Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-10-07
SHALL THE FIFTEENTH AMEND
MENT BE RATIFIED?


MENT BE RATIFIED?
The Paris Intelligencer and the
GAINESVILLE Chronicle have taken
very decided grounds against the
ratification Of the fifteenth amend
ment to the constitution of the
United States. We have no doubt
they represent the entire anti-Rad-
ical portion of the citizens of their
respective localities in their oppo.
sition to the iniquitous measure. 1t
is not a question whether the ne-
groes shall vote that is involved in
this amendment, for they are al
ready voters in all the Southern
States but three or four on the
border, but it is the right OF the
States to control the question OF
suffrage within their borders-a
right that has been conceded to
them from the formation Of the
government. The States of Vir-
ginia, Mississippi and Texas may
ratify the amendment to get rid of
military rule, but the other
Southern States are not under
compulsion, and they should
reject this insidious attempt
to clothe Congress with a power
which will enable that body to at
once strike down the sovereignty of
the States, and establish up on their
ruins centralized despotism. The
Democracy of the North are max
ing a bold fight to defeat this at
tempt of Radical Congress to take
from the States right which was
recognised not only by the Demo-
cratic National Convention, but by
the convention that nominated Gen.
Grant, and shall Tennessee faltor in
the duty she owes to herself and
her sister States? Shall she assist
in blotting out State lines
and reducing independent com
monwealths to mere depen~
denotes, to be subject TO the
whims of Congress Surely we
are not prepared TO take upon our
selves the degradation which a
Radical Congress has prepared for
us. We are not prepared to assist
in placing the States of this
Union at the mercy of Congress,
step that, if successful, would in,
the end consolidate our govern
mont into an imperial despotism
which would lead practically to the
overthrow of civil as we'll as polls
teal liberty. The Hon. A. IL.
Stephens, of Georgia, characteristics
this fifteenth amendment PROPOSE
ton correctly when he says;
"Noihing could he more base than a
ratification Of the fifteenth amendment,
| under the impulse of threats from Con-
gress. Military rule may come; but milf
| tsry rule is better than self degradation.
| An undegra1ed, though oppressed people,
NAV still preserve some hope Of ultimate
liberty and good government; but self
degraded people, people lost to shame,
TO honor and personal respect, are not
| worthy of their liberty even II hope OF
lis restoration could penetrate souls, which
of their own accord have sutfocated the
light. Inc pAI, :m OoA'
much as it has been abused, is still po.
tent for the cure Of political evils. To it
we should look for restoration OF liberty.
We should co operate only with those who
recognize the sovereign right of local self
government by the people III their respec-
tive Observation-Disclosures these call
| themselves Democrats or by any other
nomenclature. By such a oOurse the day
of our redemption may finally arrive. But
il can never come in any other way. The
| principle Of local selfgoVernment, az a
sovereign right, was the foundati II of
| American Independence. Massachusetts
| was the first 10 start IT, And the cry re-
| sponded from all the coloniet: The
| csUse of Boston is the cause Of US all :"
| Even if. refusing self,degrsdalion, we pass