Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-03-17

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THE SUFFRAGE AMENDMENT.
Repot, ef the Minori,, of the ccmmii,ss
on Federal Relations Recommending the
submission of the Proposed tlnctnth
Amendment 70 the Federal Constitution
" q Vote u thc People.
To tht ,Sendt " Pcnnsglragia
The minority Of your Committee on
Fedcral Relations, to which Joint roso.
lniiop t,r tba ratification ofthcamend.
ment 70 thctonsiitation Of The United
States, to be known as article fifleen
Ub), was referred for consideration,
cannot agree with the conclusion mr.
rived at by the majority Of the tom.
mittec and respectfully report that, in
their opinion, the question of the said
amendment should not now be acted
upon by the Legislature, but shooId bo
submitted TO the people in order that
their desires upon The subject may be
known aud their instructions oboyed.
We will not enter into a discussion
Of tho propriety of the amendment
itself, but waving that, will con6nc.
ourselves to what, in our opinion, is
of infinitely more importanoe--the
right of the people 10 determine for
themselves who shall, and who shall
not, vote.
That governments derive their just
powers from the consent of the gov
crned, is a maxim as old as our inst-
tutions, and the violation of the prin-
ciple embodied in il was, more than
any other, the cause Of the Revolution
and the establishment Of our independ-
cnce. 1t is as true to-day as it was in
l776, that the people are to be con
suited when any Of their rights or
privileges are about TO be affected or
taken from them.
Sovereignty is in the people; not in
the sense In which this assertion is
often lightly made, but in that sub
stantial and important sense which
makes il the very basis of our system
ofgovernment. Ourown constitution
explicitly provides in the second sec
tion of the declaration Of rights, "that
all power is inherent 10 the people,"
II was well said by Judge Wilson in
the convention held in this State TO
ratify the Federal Constitution, "that
the supreme, absolute and uncontrolla.
bic power is in the people before they
make a constitution, and remains in
them after ii is made. To control the
power and conduct Of the Legislature
by M overruling constitution was an
improvement in the science and prac-
tice of government reserved TO the
American States. When they have
made State constitution, they have
bestowed on the government created
by 1t certain portion of their power
but the fee-simple of their power re.
mains in themselves. Ii resides in
the people as the fountain of govern.
ment; the people have not the peo.
pie meant not--and the people ought
MOTTO part With it to any govern.
ment whatsoever. In their hands IL
remains secure. They can delegate IL
IN such proportions, to such bodies, on
such terms, and under such limitations
as they think proper.
This great power is not vested in
the State, nor in the United States.
Neither legislature nor convention
can possess it. Perhaps some politi-
clan, who has not considered with
sufficient accuracy our political sys.
tens, would answer that, in our gov
ernments, the supreme power was
vested in the constitutions. This
opinion approaches a step nearer TO
the truth, bul does not reach il. The
truth is, that 10 our governments, the
supreme, absolute, and uncomfortable
power remains in the people. As our
constitutions are superior 70 our legis.
latures, so the people are superior to
our constitutions Indeed, the supe.
riority in this last instance, is much
greater, for the people possess over
our constitutions control in act, as
well us right"
Under our system the work Of a
convention specially delegated to form
a constitution is imperative until il is
passed upon by the people, and receive
from their hands its vitality. The
Constitution ol the United States and
that of our own State both passed the
ordeal Of the people and became opera.
tive only under their approval. The
tendency of public opinion is more
and moro in this direction, for of the
constitutions adopted IN the United
States, upwards of eighty have thus
been submitted and approved.
Having thus seon that the consent
of the people is q matter OF theory, Of
right and of practice, We now come to
consider the application Of these prin-
ciples to the question before us.
The proposition contained in the
amendment is fundamental one. By
this we mean that il was one of those
vital and important rights that enter
ed deeply into the compromises of the
Constitution, and that polcer orer Il
icdS gicen neither 10 the Federdl nor the
State government, but that the right to
declare who should exercise the power
OF election in the State was reserved
to the people and remains with them.
Judge Wilson, before referred 10, in
commenting upon tho character of this
right, says;