The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1868-09-23
THU 18th AMENDMENT DISSECRED
LEADING RADICAL PAPER OF
OHIO.
BY THE

LEADING RADICAL PAPER OF
OHIO.
Criticism of the Cincinnati Ga
Zette.
The following is from the columns of the
Cincinnati Guzette, the leading Radical
newspaper cf Ohio. 1t is criticism on
the Constitutional Amendment, Of which
Impeachment Bingham is the author. 1t
shows the foolishness of that measure, and
exhibits its follies 1t is the greatest abor
ton of the age, and will be declared null
by any honest Court Read the article:
From the Cincinnati Gazette (Radical)
The constitutional amendment proposed
by Congress. as condition of restoration
nt the rebel States, was poor patch upon
a piece of roor patch work. We may be
thank ful that it is disposed of by the rc-
lection of the reoel States. Mems minds
are so various that concessions must be
made in public affairs to come to any decid-
ed course. Congress fixed Upon this plan,
and we conceded our objections, Now that
it is at end, we may congratulate ourselves
upon its imperfections.
The first section of the proposed amend
ment declares rights of citizenship, and to
the protection of law, which are already as
well provided for in the Constitution. 1t
is superfuous. II every native aud natur
allied per,on is not citizen under the
Constitution as it is, and if ii is not already
provided that no person shall be deprived
of life, liberty or property, without due
process of law, then tho Constitution is
sham; and instead of amending it, We
should kick it out, as pretending to estab-
lish government upon the rights OF man,
and wholly neg!ecting TO secure those
rights. These rights are already secured
by the letter and whole spirit Of the Con-
sttutiou. IF we are untaithtul to the Con-
siitution as it is, we cannot remedy our de-
linquency by cumulative prov sions.
The second section changes The basis Of
representation, for the ,rorse. 1t is not a
Uosmg basis, but diy. mchis,ng basis. =
The principle upon which it is founded is
the right Of d,s!rancnisement. We oppos-
ed this in all It's incipent stages, and our
opinion that it would be an evil change is
not altered. 1t provides that in States
where the right to vote is denied to male
citizens Of the voting age, the basis of their
in the United States House
of Representatives shall be reduced In the
which the number of such male
citizens shall bear to the whole number of
male ci,izens twenty one years OF age In
such State. "
How this is to be executed we cannot un-
ders,and but allowing it to be practicable,
it is change from the best practicable bas-
is of representation to worse, for tenn
porary purpose which it will not accom-
plish. If it were carried out it woald not
reduce the representation of the rebel States
I'll after the census Of 1870.
IF it were carried out, it is questionable
if the counting OF the male citizens by off-
GERS interesting in making the basis OF their
large, would reduce ii much
more than is done by The present adjusts
ment, in which the slaves are reckoned at
tbree-ffths of their number. We are
aware that it was designed to induce the
Southern States to entranchise the blacks
But if this is a legitimate object, and let-
inmate way of carrying it out, yet 1T VIII
do nothing for the present difficulties OF
the nation.
The representative basis of the whole
number is simple and just. 1t is also
close approximation to distribution ac-
cording to property, for the greatest wealth
is found in the cities where population con-
p,e-ates We are reluctant to see this OLD
ana safe system changed for shifting and
;nsolyent basis, difficult of execution, and
faulty in pr,aciple; contlived chiefly to SUIT
the temporary circumstances OF The nation
aud vet not touching the national difficulty.
The third section DISTINGUISHES certain
classes of persons un,il such time as Con
gress shall by vote of two-thlrds oil each
House remove the disability. 1t Is the on
" practical thing in the amendment. 1t
1t may be secured in other wavs, e;,her by
act of Congress or by It's requirements up
on the States as conditions OF restoration.
The fourth section declares that the val
idity of the public debt shall not be ques-
TONED, This has no vir,ue. The public
debt depends upon legislation 10 raise reve-
nues and to appropriate them to payment.
Representatives will have liberty to vote as
they please upon tax bills and appropria-
ton bills, no matter Low many such amend
mcnts are made.
It also declares that neither the United
State>, nor any State, shall pay the rebel
debt, or for slaves emancpated through the
rebellion. Unless there shall be total loss
of virtue and loyalty in the national Gov
ernment, it will be secure against assuming
the rebel debt. The rebel States have been
required to repudiate it, and if there shall
be Supreme Court with any regard for
the Constitution as il is, it will not. permit
the collection of any tax to pay debt in.
Cured to make war upon the United States,
if any tax payer shall ask legal relief.
The fifth and last section Of the propos-
ed amendment provides that Congress
shall have power to enforce by appropriate
legislation every article Of the Constitution.
This implies that the Constitution is mere>