The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1867-05-23

l. - - -
ton, If it can pass a civil Rights act,
it can also pass q Political Rights act !;
for each is appropriate to enforce the
abolition of slavery and to complete this
work. Without it the work is only half
done.
There Is yet another amendment re-
Gently adopted by thrcc-lourths of the
loyal States which is itself an abundant
sourse of power. After declaring that
all persons born or naturaliZed in the
United States and subject to the juris-
diction thereof are citizens,' this
amendment proceeds to provide that mo
State shall make or enforce any law
which shall abridge the privileges or
immunitics of citi~tHS of the United
States;' and Congress is empowered to
enforce this provision 10y appropriate
legislation. Nothing can be palmer
! than this.
Here then are three different fountains
of power in the Constitution ITSELF each
sufficient; the three together three times
sufficient; each eXuber,nt and overflow
ing, the three together three times cx-
uherant and overtlowmg. How, in the
face of these provisions, any person can
doubt the power of Congress, | cannot
understand. But alas! there are doubt
crs always.
l have already sent you a copy of my
bill to settle this question by what l call
''the short cut" Give us your vote
OF course, you Will Believe me, my
dear sir, Very faithfully yours,
CHARLES SUMNER.
THEODORE TILToN, ESQ.
Yes. Mr.. Sumner has our vote. He
has always had it; he is always likely to
have it. "How did Roger Sherman
vote?' asked our forefathers. They be-
lieved it was safe to vote with Roger
Sherman. 1t is Just as safe to vote with
Charles Sumner. During the last fifteen
years no American Senator has been so
uniformly right, none SO conspicuously
single minded none 50 stubbornIy un-
compromising, rs tho author Of this let
ter. Therefore let heed be given to what
he says.
Long ago we proposed and at various
times since have urged, an amendment
to the Federal Constitution cstabihing
equal civil and political rights in all the
States-both for whites and blacks; both
for North and South. Mr.. Sumner,
seeking the end, proposes different
means. Instead of an amendment of the
Constitution, he argues law of Con-
grcs. 'How any person." he says, ''can
doubt the power of Congress | cannot
understand Mr.. Sumner knows that
ere do not doubt the power of Congress;
not at all Our doubt is not of its power
but of its Courage. Its power is undeni-
able. Both civil and political rights
flow from one and the same fount. If
Congress has any rignJ to enact, civil,
it has equal power TO enact political
rights. 1t has thus far established civil,
but neglected to established political
rights. Mr.. Sumner properly asks it to
complete its duty by establishing both.
What need then of an amendment of
the Constitution?
Suppose both civil and political rights
to be duly decrced by act Of Congress.
We shall still ask for the amendment.
We can not help considering that all the
rights of Amerscans citizens, whether
civil or political, are on Il stronger foun-
dation when written in plain and direct
terms in an Amended Constitution, than
when, as now, they are inferentially
dcuuced from the more vague state
ments of the present Constitution by
explanatory and supplemental acts OF
Congress. 1t is to make assurance
doubly sure that we have asked, and
shall continue to ask, for such an
! with our distinguished friend that such
an amendment could not be triumph
antly and speedily adopted. On the
contrary, we believe the country is am.
ply ready for it. This opinion we share
with Mr. Greeley.
/ But, whether an amendment is need
ed, or not-and whether it can be passed
or Motive go heartily for Mr.. Summers
bill. Look at the bill. 1t is as follows
| Whereas the Constitution of the Unit.
ed States abolishes slavery everywhere
within the jurisdiction thereof, so tha,
all constitutions, laws or regulations o1
any State or Territory in aid Of slavery
or growing out Of the same are null ant
void; and whereas the same Constitu
ton, i'll another provision, recently
! adopted, declares that "no State shai
make or enforce any law which shall
/ abridge the privileges or immunities o
citizens of the United States - anc
whereas, also, Congress is empowere,
| 10y appropriate legislation to enforce
! these several provisions, which canno
be done without securing the elective
/ franchise to citizens who have been
slaves, or who are the descendants o
! slaves, or who are deprived of equa
rights by reason of race or color; ant
whereas, further, it is expressly decar
ed i'll the Constitution that the United
States shall guarantee to every State il
the Union Republican form Of govern.
ment, and it is plain that any inequality
4 of RIGHTS IT, inrpr stant with - pnpuhli