The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-10-31
me NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.
Another Manifesto from xhaddeus
stevens.
His Views Upon the Past and
tho Present.

Bat ancient intercourse haR inspired you with
thought and study into tbs law q nations which you
Whatever consrscsioa shall b. given to the conssisu.
ton in ~ pressn condition by this Congress- and those
es Ss
meaning. Il 10 important therefore, that the most
henene:n, interpretation should Be gwen . T. and that
u che chssssd condition Of our country and OF that
not ~ perverted 10 not nnexble TO incapable
- yissdns % the changing nscsssitiss Of humanity
ssrss Win some Of my learned friends that Congress
could iutsrusddle with State laws relative 10 The
q ssvsrv sssmse vbie 4 wa ssSm,.tss To- % pss,sot
Alter the amendment aboiishins slavery l sti
ssustsd, and proposed constitutional remedy the
StA Of December 1855, N the following words:-"AM
nAiiosAl laws shall BE- equally applicable 10
svsy citizen. and discrimination shall BE- made on
stncs she adoption q the fourteenth amendment,
however. have doubt OF our full power 70 regulate
ssen, II .v.1 sass q re usion which, when srisd
hops will b 70 formed - 70 Be beneficial TO the
s s " e. u E. out %.
sAstr yisws sxprssssd IN the Declaration Of indie
cannot fail to be beneficial ana convenient when we
seostdsr the trouble and inconvenience which citizen
u State encounters whom he travels temporarily
alien in his native land while hs participates
- Ill the burdens and aHxietes Of the government he
B0yo000, u0nsT00090ts 10 tek0 p9rt IN selecting
yhs magistrate who rule his dssniss for the next
N This there 20 principle Of republican justice The
constitution Of 150o did not carry out the principles Of
government which intended BY the fathers when
= ITO they laid the foundation Of the ON
inspired With such light from on high never
Vas inspired with before the great work or providing
which no oppression could lind resting place
They contemplated the erection Of vast empire
ths whole continent which IN ito national character
nhOuld b0 q 4 v{n0
character While municipal institutions might be
granted Nth SELF control for convenience never
nended that 0nshaf OF this nation should be
BY one set Of laws and the other half by another and
coahctins set the same subject Tho laws, the
fsnobsco apply to those on the SAY annan and
Susqushanua; else tho Declaration would have pro-
Soshsnus-wsrs born f.s and ssusi and those s On
The savannah with modified equality that the had
sssnsSs s sm0ng wS Ss was ha. n:
he grand idea or those immortal man was that there
4 witch should Be- ssksn from him. nor could 5. sur
sspsI the reposs OF the whole community vas that
evey man should possess each 81 these rights privileges
sm 1s could nor @ BIZ e
nes ell bis chdrsn into slevery He couldnos sell his
ne for proc. He could not surrender the right 70
nusAtoEy Every rnstrumsnt fonnded on such con-
aIacl no matter how solemn. NO matter how hsdged
Isstien and Executive Approval none Of these thDgs
ense = INA y wa null and void u was corpse In
an spsak,ng nov OF thsloretnal design Of tho trainers
~ me Declaration Of Independence. who had deter
missed that there certain principles which, give
perfect liberty should apply alike 70 every mortal being
Who deny this position withous laying heavier bur-
ssn spcn one human being than aaosher without
Who can doubt TIA. il you put such power into The
hands q the best men 4 siil Be abused, unless
responsible to his temporal or eternal governor than
snoshsr, and b. punished BY different ruless
Non. slavery having increased, they obliged
postpone some OF those universal principles and allow
~ssS thank iGod that nscssstyino longer saisss
The law givers Of America are now ~ free 70
Get - Samson whom the hrs had touched the
conservative Delilah-suner their locks BE- shorn
end their Limbs 10 Be bcusd By the withss Of :
tended 70 b universal must be made universal.
me principles which intended govern the whole
control IL whole national action throughout tins grand
empire Towns corporations snd municipalities may
shsrsssh but mus. not incorporate any principles In
conflict with those great rights, privileges and immu-
skies.
Without excluding others, three specifically cnumer
atsd: Life, liberty and the pursuit Of happness These
are universal and inalisnabo follows that every
thing necessary for their establishment and defence
You grant : lot or easement In tho midst Of your
D,ssrm ! Community and you rob them Of the means
Of defending life Take away their weapons OF defence
and you take away the inalenabe rght OF defending
liberty. This brings now directly to the argument
By which prove that the elective franchise right
Il the Declaration, and not merely privilege, and IL
eae Of the rights and immunss pronounced BY that
snslrument TO be "insltenaben IT, fathers de-
sisred .a just government derived assent
tbs II In federal republics that
= sod only nTo os ne
tion u TO take from the citizen his great weapon
4 defence, and reduce him 70 helpless bondage. 1t de-
pvse him Of an inaiienaols right This Clearly proves
aaat the elective franchise ranks with fs and hb-
sry'i IN ~ sacred inaiienabIe character.
But while the Declaration clearly proves what the In
sstion then WAS the action OF the convention In fran.
ing the constitution OF the United ssates seemsto me-
sstsEs away for the time being S S. q noss
slavery, suspended one Of the muniments Of liberty
Having thus shown that the elective franchise 10 Of
cannot % defended. and that It suspended by the
srbtary constitution Of 17ss let If that suspension
has removed leave our hands unrestrained
In restoring full vgor while sil acting under the
constitution Tint right apperains 10 every citizen
ssspos% induced com "nies 70 od TIA. each State
might nx the qualifications rights and dcprvations OF It's
The fourteenth amendment, now so happily adopted,
setiles the whole question and places every American
citizen on perfect equality OF tights, far merely
that tall persons born or naturalIzsd in the United
sstss and subsci to the iursdction shsrsof sre cid
resIds No state shall make or enforce any law which
shall abrdge the privileges and mmuncs OF citizens
The United Staes nor shall any be deprived OF
life liberty or property without due process law nor
deny any psrson within its jurisdiction the equal protec-
fiOu Of the lava
By the amended constitution every American citizen
70 entitled to equal privileges with every American
CITIZEN and u every American citizen In any OF the
States should be found entitled to impartial suffrage with
every other American citizen In any State
lows inevitable conclusion thai suffrage throughout
this nation 10 impartial and univ rsa far every
human beng without regard 10 race color shall be
fouAd concsrnsd, and so far a. u affects the whole
nation.
Can Ne who swesrs to support the constitution IN all
s pars refuse aid in carrying this into effect withous
clear direct peruryl worse perjury than would have
been committed by those who, under the old constitu
ton, could 70 that construction. aud thus
fased their aid 70 their fellow me1.
What grand compulsor have these despos, rebels
and murderer finally forced upon the American republic
~ thefr impatient rash and bloody actsl bow they
nave aided the ust Of the in producing this
great good we're well II they could claim some merit
\ 4 affonf putf INN m