New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-06

tie Land anything IN tlo rtrapv notT,it,standing
s,otSS orcses rs prorer functions when, within It's
own Jurisdiction II ndI chSrIcs and nv its local
e br3n,gs the guardianship of government to
h c stte nv which we are saved from that centraza
tinn which Is elsewhere absorbing But state tran
scends its proper function when IL nereres win tDOse
canal rights whether civil political, which, by te
Declaration OF Independence and repeated texts OF tue
National Constitution, under the safeguard OF tne
nation The State is local in its character ana nor mn
yersa Whatever is justly local belongs Its coglzance
what can be more universal than the rights
OF mani Such they have been declared Dy our ianeIs
to champions Of caste and olgarchy under the Ma
tiona Constitution, and perusing their VIKINGS iS
much calmness as / can command. have noted what
they have to say in speech and in print know IL an
do not when say that this whole terrible anu Slo
miniOus preensioD is traced to direct and DaIelaoeu
perversion of the National Constitution Search history,
study Constitutions examine laws, and you VIII hhu 10
perversion revolving. BY the National Gohst noh
tion it is provided that the electors In ed for
the electors Of the most numerous branch OF
the State Legislature, thus seeming 10 , Fser
tons to the States and this is reinforced by the
provision that the times. places ana manner vi mo re
elections for Senators and Representatives shai 10 ~
scrbed in each State by the Legislature tnereOl u
grcss may at any by law make or alter suGn liam
TONS This is all these simple texts conIerrhg p
and Ineligible powers The champions INSIST Ihau Goo
may be made qualification ana tnie ioes EN- lot col
ored like own may be shut out from heng At once
and that in this way m9nGpo OF IL naceG under the
safegnaTd Of the National Constitution Everything from
them begins and ends in Naw "a This peryer
sion oppose pointblnnk denial Ihese Two wolu9 III
in National Constitution which be interpreted nj
ways SO that human rights Sn@ no' t6e case
not STOP now on m is something that
can be acqnired o., man oon he Gnaacatioa
which its nature attainabe as residence PUP
erty education or character each OF %hSH ~ nnnt
the possible reach Of welldrected efforts So9r calnDe
he n qualification II the prescribed qualification Wete
color the hair color OF the eyes all wOud see .s o.
surdty butt the less absurd when IL Is INC coo
of the skin. Here IS an Interchangeable condition, IN
pressed by Providence Are we not reminded tao to
leopard cannot change his spots or the Ethop us SKIN
These are the two examples Of enduring conditions.
Color is quality derived from nature; nut quuy 10
very different from qualification. quality inherent IN
man and part OF himself can never be quahcaonln
the of the National Constitution on oher oco
sions have cited authorities and shown how TINS at
tempt to fost into the National Constitution peIcous
meaning is in defiance Of all approved deinllons, as ~
is plainly repugnant to reason, justice ana common
sense The same Judgment must be pronounced on inc
attempt 70 fost this outrage upon Tue DOW a.
regulations il this word had not limited
which renders such n pretensiOn impossible kegnIa
tons are nothing but rules applicable TO gwen
They the manner in whcha business sha oc
ducied and when used with regard to elections arehpp
cable to what may be called incidents In
TO the principle which nothing less than the right 10
vote power TO gulate is not power TO destroy or
| dsfranchse. In evil hour human rights may po
struck down. but IL cannot merely by regulations Mr.
