Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1869-01-21

difficult to see how there can be hesif
tation on this point, when the great IL
tle-deed expressly says that govern
ments derive their just powers from
the consent of the governed But this
is not the only instance IN which he
practicel 50 successfully. a great par
humanitarian OF France has said: THE
more one is a lawyer the less he is a
Senator" Plus on est dr0cSt mons on est
Senatew If Stevens reached his con
clusion slowly, it was because he had
not completely emancipated himself
from that technical reasoning which is
the boast OF the lawyer rather than the
statesman. The pretension that the
power determine the qualifications
Of voters embraced the power to cx-
clude Tor color, and that this same pow
er to exclude for color was included
in the asserted power of the States to
make regulations for the elective
franchise. seems at first 10 have deceiv-
ed him; AS if it was not insulting to
the reason and shocking to the moral
sense, to suppose that any unalterab!e
phys:ca! condition, such as color OF hair,
eses, or skin, could be a qualification.
and as if it was not equally offensive
to suppose, that under a power to de-
termine qualifications or to make
| regulations race could be distran
..hised. Ot course. tnis whole preten-
ton Is technical.ty set up against hu-
man rights. Nothing can be palmer
| rhan that technicality may be employ
III favor Of human rights, but never
| j rainst them. Stevens came to his
concrsion at last, and rested in it
irinIv. 1t was his final aspiration to
see It prevail. He had seen much tor
WI ich be had striven embodied in the
institutions OF his country. He had
seen slavery abolished. He had seen
the freedman lifted to equality OF po-
litical rights, by act Of Congress; he
has seen the colorea race taroughout
the whole land lifted to equality OF
civil rights by act of Congress. 1t only
remained that he should see them
throughout the whole land lifted to the
same equality in political rights; and
then, the promises OF the Declaration
OF Independence would be al! fulfilled.
But he was called away before this
final triumph. A great writer Of an
tiquity, q perpetual authority, tells US,
that '.the chief duty OF friends is not
TO honor the departed by idle griet,
but to remember their purposes aud to
carry ont their mandates. These are
the words of Tacitus venture to add
that we shall best honor him whom
we now celebrate if we adopt his as
piraton, and strive tor It's tu!tilment.
Il is as a defender OF human rights
that Thadleus Stevens deserves our
homage. Here he is supreme. On
other questions he erred. On the f.
nances his errors We're signal. But
history will forget these and other fail
incs. as it bends with reverence before
those exalted !abors by which haman-
itv has deem advanced. Already he
takes his place among illustrious names,
which are the common property OF
| mankind. / see him now, as have so
often seen him during life. His ven
cradle form moves slowly and with
uncertain steps; but the gathered
strength of years is in his countenance
and the light of victory on his path
Politician, calculator, time server. stand
asidel A ostatesman passes to his
reward.