New-York tribune., 1868-06-11
CONKLING, WILLIAMS MORTON and 9TH rs tooi
part Tho amendment was reiected. as fOllows

BHckdep, TIetmenugsens m"rgan Gou<TSWti~hH
GS9tis' SSast Howe HHs"fI' s:'li ss9a Fi Sti TS F..e
Chandler, IIarIaa, Sherman, Wade,
COnness. MOrss sumner Williams
Cugn PO~ery Thayer, Wilson
Ps11S Ps1fS sssi:ss,y s%:ss Y.S YH'SSi Wake. i"''-
Mr. WILLIAMS moved to add at the end of his amend
ment in regard the Inauguration of officers the words
unless relieved from disability by said amendment"
Mr. SUMNER observed that himself and Mr. Yates, and
several other Senator'S desired TO speak on the subject and
moved to adjourn Reected-19toN
Ihe question Was on passing the bill
MT YATES declined TO speak tonight In the face OF
desire for an Immediate vote
from manuscript very few Of the Senators % meantime
to say to-day win be confined to single topic; shall
speak Of the validity and necessity Of fundamental CON
dtOns the admission Of States into the body of the
nation, passing In review objections founded the as
serted equality Of States and also founded on mislnte
probation of the 10 determine the qualifications or
electors and that other power to make regulations o te
election of certain officers. Here shall encounter the
familiar pretensons OF another time no longer put i0II
by defiant slave masters, but reailed by conscientious
Senators, who think they are supporting the C0nstIu
ton when they are only echolng the voice o. SaVery &
older than Constitution for they appear IN the 0rd
ndoSed f anterior s Vds' to se Itself In
that ordinance there are various eohullons VI
PSTGon me fpS"fS Dsst upon I putting the National
Rights the Territories the National Rights over
States before their admission in the same category
These rights not only together put tney ar oe au
the They not merely companions ana c0ghaDe
volved in the other Prohibition in the Territories is
prolonged in conditions upon new i o.aLes srts dnS
the perpetuty Of all its prohibitions; and this IS the RUE
alike OF law aud craftsmanship VAIN were Is pronlpr
tiOns they fell dead In presence OF the Stae uoNeIn
ment The pretensiOD is too irrational. The Missouri
takes up the rule asserted IN the ordinance, % anu
ciares that Territories Slavery shall be PFohp
tied forever territorial existence terminating III
state Government, is shortlived government.
the states formed out Of the Territory can tins
Government have meaning above the pratue Oh % oni
against the proposed condition Ia III the name o oiS
Rights, hut IL cannot be doubted that IL may pe %
directly 10 Slavery Shall the pretenson De allowed 10
prevail Slavery has disappeared The prlncl
pie has fallen why preserve the incident Ie Soud na
the pretension yield asoi Asserting as now dO lh
nd NOT seem Indifferent TO the tights OF the States
those proper spheres appointed for them InGouDeuy
States have rights under the Constitution when we are
bound 10 respect Nay, more, which are source OF
strength and advantage. II is through the states tnht
people everywhere govern themselves ana our nation
is saved from central domination. Here s the appoint
ed of the States They supply the machinery OF
local segOvernment for the convenience ot me- whe
they ward of the attempts of absorbing imperialism
But there can be no State rights against
human rights. because state, constitnung
part OF a national organization dedicated 10 human
rights govern itself and supply the naehineIy oi
local selfgovernment IL does nor iOhow thaV sScn
State may deny human rights within its borders state
Rights, when properly understood are ehtre! consistent
with the maintenance Of human rights by the nation.
