The Oxford falcon. [volume] (Oxford, Miss.) 1865-18??, 1867-10-12

long exclusively tothe legislatures
of the states, and constitute the
essential attribute Of at tate. Tho
PROPOSITION ismonStrOus that Con-
gress has the controlling power
over the internal affairs of q state,
and yet these acts 70 to the full
extent of usurping that power
To make tho absurdity the more
look at the condition of
Virginia, Georgia and North and
South Carolina; they were four of
the original thirteen that created
the government, reserved the pow
or to regulate the elective fraH-
chisc, and to control all oftlleir
internal affairs. They are now
told by Congress the thing they
create: VIC are supreme over your
state government, we will regu-
late the elective franchise for you,
take entire contrOl.Of your domes-
tic affairs and place u military
governor over you. This is a
striking picture, but it is a true
one. Suppose such proposition
had been submitted to the patriotic
mon who formed the constitution;
can anybody suppose We should
ever have had a Union? Itwould
have been scoffed at, and are their
sons SO far fallen, 80 degraded, rs
to give their assent, their counte-
nance, their appreciation, to such
q rule of governmentY If SO, let
them forever disclaim descent from
the founders of the republic,
Another section of the original
act contains On extended enumcra-
ton ofcenditions on the perform
ancc OF which the states shall be
entitled to representation, which
may be briefly stated thus: l, when
tho people of the state shall have
formed constitution in conform
ity with the constitution of the
United States, to be framed by a
convention elected by all tho male
citizens without regard to color;
2, such constitution must secure to
the freedmen the right OF suffrage !;
3, such constitution must be rat
flied by a majority Of those who
vote on the question Of ratifica-
ton; 4, such constitution must be
submitted to andapproved by con-
gress; 5, tAs legislatprA of the stiasl
must adoUt the constitutional
amendment proposed by the thil<
ty-ninth Congress rs the 14th ar
ticle, and 9th, said amendment
must have become o part of the
constitution of the United States,
then the state shall be entitled to
representation. Not one of these
conditions has congress a right to
demand of tho states; they are
wholly Out.of the range of con-
grcssional power. Now to vote
for q convention under this pro
vision is to admit, in the most sol
Hemn manner that congress had a
right to impose these conditions.
And why so much solicitude 10 in
vest the negro with tho right Of
suffrage, SO distinctly marked
throughout these acts as to leave
no doubt that this was their para
mount object2 Was it that he
should exercise that right freely
and without restraint? Let the
efforts Ofpartizan emissaries sent
from the North through tho South
to tell the negroes how they must
vote-to threaten them, to bribc
them by tho heartless, wicked
promise that they shall have The
lands of their former masters il
they will vote right, and TO incul
cate a hostility between the races
that is to end in perpetual enmity
or in war that Will exterminatC
the one or the othor, answergA Tht
RADICAL party is the worst epemy
of the negro, as we'll as pqfthslgqy
crnmcnt.
2 A few words will suffice as to tn,
supplementary ,ants 1t assumes th,
entire control Of elections in tn,
States, and the right to appoint tn,
Officers'who are to hold thelny wheth
or citizens of the State or not, AnC
to complete the work OF subjugation
the act Of the July session. Of Congress
gives the registers Of voters absOl0t
authority to exclude anyperson from
exercising the right OF, suffrage, thu
sweeping away the last ,yestage, Q
liberty the people had.
The several provisions 0f these act
may be briefly summed up. by them
COhgress claims absolute, Unliadite
Epowerto legislate on All the inferno
affairs Of the Sthtes, which are eXclp
lsively within the cognizance of th
StatesAit assumes pow er to- exciud
the Representatives of the State
(which they ara by the COnstitutio
entitled, tO-7it assumes the, right {
dictate to the people, of the State
what par Ocular provisions they sfia
INCORPORATE IN their State Cpnstitt
tionsAthe right to cause. citizens !
be arrested without warrants founde
on affidavit-the right TO cause theI
to be tried without juKy-th rlBht
suspend the hGbeGs cOrpV The rigl
to deprive, them of life, liberty an
property without due process OF la
the right to make the civil powI
subordinate,t "a. the military power
to control, modify or abolish Sta
goSernhie tents ut pleasure; IN short
I abolish all Constitutional gove1l
melrtss State and Federal, and d'tO d
clare them annnlled and that CO.
! gress iis the supreme power. and +
might as well have been said, In,
} many words, all Constitutional 60
! eminent is hereby abolished, III
Congress assumes supreme DOW
ctfSt4N VA