Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-11-19
7IiE NEW AMEND ENT..


The Washington Express Tuesday week
said, "ro-day Judge Kelley had lengthy
interview with General Grant, and rumor
"has it that he will be Secretary of the Ma
"vy." After this long interview between
Judge Kelley and the President elect, the
following telegram was sent from Washing
ton, and appeared in Wednesdays papers
On the first day Of the next session, Con-
gresham Kelley of Pennsylvania will intro
duce Constitutional amendment providing
for universal suffrage in all the States.
And on Wednesday, the following tele-
gram was sent, appearing in Thursdays
papers,
General Grant says that he will favor
constitutional amendment making suffrage
question to be regulated throughout all the
States by Congressional enactmcnts, and
making il universal, North as well as South.
He believes it practically to carry such I'M
amendment. 1t will be accordingly set in
motion as soon as Congress meets. so that
Legislatures, meeting in Janunry, can at
once ratify il and by special session of
Congress next summer the law can be pass
cd, and the colored men throughout the
North will vote at the next fall election.
IT Is NOT OPPOSED TO THE CHICAGO PLATFORM.
The Baltimore AMERICAN says; ''The
Constitution provides for its own amend
ment, and states distinctly the mode in which
ii can be amended. The Republican plat
form declared that the question of suffrage
should ''be left TO the States" The States,
therefore, will, by their action on this Cons
titutional amendment, decide the question
of suffrage.
ALMOST A FINED FACT"
The same paper says 1t is, we repeat
almost a fixed fact that on the first Monday
IN November, 1870, two years hence, the
negro will he entitled to registration and en-
titled to vote for candidates for Congress in
the city Of Baltimore, and in every State OF
tho Union. If he is refused registration,
and denied the free privilege of casting his
ballot. any election that may be held will be
null and void, and the candidates that may
be elected will not be allowed to take their
seats.
MAKE II CONCLUSIVE.
The same paper further says:-The States
ofMaryland, Delaware and Kentucky, should
The proposed Constitutional Amendment
only apply to elections for President and
Congress, will probably refuse the suffrage
to the negro at elections for Stale officers.
But the question will then arise whether O
United States Senator, elected by Leglsla-
ture chosen by exclusive white suffrage,
would be eAtitled to take his seat; whether
he would not be elected in defiance of this
Constitutional Amendment? We think he
would, and hence we hope that when the
question is submitted to the Legislatures OF
several States ii will be in form that will
leave no doubt on the subject, and will set.
Tie forever the whole question of suffrage,
oblterating all restrictions on account OF
race or color.
THE NEW YORK TRIBUNE SAYS:
IAN effort, we hear, is medtatcd to per.
feet and adopt Constitutional Amendment
defining and fixing the conditions of the
Right of Suffrage throughput the Union.
We hope it may be made and may prevail
but we warn those who engineer Il that they
will fail il they Lake il one sided and par.
tisan. We ardently desire the complete
Eniranchisement of the Blacks; but a mea
sure looking TO this end alone will encoun.
ter resistance too formidable to be over
come
! The Trituno therefore urges Universe
Amnesty.
THE FEELING IN MASSACHUSETTS,.
| 'oiih9tohy thC NClCDldbtu DDSIOn lei
ter writer, in the Tribune of Friday, speak,
of the clause of the Chicago platform which
seems to declare that suffrage should be lief
to the States, and says AS long ago as las
May heard one of our members of Congress
denounce that "plank" as Contemplate.
and don't think he has changed his opinioi
oft. And since the election have seen II
hall dozen newspapers at least demand
that Congress shall take jurisdiction of III,
subject and submit Constitutional amend
mcnt to the States making universal rul
for suffrage. ..........As Mr.. George s. Hill
lard used to say, political platforms nr
made to step from. and not to stand on
and the voters, whether In large o
small bodies, generally have sense enough /,
understand that fact and to govern them
selves accordingly. ..........The people q
Massachusetts, then, understand that in vot
I ing for Grant they approve the general polio
OF the Republican party, and desire to hay
power continued in its hands, and especial
that they prefer it to its Democratic rival
This is all, and any one who undertakes t
deducc special results as to doctrines, in whic
the party is divided to any considerable OK
tent, will find out that this is all, before h
has gone great ways.
ILLINOIS FAvoRs m.
The Chicago Tribune gives the followin
reasons in favor of the new amendment =
First. The political equality of all Amer
lean citizens, and their right to the ballo
as means of defending their liberty, shoul
| be asserted in the National Constitution an
be irrepealable by any State.
Second. The permanency of the peac
' and union of the States depends upon til
ruta Il II. .x..s - Al Il
sible moment, and the withdrawal of III
subject from the arbitrament of armed mol,
and organized assassins in the States.
Third. The removal of the negro fron
! any special place III national politics.