Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-09-23

from WHICH we nave Just emerged.
We confess the problem is a grave
one"
PROSPECTS OF THE FIFTEENTH
AMENDMENT
The Hon. o. H. Brewing, of IL
linois, who was one of the strongest
as well as ablest supporters Presi-
dent Lincoln had up to the day of
his death, has been nominated by
the Democrats for delegate to the
constitutional convention about to
assemble in that State. The Quin-
cy Herald says of Mr.. Browning's
views:
ale does not regard the framing of
new State constitutiOn-a fundamental law
which lie TO operate, or at least should oper-
ate, equally upon men Of all parties-as
a partisan measure. He is, however, OPP
posed-decidedly heartily and defantly,
opposed-to striking the word white out
of the constitution of this State, and he
does not hesitate TO say that the fifteenth
amendment 10 the constitution of the
United States, if ratified, will be in
consistent with the other provisions, and
with nearly all Of them, to which il is
an amendment, and necessarily, therefore,
vOid-as much so as if it were a PROPOSE
ton TO set aside and abolish the constitu~
ton Of the United Sistes."
Mr.. Browning is one Of the ablest
statesmen in the West; lately one
of the pillars of the Republican
party of Illinois. lie assisted in
the organization of that party, and
drew up its first platform was
member of the Chicago Convention
which nominated Lincoln in 1860;
was in June, 1861, appointed the
successor Of the lamented Douglas
in the United States Senate by Gov.
Yates, who is now himself Mr.. BIS
successor; and was subsequently in
the cabinet as Secretary of the In
terror. When such men as Mr..
Browning take as decided ground
against the fifteenth amendment as
he has, it shows the iniquitous
character Of that measure. He does
not hesitate to declare that it is in>
consistent with the provisions Of the
constitution it is intended to amend,
and therefore void if ratified.
1t is specimen Of the
crude legislation that has been
inflicted upon the country during
Radical rule in Congress and in the
State Legislatures Of the South.
Such measures are the offspring Of
partisan hate or an effort to secure
additional power, and just men of
whatever party revolt at their char
acter. Mr.. Browning's views of
this proposition are in keeping with
those of a number Of Senators who
denounced it while pending before
the Senate as fraught with evil and
evil only, yet succumbed TO party
pressure and voted for it. 1t isnOt
surprising then that We find Mr.
Browning and other Republicans
like him, denOuncing the proposed
amendment in the strongest terms,
and throwing themselves into the
breach TO prevent its ratification
The refusal of ten States TO ratify
will kill the amendment, and appre-
ciating this fact, the Radicals have
made a desperate effort TO secure
its ratification. A notable in
stance is the case of Nir.
ginia, of which the Montgomery
Advertiser says: "Thc Radical
party has universally endorsed the
official opinion Of Attorney General
Hoar on the Virginia question.
That opinion was made up to order
after full consultation, and was ino
tended TO present a compromise
satisfactory to both the Grant and
Boutwell, factions. The record was
so made up az TO avoid the issue
between them. The Attorney Gen
eral so constructs the reconstruction |
acts as to find in them authority |
for the organization Of a Provis~ |
iOnal Legislature for the sole purs
pose of ratifying the fifteenth
amendment, and for no other pur-
pose whatever. But itsU happens
that this thing Of q State ratifying
an amendment to the constitution
is not only condition of the recon-
struction acts in the case of the
fifteenth amendment, but is also in
this and all other instances of
amendments, condition of the con
stitution of the United States.
The reconstruction acts, ac-
cording to Attorney General
Hoar, will only permit the
organization Of Provisional Legis-
lature in Virginia for purposes Of
ratification, and for nothing else.
The constitution of the United