sumner here argued at length against the assumption
that under the Constitution the power OF Suffrage
longs 10 the States and summed up his argument upon ~
mon two propositions first, that there IS absolutely
nothing in the National Constitution TO sustain the pre-
tension OF caste or ogarcy OF the skim rs set up ny GER
tain states and second that there Is In tho Nalohal
| Constitution a succession and reduphcauoh OF powers
investing Congress with ample authority 10 rtprehs any
such preension He then considered the two reasons as
signed for prefcrring constitutional amendment to an
Suffrage first the doubfuness OF the power OF Congress
and second, the greater pernanency OF an amendment
In repy TO first he insisted that the power ot Con-
gress not doubtul and in reply TO the second sld
he had no fear that suffrage once gwen YOU'D eyer DC
for the amendment turn TO those which MAKE us
hesitate 70 present 1t FOR ratification Inc aihencle
admits that under the National Constitution as Is WIN
its recent additions caste and an Ogachy OF the SKIN
may be set MP by State without any check from Con-
gress That these ignObe forms OF inequality are con
sstent with republican government, and that the rght
zensip All this is plainly admitted by the proposed
amendment, thus despoilinS Congress Oh DeDencenl
powers and emascuatng the National CONSTITUTION tse
Ii is only with infinite reluctance that can consent 10
any such admission which in the endeayor TO satisfy u
important for human rights The hesitation 10 present
the amendment IL increased when we consider me dhi-
ican bu understand that nobody mas YET Deen aDe 10
to assure it's ratification within reasonable time.
Meanwhile this great question: which cannot brook de-
lay which tine sake OF peace aud to complete Recon-
sructoD should be settled az Is handed over TO
prolonged controversy in the States need NOT depict
the evils which must state viii become for the
time political cauldion, into which viii be dropped all
the poisoned ingredients Of prejudice aud hato. while
Macbeth Double double toll and trouble, fire burn aud
cadrOn bubble will use this very amendment as the
puddngstick with which to str the boiling mass such
controversy should ho avoided # possible Nor should
an ait
vited Let US nave peace OI COURSE II there were 10
other way Of accomplishing the great result the Amend
ment shoud be presented even win an ito aeays, un
ceralnueS ana pfoNocauOho 70 rVcdl slIc' b'. HapP
w. all theses are unnecessary. The same thing may be
accomplished by Of Congress without any delay, with
out any uncertainty, ana WltLOut any proIocsnon 20
local strife The vote Of twOthrds required for the
presentation OF the Amendment Will pass the act over tie
veto OF the IIetuchl. Ouce AuVptCu u WI go lntu
instant operation without waiting for the uncer.
tain concurrence Of State Lesislatures and
without provoking local STRIFE SO "earsOme
TO the country, The states WI not ne
Will have no PUDDING tlck WIN Nhlch 70 sl te Dolll
do not depart from The prophecies OF TINS occa
sion when show how completely the conrse now pro-
pose harmQnlzes WIN the IfqulIcchs oI tn9 Polleal
party which belong believing most sincerely tat the
Republican party In ts objects IS identical with the
! country, and with mankind, 50 that in sustaining u sus-
tain those comprehensive charities. cannot willingly
prenacy You need votes in Connecticut. do you not 7
There are 1000 felowcitizens that state ready at tho
You need them also in Pennsylvania, do you not There
are at least 1900 in that great state waiting for
there they are, and be assured they will all
vote for those who will stand by them
in the assertion OF all equal rights, but In standing by
them you stand by all which is most dear in the Re.
public Pardon me, but If you not moved by con.
peal that humble motive which Is found in the desire
Tor success DO this and you viii assure the triumph Of
VIII be elevated, who the equal rights OF all will De
xed on foundation not less enduring IMAM the rock OF
measure securing Equal Suffrage, as called for alike
MIR VICKTRs Dem. Sid followed in opposition to the
proposed amendment.
| EVENING SESSION.
| At r. IN. the Senate reassemblcd.
| Mr. NICKERS demanded "a call OF the roll. Only ten
Senators answered tho call. and the President an
! uOuHccd that there quorum present.
| Mr. RAMSEY rep, Mimi remarked that as there wa5
10 bo no vote TAKEN II was not necessary to have "a
! quorum.
Mr. BAYARD Dem, Dell moved to adjourn. Lost.
On motion OF Mr.. HARLAN. the Sergeaut-at Arms was
directed 10 notify the absent Senators that their presence
was required.
! Mr.. VAN WRINKLE moved 10 adjourn. Lost
! Mr.. NIE thought there would he u quorum, and
suggested that the Senator from Maryland should pro-
| coed with hs speech but Mr.. Nickers declined.
Mr.. DOOLITTIE at 1880, demanded another call OF the
roll which showed that there were ~ Senators present