Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-02-10

The proposed amendment 70 the Constitution
which passed the House on Saturday last, and
which is now under consideration in the Senate,
constitute the most important stop remaining 10
he taken in the great work Of re- toring civil gov
crnmcnt to the South, The proposition, having
passed the House by such a decided majority, and
being known to meet the hearty approval Of the
President elect, will unquestionably receive the
favorable consideration IT the Senate, and speedi-
ly be laid before the legislatures of the several
States for their action. What that action will be
it is impossible to predict with certainty. MIR.
Boutwell,, the author Of the amendment, estimates
that the vote by States will fall three short Of the
number required to secure its perfection AS part
Of the fundamental law and to provide against
such a contingency, he wished 10 supplement the
amendment with a BILL intended to carry out the
same purpose. The wisdom Of this step would
have been exceedingly qucstionablo-eycn were
the right to take il conceded. For law adopted
by Congress may he repealed by Congress and
f that body can enlarge the suffrage, it must
he equally competent 10 put restrictions upon Il.
We can easily see how dangerous such ia precedent
might become in the event Of Congress falling in
to the control Of any party opposed 10 the proyi-
sions of this amendment. But while a law on
the subject would, or might, be ductuntng and
mutable. Constitutional amendment will stand
fixed md permanent The end sought can better
be postponed for little than achieved under cir.
cumsianccs that might greatly diminish its value
The Fourteenth amendment failed to secure tho
requisite number Of States when first presented
and it was not until recent period that Secretary
Seward issued his proclamation announcing tina
| it had become part Of the Constil tion.
That the principle embodied in this amendmen
will be ultimately acquicsced in By the whol'
country--and by no section more heartily thar
that which it is now designed to ahect-there ar
the best OF reasons for believing. Il is emphati
cally right in itself considered II is logica
and necessary result of the war. 1t flows legti
mately from the abolition OF slavery 1t is de
manded by the Declaration Of Independents, tina
it, glorious doctrines Of human equality may a
length be yindicated. And perhaps a still weight
Ter reason may he found in the fact that it vii
be for the interest Of its former enemies tn give
their support No State can afford the loss q
representation which will follow the exclusion d
any class from the suffrage and there is probab
not one in the Union which would consent to hay
the privileges Of its citizens abridged, after III
regulations here provided were once established
Southern statesmen and politicians are too saga
cious--as was shown in nmny instances durin
the late Presidential campaign--to combine tn
whole class of newly enifanchised voters agains
them aud their party. In several Of the Souther
States the negro is already invested with full eli
izenship, and the newly acquired ballot has bee
used with wonderful prudence and judgment
cannot he denied that whenever the opportunit
has been afforded they have at least shown =,
markable political instinct, guiding them arigh
The apprehended danger from this source has "a
passed away AS is fully shownby the recent proI
osition Of the Virginia conservatives to accept III
principle involved in connection with uniyers,
amnesty.
r Alike because the amendment is right, and III
conscience of the nation is enlisted in its behal
and because the reform is measure of polite,
expediency, it is sale to predict that it will ult
mately be adopted with the general assent Of Ii
country, and especially of the Southern States