The national Republican., 1869-03-08
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MAncH 7. isD

rHn yIrTEKNTH AMENDMENT IN INDIANA.
Ilearn from prominent Indiana Democrats
now In Washington that the recent rsslgna- |
tion Of oil the Democratic members OF the |
Indiana Legislature va Wholly 20 the end
Of getting the proposed aftsanih .amsndment
to the Constitution Of the United etatss
squarely before the peopls Of their State.
Their resignation prevents . vote Of the
Legislature upon Il In Less than two years,
uniess the Governor calls q session Of the
body; In which case Il will be necessary to
order new elections to all the vacancies
BY this general Democratic Legislative nc.
ton.
THE ISSUE SHOULD IN MET.
The Republican Governor Of Indiana has
promptly accepted the issue thus rendered
BY the opponents Of the measure. I think
there can be no doubt Of the result. The
Republicans will derive strength from the
fact that Grant Is now President fths United
States; his name being potent in favor OF
those who are to remain as his friends.
1t behooves the supporters of the aftcenth
amendment to organise for this Indiana con-
tost without dslay. They have right on their
side, and the prestige Of victory besides.
TIE IMPORTANCE OF THs QUESTION.
The question in issue Ia Of as much i'm
l portance to the future Of the country and the
world as any other ever submitted TO the
Judgment Of people. II Ia, In few words,
tho question whether the American people
l will consent TO legalize, as principle Of
their Government and institutions, tho great
fundamental idea for the establishment OF
which their forefaihers fought the revolu-
tiouary war-the doctrine that all men are
created free and equal before the law.
Under the influence Of the idea Of the
superior rights Of governing classes, (having
Its origin In the necessities Of the earliest
oiigarchies and despotisms,) that pervaded
the world my years ago much more thor
oughly than at this time, II was lost sight OF
for the slime being In the conduct Of this
Governments affairs. Subsequently the
l temptations Of slavery made II, in half the
United Slater, q positive crime punishable
BY written and more severely by the unwrit-
ten law (of mob violence) to avow support
Of this principle upon which our Govern
ment was originally founded.
TIE CONSEQUENCES OF PALsK STEP.
Through abusing 1t We suffered all the ills
and evils Of the late rebellion. Had the
| theory Of Jefferson on this subject remained
the basis Of the policy of tho Government
with reference to the rights Of man In this
country the rebellion could not have occurred.
No argument is needed to provo this fact to
the comprehension Of the simplest under
standing.
| THE PRiscIPLB As SOUND VOW AS IN l7T5.
II Ii was sound doctrine In ITS IL Ia sound
| and safe doctrine now that the principles Of
liberalism arc far more advanced In the
minds of all civilized men than at that
period. Our own national experience since
its formal Incorporation in our Declaration
Of Independence has proved the value of
eufranchising labor with all the rights and
privileges enjoyed BY any portion of the
citizens Of the United States.
THE RESULTS OF SOUND POLICY.
Where labor was soonest thoroughly en-
franchised among us, and where the aim Of
the State has been to afford II every possible
advantage Of education, intellectual and In
iustrial, there the substantial Interests of all
have most prospered. Never was the justice
and wisdom Of great axiom Of humanity
more thoroughly substantiated than by the
experience In this matter Of those States of
the American Union that have, In their
State policy, strictly regarded the interests
OF labor as of as much primary importance
as any other interest within their limits.
But for due regard for the rights and inter-
ests OF the tolling millions, New England,
the Middle States, and the great West. would
be without half the positive wealth and the
general intelligence which Is theirs at this
moment.
CLASS PREJUDICE.
The only possible objections that can be
alleged against enfranchising the colored
race In this country, are based wholly on DIFF
ference Of color. That Is, on class prejudice,
which has been the parent of three fourths
OF all the enormites perpetrated against man
kind except those for which dynasties are
auswerable. 1t Is unworthy Of a great and
free nation owing its liberties, its prosperity,
and Its greater advantages for the individual
citizen to the very principle that will be re-
pudiated In the rejection of the proposed
afteenth amendment to refuse It's accep-
tanee.
THE SAfIoS's DEBT.
To the eolored race, as much In proportion
to numbers as to any others, do we owe the
preservation Of the nations life In the late
war. It's Improvement since the war In all
things eutitling men 10 the privileges Of citl-
renship has boon more remarkable than that
Of any other race or class In the same time
known to history.
ITS VALUE TO THR NATION.
II must necessarily be ns labor on which
half our great country must rely for Its
future development and sound progress. To
refuse to accord IL all possible advantages Of
equality before the law, will be to doom the
South to grope along behind other sections
Of the Union, as before slavery's dark pail
was lifted from over 1t.
oRrABLRRs ARousD.
| There are grumblers against some of
Grants Cabinet selections, of course. More
or less disappointed men growled aloud In
public places last evening, for the lrst time
| Hundreds here who had aIes to have been
ground by parties they desired In the new
Cabinet, are bitterly disappointed, and are
now showing the fact. 1t matters not who
he might have selected, quite as many poll
tIcIans would have been dIsgruntled by his
selections. / heard oae man, notorious for
his persistent drumming at the Treasury De-
partment for special, illegal and improper
fayors, denouncIng A. T. Stewart fora "mere
New York haberdasher." He held that a
public man, some ono who had had expo
rience In public life, should have been made |
Secretary of the Treasury. That Is, he
wanted-instead Of one OF the ablest and |
NEST sagacious merchants In America, versed
in the heaviest financial transactions, and
better Informed on all financial and COM
merclal affairs than almost any other one
man on this continents politician, a sue
cessful wrangler In debate, an adroIt manipu-
lator Of caueusses, one thoroughly posted
with reference to the respective claims" Of
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