The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-12-02
Kew York and Negro Suffrage.

Kew York and Negro Suffrage.
AT the recent election in New York the
new constitution Of that State was submit
ted to a vote of the people. 1t contained a
clause rec gniziug negro suffrage, which was
voted on separately from the body of The in
strument. The result was its defeat by
majority Of about thirty thousand. Last
Winter the radicals had n,ajrity in both
branches of the Legislature. As in Penn
sylvania, so in New York. when the men,
bers were elected the question Of negro
suffrage was not distinct issue to be set
tied through the ballot-box. The declara-
tioD of the Chicago convention. that suffrage
in the loyal States was question to be de-
termined by the people thereof, cffectually
sienced any such claim by the radicals.
But having been invested with power, the
radical aj,rity in the New York Legisla-
ture we're determined to take time by tie
forelock. and accordingly proceeded to con-
slider the fifteenth amendment. The demo
cratic members reminded the majority that
the very question itself would be submitted
to a vote Of the people at the November
election, and asked as a matter of right that
the question of ratification should be post
poned until the people of the State had
passed upon the issue in an authoritative
manner. All their appeals for delay were
treated with sovereign contempt. and the
amendment was ratified by a strict party
vote. This snap judgment by the Legisla-
ture of that State was the exact counterpart
of what occurred in our own. And now
this hasty aud usurped legislation is con-
fronted by the solemn and deliberate verdict
of large majority of the voters Of that
State. Who doubts but that such would be
the decision of the people of Pennsylvania,
if the question was fairly submitted to them?
The history of this government utterly
fails to show any one act of legislation SO
stepped in fraud and duplicity az is this jug
Cling, swindling amendment. 1t was fast
ened or the South by sheer force, and the
effort has been persistently made to secure
its adoption in the North by fraudulent leg
islation and by dsgraceful violation Of the
most solemn party pledges. Missouri and
Kansas have never yet legally ratified it,
although both States are claimed by the
radical press as having done so, while Its
pretended adoption by the Indiana Legisla-
tion was bare-faced and palpatle swindle.
Grant himself, although he formally endorsed
the Chicago platform. has recently expressed
his wish that the Governor Of Nebraska
should call the Legislature of that State to-
gether in extra session, for the purpose of
ratifying the amendment. That, of itself,
shows what little faith ought to be reposed
in any public pledge that he may make.
We presume that one of the first acts of
the incoming Legislature of New York will
be the passage of joint resolution reScind-
ing the fraudulent ratification of the last
session. That was the political philosophy
of the late election, as expressed through the
ballot box. The radical theory is, that the
affirmative action of Legislature on this
question is final and conclusive, and is not
the subject of repeal OF recision. If this
were true, as it is not, then, by parity OF
reasoning. the rejection of the amendment by
a State Legislature ought to be equally bind
ing and conclusive on its successor. If the
logic of radicalism is true in the one case it
is equally so in the other. 1t must take
both horns of the dilemma.
The last Legislature Of Ohio contained
decided majority opposed to the amendment.
We believe it took no definite action on the
question. But suppose that the LIE gislature
of Ohio bad rejected the amendment. it
would have done if vote had been taken,
where is the radical, intent on consumma-
ting this outrage on the Constitution. who
will not claim for the nert Legislature of
that State the right to ratify it? Such is
one of the absurdities of radicalism. 1t
makes all the difference in the world wheth-
er it is the radical or democratic OK that is
gored. This amendment has yet hard road
to travel. Our own opinion is. that it never
ought to BE and that it never will be rati-
fed.