The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1869-03-08
THE .XEGRO AMENDMENT
ACTION. OF our LEGISLATURES
A vile Fraud Upon the People

A Vile Fraud Upon the People
Below We present the action Of that
as'u'c boiywhO 'clsi~ to- represent the
people Of Yves, Virginia in our Iegisla-
tive Halls, upon the. proposed amendment
'dthc Constitution Of the United States,
comforting suffrage upon the Negroes,
Chinese, Mcngoliaas, Indians, &C.. etc,
These gentlemen who were elected with
no view to anything Of this kind, but
simply upon local issues, lave taken upon
themselves the grave responsibility of
adopting an amendment Which, changes
our whole system Misrepresentation, md
which takes from the States the right
guaranteed to them BY The Constitution,
and which has always been exercised Of
regulating its own affairs ip this partiou.
lar The amendment was passed by Con,
grcss on the eth ult., and as a necessary
consequence, an 'offic'a copy has not been
transmitted to the Legislature, nor can it
BE- forscveral days. But our Legislators
are'loyal. They care nothing for form
nor legality. The loyal organ had re-
ceiveda copy BY telegraph. as did every
newspaper in the United States, and that
was sufficient. The organ said it was
NECESSARY to tlesalvatiun Of the party
and presto! it passed! although not one
m'mbcr knew, except by newspaper re-
port, tlatsuuh an amendment had been
passed BY Congress! But their, haste has
in this instance at least, proved disas-
srous,to' themselves. Although The
amendment had passed both Houses Of
Congress, it has not yet been signed, by
the President, which isan' Indispensable
requirement under tue Constitution.
Consequently, the action Of the West
Virginia Legislature is null, rotI, aid Of
ns,eeci. % T4ldy passed an an amendment.
Which at the time, had no legal existence,
andI~lich chad no.'been, proposed to the
ssates;p for the mere act Of passage by
Congress. does not giye vitality Or legal
effect to an amendment, but it remains a
dead letter until the constitutional pro
vision has been fulfilled BY tho signature
o, the President being affixed thereto.
..At,erthis has been done. ittllen becomes
the duty Of tue sccrrttry" 81 State b
t,aa.mit ito thea seseral, States josthes
adoption o,.,Jection lq9Is tier, and thu
only licoms legally and properly before
the legislatures Of the several States for
their aetioi; and we maintain that until
this hiss been done, any pretended ,saop.
tion ~ Estate Legislature Is not biuding,
nugatory and illegal
Nevertheless: We protest agaipst the
menstrous fraud which has been attempt
cdto be pcrpetrated upon our people, Ifor
tits nothing else. The leaders Of the
movement ! well /. know that upon the sim.
ple.issue Of this amendment, 10 before the
people, they would be hopelessly andir-
reaeemahly beaten. They know that
nipe-tenths Of the people Of this State
are'utterly opposed TO negro suffrage
aud knowing this, they have sought 10 de-
fraud them of',an opportunity to de.
clare their wishes and views Upon the
subject. wiichis not less culpablc because
It has net been successful! The mem.
hers Of tue Legislature; were not elected
Oh this. issue but upon Che contrary the
party everywhere, throdgh its chosen
champions upon the stump and through
the public press, announced; time after
time. that the question Of negro suffrage
had iho,hiug 10 DO With campaign
that it was not involved in il any man.
ner! Ewutheir platform uupou which
their candidates were elected, udeclured
thatiin tho "ioyal States, Congress had ne
right to Interfere VIII stlie'Oque.tionit o
suffrage. "aiYet no sooner is the election
we'll over than this amendment is propo
sed Iand we see thc'tepresehtativcs Of thu
party, false to- every pledge Vile" ,le,
had made.-regardless Of tho we'll knowr
wishes Of The people WHO placed tlcn' il
posscr-Aand,in violation 'cftiie Supreme
law Of tho lanl-n,teinptiiig.. " Oft TN
warranted and Illegal assumption ofppw.
eritolforec Upon tho people Of our State,
and fix there forever. the incubus ofNe.
gro sufrasetaiJb e 90" ''' MAJ I2" 'a s
In our opinion; this action was no; only
venial, wicked corrupt, but wholly ille.
gaf;sbu. be this rs II may! we call upon
the people Of oil parties, to demand a
stric. account from their fattlless repre-;
sentatises. Even il the adoption is L.
.i...t..l1-- a. .l III. 49,. 10 +. 4, tf,. l. d, ,