Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-09-25

people, IS the MlSeSt anu DS7f
ever invented. What then? Is it to
be allowed that good measures shall
be forced on a free people so called"
that the best law ever devised shall
be forced down their Threats, right or
wrong? If that is attempted, the bet
| ter the measure the stronger the rea-
| son for resisting it; because the people
| of the United States should not sub
NIT to force or fraud, and the more
plausible the arguments for the enOr-
nifty, the more determined should be
the energy with which it should be
repealed. But in this measure there
is not only no merit, but downright
| oppression will result to those States
which oppose it, and to some of them
greater or less material injury. The
power of the Union is supreme. But
that power cannot take States rights
away, without being resolved into a
Despotism. That cannot yet be done
by force. And if by fraud and such
force as the military governments
NAV exercise, this abOminable amend
ment is fOisted on the country, it will
live only until the people may find
their opportunity to strike it dead at
the polls. We shall not have ''peaee,"
but strife, IS the consequence, Cali
fornia, Ohio and other States North,
and the States South, will agitate, agi-
tate, until the aceursed thing has found
its grave, and its fOrswOrn authors are
driven in merited disgrace to Oblivion.
The Nashville LGinB and american,
now n Of the ablest and most dig
nlfed journals of the Southwest, has
an article On this subject, from which
we extract as follows:
The measure was passed in the Senate
by thirtv-nine to thirteen, and there were
fourteen Senators absent and not voting.
Upon this the Cincinnati gazette Qf March
9. 1869, made the following comments:
81 If those who voted for the amendment
under protest had voted against it, il
/ would have failed As il was, the Affirm
alive. while it was tWo-thirds of the Sen
ATE present.. ds luA IA l~NAlAAG1 "a NAAN
whole Senate, but it was ruled that two
thirds of the Senators present complied
with the constitutional provision" The
fact was that nearly all the fourteen alb
sentee Senators were in Washington, and
refused to vote On purpose. They could
not honestly sustain II, n they had not
the courage to break with their party upon
it. Had they voted according to Their
sentiments, q WOuld have been defeated
bv not receiving a tT-a-thirds majority.
Among the Senators who refused to vote
we're some carpet-baggers from the South.
and Senators from the Pacific States. who
were opposed to il on account OF letting
in the Chinese, In the dabate Mr.. War
ner, Of Alabama, a Garpet-nagger from
Ohio. who voted for il, saidt II most re-
specially, but earnestly, enter my hum
bic protest against the character of the
amendment. While shall probably vote
for il in the shape IL is. l shall do IL rather
in Difference to the Judgment of older n
wiser men than myself, han in accord
ance with nay deliberate Judgment Mr..
Edmunds. Of Vermont, 2 leading Bepub-
lican Senator, abstained from yotil4g Tor it
for the following cOgent reasons
at is repugnant, Mr.. President, to all
my notions of a free government. 1t Is
repuguant, know, to all the notions Of
the people whom ! represent, as entering
intothe framework and heart qr tie gov
ernment that processes % lie, and can only
be called, a republican one.
As l nave said, l belieye it to be injurious
to the government if it is carried ont. L
believe il to be an outrage upon the good
sense and patriotism of the country, n
80 bslieying, although | DO not wish to
occupy time in stopping its progress, If
my political friends think best 10 pass it,
l have felt bound to say So
Mr.. Wilson, of Massachusetts, c0nclq-
4 -. a. n.aanN.,avF -. 1 haAa /
words; 81 aIn going to vote for this prop
osition without taking any responsibility
for g., ! nm not responsible for this half
way DropositiDn, ] simply take il, at this
late hour, ~ the best ] can get"
Mr.. Sawyer, a carpet-bag Senator from
South Carolina, said: "if / vote for this
proposition, i'll vote to concur in this re-
port of the committee Of Conference, | do
it with the greatest reluctance; / do it
with great hesitation"
The Tlii0n and Anerican also adds,
at considerable length, the remarks of
Mr.. HOWARD, of Michigan, who voted
for it. He insisted that the amend
ment would operate a repeal of the
clause of Article Six of the COnstitu-
ton, which declares that I" no religious
test shall ever be required as aqualif-
cation to any Office or public trust I'M
der the United States" The proposed
amendment forbids any restriction to
the right of voting on account of race,
color, etc. He thinks anything else
not forbidden may be done after its
passage, and that none but members
of some particular religious sect Will
be allowed to hold Office, if Congress
50 chooses.
But in spite Of opposition, and un-
der the cry Of party necessity, or,
what was the same thing, pretence of
war necessity and power, the iniquit-
Gus amendment passed the Senate by
a meager majority. 1t viii be FORUM
ate for tlie country if it is defeated for
want of sufficient States ratifying. In
that event the States viii be free to
hug the negro TO their bOsoms rs they
will. Tennessee can have the glory of
negro suffrage all her own, if she
elects to do so.