The State not humbled when receives the mandate OF
the nation TO do wrong nor can the nation even whe
II asserts everywhere within It's borders the spIato
of human rights against tins righteous supremacy An
OF States must disappear
the king of day: The song OF oIa'e hiEi.s mas % tor
its constant refrain, the asserted equanty OF tne
plOyed, as cover for pretenslon against hl iIghss.
cannot be found in the Constitution IL is true that H
law Of nations, all sovereign states great or siha
are equal but this principle has been extended without
authority to States created by the nation ana maze
Constitution which treats the states as equal,
and this provision shows how this very equality
two Senators and the Constitution places this equality
OF States under its safeguard by providing that mo
Suffrage in the Senate" But this very text contains
what lawyers might call negative pregnant" being
ton that II NAV be changed The State with its consent
may be deprived OF Its equal suffrage IN the senate and
tins is the whole testimony Of the Constitution 10 that
equality OF States which is asserted IN derogaon
Of all cOmpacts or conditions. IL Is startling
to find how constantly the obvious conclusions from the
test Of the Constitution have been overlooked Even in
the contemplation Of the Constitution itself state NAV
waive its equal suffrage in the Senate To he repre-
sented by single Senator only OF course all tins de
pends its own concurrence with the nation Nothing
Is said Of the in which this consent may be given.
or accepted by the nation But TINS Import
ant limitation can IN any way be made the
subject Of agreement compact, pray, Sir, where
will you stop What other power or prerogaye OF the
States may not be limited Also especially there Is
siion ~ onv limitation In The insf sense Of this term
A condition in favor Of human rights cannot bo
Senators neSged 10 Freedom take M the old preteuson
and swear il anew For my myself Insist not only that
Slavery should be buried out OF sight bat that a IT'S
wretchod pretensfons hostile human rights sha be
buried with It, The conditions upon States Of
two classes First those that that may be acquired
hends those conditions which the nation consider
advisable require before admitting member into
the partnership Of the Government Ihe CONSTITUTION III
positive words leaves TO the nation discretion with re
gard 20 the admission Of States The words New
States may be admitted into the Union thus plainly
recognizing a latitude under which any conditions not
inconsistent with the Constitution may be reqnlredas
by firm Oh the admission OF new partner All ms Is
entirely reasonable, but do not stop 20 dwell on IT, Tor
the eonaqHs Se9 nave AZ e cnndn I8 o' in TOe evn 81
human rights and Is OF that essential character that
duty-sO II seems 10 me- SPEAK WIN an 1cIeienCs 10
Others II otherwise The Constitution
declares United states shall guarantee to every
State IN this Union republican form OF government
These grand words perhaps the grandes ~ the Con-
stuOn hardly excepting the preamble which is 50 ful
Of majestic meaning ana such fountain OF national ne
Kindred TO the preamble Is TINS supreme oblgaOn I'M
posed on the United States 10 guarantee Republican
Government. There 1t Is nou cannot AVOID TINS duty
called TO its performance You must supply pracucai
definition Of a republican government. This again
you cannot avoid by your Oaths, Dy All the
responsibilities OF your position You must say
Government You must so decide as not 10 discred
fathers. and not 70 give an unworthy example 70 man
own history Our fathers IL 10 amid the thunders
of Sinai when they put forth their Declaration of Inde-
charter embodied in two simple, selfeyident truths:
First, that all men are equal IN rights, and
only on the consent governed two together
automatic truth, as plain as the sun Blind Is ne VINO
IT, And this Is the ndprinciple Dequeathed
freehold by fathers Though often assaed even
by Senators here 1t Is nevertheless true II has been
httdcAeut 50 nave SdNbRob
Clearly then this IL republican government where all
have equal rights 70 participate in the Govern
nSded. mshs knU" a% sure me' that nothing i can be
subtracted The Constitution itself sets the example OF
imposing conditions upon the States Positively II says
no state shall enter into any treaty alliance, or coned
eraton no State shall grant letters OF marqne or re
pr1sa no state shall coin money no State Shall grant
bills Of credit Again 1t says state shall, without the
consent OF Congress, lay any duty Of unnage or keep
troops or ships OF In time Of peace All these are
conditions IN the text of the Constitution plain and
ineligible 70 require further elucidation To
N IA
snperfuous. II is different however, with their
highest condition OF all, that the State shall
be republican. This requires repetition and elucida0n
II was held at the adoption Of the Constitution that
Congress should have the power to prevent any State