Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-06-16

next ihls oflnuH the issue difrcU1
before tho people Of Pennsylvania al
the coming election for Governor anC
members OF Assembly Ii Is now fol
the people of the Commonwealth 4
say whether thcsnap Judgment Of las
winter shall stand This issue bcfor,
the people the Radicals struggled har,
10 avoid but IL has como on them al
last, ia despite of all their frauds, theil
deception, their miserable attempts
at evasion Many OF those members
Of the Legislature who had not III,
courage two years ago TO support
John Hickman's proposition, and yet
voted for this amendment, must now
meet their betrayed constituents
Some of the members of last session
who owed their elections to theii
sturdy denial that they would not
meddlo with the question of suffrage
in Pennsylvania, and yet, in the very
face of their solemn pledges, supported
this XVIII article, will now have an
opportunity to explain. They fondly
hoped that the obnoxious subject
would be removed from the field OF
politics by ratification by three fourths
of the States, before the election in
October 1t was this consideration
which prompted the Radicals of Indi-
ana to ratify the amendment in a leg.
islature which had not the quorum
required by tho State Constitution.
But in spite of the Indiana fraud, the
conspirators are baffled. They cannot
obtain the requisite number Of States,
counting Indiana, until the meeting
Of the Legislatures next winter. In
the meantime, the conspirators must
face the people. What answer will
they mokey How will they explain
their attempt to infict negro suffrage
on the people of Pennsylvania with
out giving them an opportunity to
consider the question, and decide for
themselves Z Instead of recognizing
their position, these servants of the
people, by attempting 10 interfere
with Il fundamental law of the Com
monwealth, undertook 20 play the
part of masters How will they rec
oncile their solemn oath to support
the Constitution of the State, with a
vote which was designed to inutilate
that Constitution How did they
keep their oaths to maintain the
Constitution of the Commonwealth
by voting for an amendment 10 the
Federal Constitution which conflicts
with that of the State 2 Let the cas-.
uists among them make answer.
There stands the Constitution of the
State with the word Hwhite" written
all over it. Yet these conspirators
against the people in the Legislature
did not dare TO submit this fundamen-
tai law for alteration or amendment.
but sought to defraud the people of
the State by means of this XVIII ar.
ticle, and thus offectually prevent
them from being heard The history
of representative government records
no such gross Outrage on the popular
will. II was an attempt to subvert
aud destroy the Constitution Of Penn.
sylvania, in utter contempt of the
people who established il.
For this betrayal of their constitu-
ents and violation of their solemn
oaths to support the Constitution of
the United States, the Radicals of the
last Legislature are to be brought be.
fore the bar Of public opinion. The
question of negro suffrage is TO be
tried before the people in spite of
juggling. The people are to
determine for themselves whether the
Constitution of the United States shall
be snbverted under pretense of amend
ment. They must decide whether
they will give to the general govern
ment control over the vital question
Of suffrage within the State. 1t is for
them to consider whether they will
surrender to the Government at Wash.
ington the highest attributes Of power
and dignity that State can own
that of fixing the electoral qualifca-
lions OF its own citizens. Ii is for the
people OF Pennsylvania to declare at
the ballot-box in the coming election,
whether they will abandon the guar
Of right which they have
ealousl v maintained since the earliest
Colonial times. 1t is for them TO say
whether they will permit the negro
communities of Florida, Louisiana
and South Carolina. the rotten border
States of Nevada, Nebraska and Kan
sas, and the petty breeches pocket
States of Vermont and New Hamp-
shire, to wrest from the proud Com
monwealth OF Pennsylvania the high
EST symbol of her sovereignty. These
questions which affect the
very existence OF the State, and the
rights of its citizens, the minions of
Ihe Legislature undertook to decide,
deigning TO consult their
who sent them 20 the capital
But they are foiled. The smallest
state in the Union, territorialy. little
Rhode Island, has postponed the con
'ideration of the question until the
meeting of the Legislature in January.
The peo pie of that State are not yet
villing to abjcctly surrender all their
lights TO the general government.
They inherited them from their faith.
re of the Revolution, and they know
hat, once abandoned, these rights can
lever be recovered The people Of
Pennsylvania, actuated by like spir-
of pride and love of liberty will
ho ose Legislature next October
which will hasten TO Withdraw tho
ra udulent ratification made last win.
e r, and thus prevent the most daring
Issau It on the rights of the States
v hich has been made since the estab
ishment of the Government. There
$ no evading the great issue this time.
Harrisburg Patriot
The grain prospect throughout Eu- |
'ope is excellent, and the prospect for
heap bread was never better. The |