The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-03-23
Message OF Govern or Stevenson.
TraHsEssi;:Sng &c s.se General AS
seiDbIy of Kentucky the Fro.sos-
cd Fifteenth Amendment.
Executive DEPARTMENT.

FRANKFORT, KY, March 10, 1869.
Gentleman Of the Senate and House of
Representatives:
herewith transmit concurrent reso
luton of Congress, entitled "a resou-
ton proposing an amendment to the Con-
stituti0n of the United States
The direct effect Of this proposed
change is to spbvert the structure Of
our federatiye system Of government
under which we have lived and been so
signally blessed with happiness, pros
perity and power during the past eighty
years.
1t ignores the relations which the Gov
crnment of tie United States, and those
of the separate States, bear to each 9th
cr
It oblitarates and destroys the divis-
ion between ,the delegated powers vest
cd in the Government of the United
States and those, vested in the respec,
tive State governments, or reserved to
the people of the several States respect
lively.
It utterly absorbs the reserved rights
Of the States. -,
It's purpose is to annihilate the State
governments 1t takes from them pow
ers expressly vested aud reserved; and,
by abrogating the partition Of power be-
tween the Federal and State governments
whose mutual action and reaction were
/ looked to by our fathers as checks to
prevent either from cncroaching on and
absorbing the powers Of the other, and
as limitations to keep each within their
proper sphere, utterly destroys the equi-
librium Of the entire system. The re-
suit must be, that consolidated cen
tral government, with the States as mere
alject appendages, will supplant the wise
and beneiicent duplex system Of gov
crnmcnt formed by the Constitution of
the United States in 1TS7.
No one can deny that the ratification
of the proposed amendment is a total
revolution IN the character Of our gov
ernmental system.
1t destroys and supersedes the origin
a. sovereign power ofthe several States
by depriving them Of rights essential to
their preservation AS States.
This amendment elevates the Federal
Government to the absolute and supreme
authority in our federal system against
the intention of the trainers ofthe Govern
N ent, against the letter and spirit Of the
Constitution itself, and in violation of
the understanding of the people Of all
the States when they ratified and sdop
ted it.
1t is an amendment which must engen
der excitement and passion when the
people want peace. .
1t involves the very existence of the
State Governments by destroying pow
ers which the States reserved as self
protecting checks upon Federal usurpa-
tons.
Again, this proposed amendment is to
be hastily submitted at period when
three Of the States have not been allowed
by Congress to exercise any.of the fran
chises of sovereign States, and when
, eight more, though nominally admitted,
are still deprived ofself- government, and
are at this moment the subjects of Mill
tary rule.
Above all, this amendment is sought
to beratifed by Legislatures chosen by
, the people before this amendment-ha
passed the Congress Of the United States
and, therefore, not chosen as agents whe
can safely in their action reflect the
+ popular will in adopting or rejecting
Other objections on the score of pol.
icy and justice might be urged against
this measure But / forbear! / submit
therefore, the resolution, with the full as
surance that you will receive it with that
calm dignity and respect with which
!, every proposed amendment to the Con
f stitution of the United States should al
ways be received; that you will consider
it with deliberation which wisdom and
its own magnitude alike axact; and that
you will then act as the honor, safety, and
F past rcnoten of Kentucky demand.
, The present dark hour sternly requir-
es of us all to see that we yield to nc
wild theory-that we attempt no rash
experiment! History and experience
both admonish us that a period of an.
CRY, passionate political excitement is
not time to meddle with the limitations
, and checks of our fundamental law, plac
ed there by the wisdom of our fathers as
barriers against the frenzy of popular
, excesses. Letus rather stand with stou
ter hearts than ever by the old charter oi
our rights
Let us adhere to the obligation, i'm
posed by our respective representative
trusts, to uphold and preserve that val
J ued instrument in its pristine vigor and
, spirit, solemnly impressed that, in des-
pite of the efforts now seeking its over.
throw, and the dark shadows which fol
the present obscure it, that it can never
perish while truth, patriotism and duty
alike bear up.
J.W. STEVENSON.