The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1869-05-04
Constitutional Amendment.

Error engaged in a combat with truth; sophistry
arrayed in hostility to and conservatism, re-
sstlng the innovations of progress, have lack
ed, sngiy or in combination, multitude OF spacious
arguments which served a species of Notifications
behind which they might, necessity demanded, take
| refuge from attack. We this e1emplifed with
reference to the opposition the proposed Fifteenth
| Amendment which is denounced by Democrats as
infamous on the plea that authority xsts under
which our system of popular Government, to force
upon any State, even by Amendment of the Con-
stitution, change in its fundamental structure By
which IS meant change in the prevailing distrihu-
ton OF political franchises among tbs community
But this lea finds support of fact of theory the
articles Of Union There discover, in its fullest
extent, that disputed power to force an amend
ment to the Constitution upon an unwilling and re.
jecng State. Il. is stipulated that three -fourths of
all the States concurrng in the ratification of an
| amendment proposed according to specific forms,
thereupon sucl amendment shall become an integral
part OF the org mic law, and hence supreme over all
the constituent members of the Republic. If the dis
sent OF single State, if one-sourth Of the
States could operate to defeat the ratification
would become not merely nulli.y, but a monun ent
OF stupidity, for it would lay down conditions that
could not, by any possibility be fulfilled Should it be
averred IN answer that the Constitu ton does
tend an amendment that would produce the changes
that would result from the Fifteenth Amendment it
may be replied that this rebutter only the orgi al
| assumption, in modified form, and merely begging
the question, as the very point in controversy is
whether or not this Fifteenth Amen In ,a can ., for
ced upon an unwilling and dissenting State by rat
flying concurrence OF three fourths OF all the States
The Fourteenth Amendment unquestionably has
made changes in thu fundamental structure of the
States OF Kentucky and Missouri quite as radical as
the Fifteenth could MAKE Will be maintained that
the Fourteenth Amendment is, that account in
valid, inasmuch Of the States refused their
sanction! Yet the Democratic argument against the
validity of the Fifteenth applies with equal force to
the Fourteenth
Even supposng, for the sake Of illustration, that
there are exceptions to the Constitution p n,endiny
power OF the nature claimed then who is to de
ternine when sny ofthese exceptions arise. Teach
State is sole judge for itself in deciding this issue
then each individual State authority to de-
isat any gwen am eminent for, its prerogatve of
ajudgng that such anendn ent does or does not be-.
long to theexceptona class being complete and unm-
ted its adjudgment of invadity would be sufficient
20 prevent ratification though all the OF tie
States should CONCUR III the opposite opinion. No
M alter how uni ust er absurd dogm tic the decis
ION might BE-, there would not be according to the
supposltion, any way to reverse it. No appellate or
superv isory authority would exist to determine that
the State hal abused or prostituted its prerogatye
Indeed, It's discretion would be the sole measure Of
itsJurisdicton, and its single action would be able in
every case of proposed mendment to debar the ac
ton of all its States. That such power liable to
such perversions and open to such considerations
forms no part Of political SYSTEM is SO papabe
that it does not require another word of exemnfca-
ton
1t would appear that it is work of supereropation
to thus gravely set out to prove what is almost as
Clear and indsputable automatic truth were it not
that the argument have reviewed is seriously and
extensively adduced not only by Democratic Jour
nais but even in the halls of legislation by Demo-
cratic politicians, and finds wide currency amonp
men wh' set up for profound thinkers and logical
TeasoneFs. What is this new doctrine but the resur
ection, in new form of that old political heresy
which silenced the scruples Of many when seces
sion was moving toward the abyss of civil war-the |
heresy that 1t is the right of the several States as
parties to the constitutional compact, to Judge each
FOR Itself, in the last resort, to the extent of the
powers delegated to the central Government? We |
fear the creed of State Sovereignty scotched not
killed by the overthrow of the rebellion-Chcsgo Re-
publican.