Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-08-05
ners of war Of negro soldiers who hat
haan cantnrad

nerb OF war OF negro noiu'oto "Ho Aae
been captured.
10 1868 II declares that Congress has
the right to regulate suffrage in the States
of the South, but not Of the North.
The equality of the States is the founda-
ton idea OF the Constitution. There can
be no union, there can be no confede-
ration without II. The Constitution was
founded on that doctrine. The Constr
tuition in this respect has never been
changed. II the States are equal, Con-
gress has as much power over suffrage
in Pennsylvania as 10 South Carolina.
IL Congress can guarantee negro suf'
frage in Alabama aud not 10 New York,
then theStates are not equal. Ifnot equal,
they do not comply with the provisions
Of the Constitution. Congress then has
no power under the Constitution to regu-
late suffrage in any Of the States.
Whence does it get the power2 l pause
for reply, my Republican friend.
Whence does this power come, which is
not granted by the Constitution You
say from higher law" from the ne
cessity Of the case" from the right OF
revolution"
That is it, my friend. You have ex-
planned it fally.
The Republican party is revolution
ary party. 1t is based upon revolutionary
fanaticism. I'm the fervor Of revolution
ary spirit it had its birth; in that spirit
it has had its life. 1t has gone on from
step to step, seeking no rest. 1t has
obeyed the law of its being; perpetual
advance is the condition of revolution.
II may seem to pause, but it never stops;
il may seem to rest, but it is never weary.
Its leaders cannot check it. Its devo-
tees cannot direct its course. If they
hesitate, they will be destroyed, and
more jealous men will supply their
places. The spirit of revolution is in
satiablc. 1t cries "Givel give" for
ever. Each successive conquest whets
the desire for another; each acquisition
of power makes more power necessary.
The wants of yesterday satisfy to-day,
make way for new wants tomorrow.
Redress Of grievances-war against the
partisans Of the King-against the King
himself-the block-the long Parliament
the protectorate-th restorstion-th
States Geuersl-the Constituent Assem-
blythe Legislative Assembly-the Con.
stituent Assembly-the Legislative As
sembly--tbe Girondists-the death of the
King-the guillotine--the directory-the
empire. [Applause.
So it has ever been. So it will be. The
needle cannot turn from its attraction at
the North and point to the West. The
sun cannot rise in the West and pursue
his journey toward the East The stars
as they revolve in the mazes of their
mysterious course, and from the har-
mony of their conflicting motions ex-
tract the tabled music of the spheres,
cannot come in collision. So, too, o
revolutionary party cannot stop in mid
career. Each step will demand o
stronger and worse one. Applause.
Do not believe that the Republican
party can stop with these acts, which
have described to you. If they by them
acquire power now, they will have new
purposes, need new powers, and inven
new means to acquire them. These actl
bad as they seem, will produce Others
still worse, or they will appear again il
more offensive form.
These hell hounds. which with ceaseless or,
Surround me as thou saw'st. .homely conceived
Homely born, with sorrow infinite
To me. For, when they list into the womb
That bred them they return land howl and gnav
Nv bowels. their repast; then bursting forth
Afresh, with conscious terrors vex me round
That rest and intermission none l find"
The Republican party in 1856 lightet
the fires of anti constitutional revolution
1t has ever since advanced in the light o
those fires: it will continue to advance
until they shall be burnt out
The reason is they fear they canno
afford to abandon power; they canno
give up that hold upon force which they
have so often used. They fear the wrath
to come They fear an outraged people
They fear violated Constitution. They
fear for wrong committed; for unholy
deeds that have been done. 1t is the
fear which always brings murder out
the fear which sees the damned spot on
every hand; the fear which drove Mac
beth to visit the weird sisters
-" For mine own sake
All causes shall give way. am in blood,
So far stepped in, that, should 1 wade no more,
Returning were as tedious as go o'er."
know gentlemen will deny this; !
know they will defend their acts step by
step and find for each necessity and an
excuse. They will deny they are parts
of policy, and insist that each is an in
dependent measure. The ablest Senator
among them has done so.
He says the war left the seeded States
without governments, and it became me-
cessary to create them. deny both
propositions. The States we're not with
out governments. They had constitu-
tions, they had governments. Those
governments were in full operation and
vigor. They maintained order and pre-
served civil society. Some of the officers
had been killed-some had hed-some
were liable to punishment, perhaps-but
the States existed, and their governments
needed only to have the vacancies filled.
Does any man question it The gov
ernment of Virginia was recognized du-
ring the whole warrior the assent OF
that State was necessary to the creation
of West Virginia. The governments OF
all the seeded States we're asked, in 1866,
to assent to the constitutional amend
ment. But if the governments had ceased
to exist for any reason whatsoever, 1t
was the people of the States, not Con-
gress, who ought to have restored them.
No such power is granted, and all power
not granted is reserved to the States or
the people.
Assuming, however, as true both these
propositions, which are clearly false, this
Senator proceeds. There being no State
governments, and Congress having the
right and being under obligation to
create them, it became necessary TO seek
out a friendly and loyal basis on which
to found them, and as this could not be
found among the resident whites, as they
had all been engaged in the rebellion
and we're still hostile, it was sought for