The union Democrat., 1869-05-29
The Fifteen,h Amead..e mn.

the proposed Fifteenth Amendment TO the
Federal Constitution. Wemicht look in vain
through the entire range Of the Democratic
press Tor more forcible article against its
adoption than the following from the Cl,oai-
eie of Nav 22d:
We are sorry to notice the vacillating course
pursued by many OF our Republican brethren
of the press in relation to the Fifteenth
Amendment. The ground they take is, that
the vote OF California cannot affect the result
fur the reason that the necessary three-four,hs
will be obtained without her aid consequent
ly the question should not enter into the can-
vass next Fall. To say the least. that is a
cowsrdly method of treating the matter.
We are not so sure that the Amendment can
be ratified without the assistance of Califor-
MIA, and II we were, We should not abate our
opposition TO a measure which we consider in
every particular unjust and lmpolitic. The
Republican party Will find it impossible to
ignore the issue The pei pie are aroused on
the subject and the question must be fairly
and squarely met. 1t will be, in fact, about
the only clear, sharplv-defned issue between
the contending parties at the next election,
and whether the vote of California will affect
the ratification of the Amendment or not. We
must take sides upon the question: In our
opinion the people of this State will not sur
render their most cherished prerogative-
that of regulating SO important question as
the one OF sutfrage-at the beck of the fanatics
IN Congress. without at least entering their
protest against it. If the people OF this State
are anxious to confer the right of suffrage up
on negroes. or Cinnamon, or both, they are
ahundantly able to do sn without the aid of
Massachusetts, Kansas or any other State
Let there be fair expression of public seIti-
ment In regard TO the matter obtained at the
ballot box, and 1t II be favorable to the con-
terring ot the elective franchise upon the col
ored man, we shall cheerfully acquiesce in
the popular verdict. What we object to. is
the forcing upon us of universal suffrage by
the action of foreign legislatures, elected
without any reference TO the question.
Further than this the proposed Amendment
Is directly opposed to Republican doctrine,
that Is, taking the Chicago platform as the
creed of the party. For the purpose of per-
mittlng our readers to judge of the truth of
this assertion themselves. we give them an
opportunity of comparing the documents.
Here is the proposed Amendment
ARTICLE Is The right of the citizens of
the United States to vote shall not be denied
or abridged ty the United States, or by any
State, Oh account of race, color, or previous
condition Of servitude.
SEC. =. That Congress shall have power to
enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Section second of the Chicago platform
reads AS follows:
The guaranty by Congress of equal suf-
trage to all loyal men at the South. was de-
manded by every consideration of public safe
ty, of gratitude and of justice and must be
maintained; mhite the question Of suffrage
I" all the loyal States property belongs to the
people Of those Satey.'
How can the two be reconcied Which
is tn be regarded as the true doctrine of the
party? One emaodies the sentiments, pledg-
ed TO the support of which. u 5. Grant was
elected President of the United States. The
other is the result of the Vaccinations of de-
magogncs to continue themselves in office
1t the Republican party of this State endeav-
ors to carry the weight of the Fifteenth
Amendment in the coming contest, it will be
buried so deep in September that it cannot
he rssurrected and galvanized into the
sembance Of life in October. 1t the County
Convention adopts resolution in opposition
to the Amendment, we will certainly elect
our whole ticket; but if it favors or ignores
be successful in single instance. Which is
the best course to purse?
We would remind the Chronicle that there
is no ''if' about the Republican party of
this State carrying the weight OF the Fifteenth
Amendment in the coming contest. 1t is
National measure of the Republican party.
When the Democratic members of the Indiana
Legislature resigned in consequence of the
determination of the Radical members of that
body to crowd it through without giving the
people chance to act upon it, the latter
passed it although they constituted less than
a quorum. In each of the twenty-three States
that have adopted it, il has been urged as q
Republican measure-:hat party supporting
it as unit and the Democratic party oppos-
ing it as a unit. In this State the Sacramento
onion. San Francisco Times. Stockton hide
pendent and all the other Radical papers, ex-
cept our Mokelumne Hill cotemporary, favor
the Amendment. The Radicals in this State
can neither dodge it nor ignore it. 1t would
he useless for the Calaveras Radical County
Convention to adopt resolution in opposition
to the Amendment The move would be
looked upon as an attempt to initiate Peter
in denying his master