
/ carry out the principles Of he governmen
which we're intended by the Father, . heI
inl77G they laid the foundation Of she Coy
ernment on which this nation vas to b
/ built. Then they had been inspired viii
such light from ON high as never man wa
/ insured with before, in the great aork o
providing freedom for the human race
! through Governmentin in which 10 oppros
| sion could find resting place.
They contemplated the erection Of ya.s
empire over this whole continent which y
/ its national character should be governed b.
laws Of supreme, unyarylng character
/ While municipal institutions mishf he gran
ted. with self control, for convenience.
vas never intended that one half of this na
! ton should be governed by ono ser Of laws
and the other half by another and conflict
ing set, on the same subject. The laws, tt.
principle, which was 20 amps 60 the dwell
crs en- The Penabscot, was ~ apply % tnaS
on the Savannah and Susquehanna, else ia
Declaration would have proclaimed the on
the people on the Penobseo or Susque
banna-were born free and equal, and thos