Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-06-28
PUBLIC LEDGER.
M EM r HIS,
Monday Evening, June 2S, 1859.
T,gE rrFTEENTH AMENDMENT.


Il would be well, under the circum-
ssnnces, to take sly glance at the Fif-
.osnth amendment, now pending before
the States for ratification. That our
readers may have the exact language OF
his amendment we give it in the follow
ing words:
ARTICLE Is. The right of the citizens
. Of the United States to vote, shall not be
denied By the United States, nor any
State, on account of race, color or pre-
yious condition Of aervitude.
Sec. 2. The Congress shall have power
to enforce this article by appropriate leg
lslation.
If, then, this is incorporated and made
s part of the Constitution of the United
States, the question Of suffrage will be
taken from the States and exercised by
The General Government. This viii prac-
i1cally consolidate the entire Govern
meut, and gives to Federal authority the
only weapon left the States by which
they might have preserved their original
Inheritance of State sovereignty. For,
certainly when the right TO control the
ballot box has been given to the General
Government, il will then concentrate the
great fundamental source of all power at
Washington, and the States will be
assigned dependent position, drawing
their existence from the bounty of Con-
sress. lathe Fourteenth Amendment it
IS expressed that all persons born in the
United States are citizens of the United
States, and of the State wherein they
may reside, which includes negroes and
whites, and only excerpts Indians not
taxed.
The amendment to the Constitution,
making negroes citizens, has al
ready been adopted, the object now
bsiag to force the acceptance of the
Fifteenth Amendment which, when rati-
fed By three-fourths of the States, makes
these persons legal voters in all parts of
the country. But it should be borne in
mind by those of the South who partici-
paied in the war that they are not in
claded in this relief from disfranchise-
ment, sit was emily intended by the Rad
ieal party to elevate the Ethiopian race
toa political and social scsle equal with
ibe whites. This amendment is a ques-
tiou directly for the consideration of
our people in the present canvass and in
the election Of members to the next
Ls1islsture. We should be careful to
selsct men who will reflect our views,
fr it was expected by the friends of
III amendment that the Legislature of
q State would be sure to ratify it at its
next meeting, but which is now a little
doubtful, since majority of Democrats
N y compose that body.
The last Legislature in this State would
hlve voted for and ratified the Fifteenth
Amendment, if The shadow of suspicion
had crossed their minds that the next
Legislature would refuse to do so. Yet,
with this State against its adoption, the
amendment will be secured by the bay
oaes ia Mississippi, Texas and Virginia,
watch States are forced BY the law to
sioptit before ihey can again be recog-
nized rs members Of the old Union. This
is the beautiful Republican Government
that some Of our friends would have us
pull off cur hats to. When precedent
vas established, by which the General
Government might coerce State, Repub-
hcanism died death Of violence at the
hand of its friends. The North being in
The majority, have compelled us of the
South to accept the negro as our political
and social equal. We cannot imagine a
worse state of affairs, but are forced with
others to submit.