The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-03-11
THE AMENDMENT.

The negro amendment to the Constitu-
tion, having been kicked to and fro like a
football between the Senate and House of
Representatives, has at last assumed def
mite form and shape. 1t is as follows:
BE 1T RESOLVED, &c, Two-thirds of both
Houses cOncurring, that the following amend
ment to the Constitution of the United States
be submitted to the legislatures of the several
States, and when ratified by three fourths
thereof, it shall be part of said Constitution.
ART. I5.-The right of the citizens of the
United States to vote shall not be denied or
| abridged by the United States or by any State,
on account of race, color, or previous condl-
tion of servitude.
SIC 2. The Congress shall have power to
enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Many of the radical Senators voted for it
under protest, in order that it may be sub
mitted to the Legislature now in session for
ratification, and for the additional and
weightier reason that their party would not
have two-third majority in the next House
of Representatives. As a conspicuous in
stance Of violated faith, the passage of this
amendment by Congress has no PARALLEL in
the political history of the country. The
Chicago platform. il plain and unmstakable
terms, pledged the Republican party not to
interfere with the question of suffrage in the
Northern States. and on that distinct prom
ise it went into the canvass and elected its
candidate for President. 1t now repudiates
this prominent feature of its platform, and
with shameless duplicity does the very thing
which it had sclemnly pledged itself not to
do. After having obtained the support and
confidence of the people, and secured another
lease of power, it deliberately betrays them.
Some of the radical Legislatures in the ex-
treme Western States have ratified the
amendment with indecent haste. The fact
of the passage of the amendment by Con-
gress was sent by telegraph to the Legisla-
lures of Louisiana, Nevada and Kansas, and
on that information they proceeded to ratify
it. Their action in the premises is simply null
aud void, fol the reason that the law requires
the Secretary of State to give to the different
Legislatures official notice of the passage OF
the resolution. When that has been done
the jurisdiction of the Legislature over the
question commences, but not before. What
official notice had Nevada, Kansas or Loui-
siana of the passage of the amendment ?
They had none at all, and consequently their
action was premature and of no effect, as
they will hereafter be given to understand.
We suppose it is safe to assume that the
radical Legislature of this State is prepared
to eat the dirt that is set before it. Judging
from the past. it is very evident that the
majority OF that body are fully prepared to
sound all the depths and shoals of political
infamy. What Go they care for plightsd
faith or violated pledges2 Their rule of
political action is that the end justifes the
means. Are there not twelve thousand ne
groes in this State ready to vote the radical
ticket when this amendment becomes part
of the constitution 2 If the present Legisla-
ture ratifes the amendment it will perpe-
trate gross and unpardonable fraud upon
the people. It was net elected on any such
issue, and to settle tEst question now would
be fagrant usurpation o.. Legislative power.
When the amendment was before the
House for tie last time, on the goth of Feb |
ruary, Judge Woodward made an able
speech against w. IIoin "A-SA nc AAaAo sHo |
following extract:
''Now, sir, il is from considerations of ex |
pediency that oppose negro suffrage. 1t is |
the good of the negro as well as of the white |
man that prompts my opposition. 1t is my |
desire that they may live together in peace and |
happiness, always heretofore in PeRnsyl |
vania, that leads me to deprecate this amend |
ment. And especially have we in Pennsylva- /
MIA a right to complain when, in violation Of
all precedent, of all constitutional Law, of your