New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-08-06
THE FOURTEENTH ARTICLE.


SIR regret that the public taste of oui
philosophical reformations in society with the political
scrambes for power From the very foundation OF the
Government American citizenship thing underlined
obscure and uncertain. The Civil Rights bill, In some
measure. removed that obscurty. But the President
and many OF his adherents following the loose dicd In
the bred Scott decision denied the power Of Congress
TO confer citizenship upon any one IN whose VEINS c0used
African blood. The amendment makes tho definition
clear, explicit and organic. All persons born or natur
allied In the United States. and 10 the jurisdiction
thereof citizens OF the United States and OF the
state wherein they reside" There can be no
bubble except upon the word person. There are
those who believe that cannot apply 10 the red man
good sense Of the country M accept the word as apply
Ing 10 human being born under the jurisdiction OF
ing uniform rule" The lines defining American citt
zenshp will no longer be matter Of doubt Nor is the
remaining guarantee IN this clause less important mo
state sha make or enforce any law which shall a6rdse
the privileges immunites of citizens Of the United
states nor snail any state deprive any euI zen
process of law, nor deny to any person within
Law readers are so accustomed TO similar provis-
ions in the State Constitutions, that they underae this
national guaranty They should have lived IN the South
where there was always class of persons" for whom
there was summary and barbarous code they should
know that tho national pill Of rights has, by common
error been construed not TO apply TO control the
States; they should have seen and felt that
Of the Union where could speak, write,
or think against the Institution Of Slavery they
u
Is TO endanger life; they should know that all the laws
passed under Mr. JOhnscns governments reestabsh
Slavery IN more onerous form To the blacks than the
rule of buying and sailing and scourging.
II the extent Of this national guaranty be asked the
have power 70 enforce by appropriate legislation
the provisions of this article All laws viii be passed
which time aud experience shall prove to DO necessary
ind proper"
The second clause was not necessary TO exclude the
Three-ifths basis" That had fallen with the Thir.
teenth Amendment. But 1t makes the interest OF the
States To exclude class OF male citizens from the polls
because thereby such States would abrdge their
OF representatives In Congress This Will very
move all agitation about dlsfranchislng the negroes
the States where they now vote. And expert
ence shall demonstrate the workings OF the rule neither
negroes Indians, nor Cinnamon VIII be long excluded.
The love Of power and OF justice will override the
mere prejudices against race or caste.
AZ TO the disqualification clause, only regret its
cessty. But II relates to all time, past present fu
ture; and therefore 1t Is eminenty wise Possibly IL
supersedes the test OATH II it great gain the
late Rebels IL VIII stand as warning monument IN the
future.
Tho guaranty about the National debt concerns your
section more than NINE 1t likewise relates the future
well as the past and security suppreSsing the
rebelous The guaranty against paying the Rebel debt
and for slaves did not come too IL made
ganie the interest. OF political parties would have in
sured the payment.
Thus Sir tho stone which the builders rejected has be-
come the chief OF the corner Slavery has been stricken
Out OF the Constitution and the rights OF
reel Tor the nrst ume that our country rests upon
enduring basis no longer fear the murderous rebeous
spirit too common In the SOUTH Deyotees the Union
and black men may occasionally fall but there
mas Deeh established a national power and
jurisdiction which control begerent spirits by APP
proprate legislation The consequences OF civil war are
now before every man. The Rebel debt aud all claims
for emanclpated slaves dead Issues" In this last
my family suerers In common with other Southern
Unioniss who grded on their swords aud fought under
position to the Amendment does not come from these
but from the Rebels. who risAed all and ost all
Keep THIS amendment before the people until the cleo