New-York tribune., 1869-02-27
THE FINAL STEP

In 1776 the Representatives of n COnfederacy
of shareholders set their hands to a declaration
enunciating the benefcent doctrine of Equal
Rights. In 1886 the practical advocacy of that
doctrine in a newspaper led to the murder of
its Editor and revealed public sentiment
throughout the nation that approved or palli-
ated the act. In 1874 the effort by one of the
sovereign States" to protect its own cOlored men,
whom, in obedience to that doctrine, it recog-
nized as citizens, led to the expulsion of its
accredited Commissioner, by threats Of mob
violence, counseled by the authorities, from
the soil of a sister State. In 1854 the forma-
tion of party, not even pretending to any
authority to reassert that doctrine where it was
now denied within the limits of the nation, but
only seeking to enforce it in the Territories to
be thereafter organized into States, was re-
ceived with angry threats of Disunion. In 1860
the triumph of the party seeking this limited
application of that doctrine was made the pre-
! text for an attempt to execute such threats,
and for the ghastly Civil War that followed.
At last. in the very agony of our bloody
sweat, we sought to return toward this doc
trine which our forefathers, building bet
ter than they knew, had more wisely taught
than practiced and in 1863, the Emancipation
of the Slaves was decreed. When, moving from
that hour steadily on to the assured victory, we
next sought to reorganize the shattered Gov
ernments in the seat of the Rebellion, we still
stroYe against the further acknOwledg-
ment Of the doctrine of 1776. But
the efforts at reconstruction were abortive;
and then in 1885, under tardily-wTung Con-
greSsional enactment, the late slaves were adj
mitted to the suffrage. And now, at last that
almost century old declaration of the founders
of the Republic is for the first time to be inn
bedded in the National Constitution, there to
remain. as we fervehtly trust, so long as the
Republic shall endure, an irreversiblo guarantee
of Equal Rights to its citizens, and a per-
petual protection at once of our democratic
institutions and Of tho free people they
nourish.
BY vote Of three to one the Senate yester-
day accepted the report of the Conference
Committee on the Constitutional Amendment,
decreeing Impartial Suffrage throughout the
Land, which had been already adopted by the
House. 1t abandons the efforts to forbid
educational, property OF other qualifications, or
to modify the electoral college system, and
simply Ordains impartial treatment to all our
or previous condition, as follows
BE resotred De- Two-thirds Of both Houses concur.
ring that the following amendment to the Constitution
OF the United States be submitted to tho Legislatures OF
the several states, and when ratified by threefourths
thereof, 1t shall be part Of said Constitution.
ART l3The hight Of the etzens OF the United states
to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the Ipted
States by any State Of race cocr or pre
Yious condition OF servitude.
sEo The Congress shall havo power to enforce this
article by appropriate legislation.
In this form the Amendment goes out to-day
to the Legislatures of all the States On the
approval of three-fourths Of them, its adoption
will be proclaimed. The Legislatures of twen
ty-six States, (maknH precisely three. e.fourths of
those now reeOgnized), are safely Republican. 1t
is said that in one or two of them, as in that of
Nevada, for example, opposition will be made
by the Republican majorities, but wo refuse
to doubt their final concurrence. The measure
as now submitted is so free from extraneous