The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1869-02-18
The New Amendment.

Y
Gus States of the Union If adopted by
the requisite number of States, it will for
ever secure the complete political equality
of all men before the law. Under 1t, !
throughout the Union, every native-born |
and every naturalized citizen, without dis
tinction of race or color, will be entitled |
to vote. Is this wise caange T? Isit the
mere spirit of innovation, or the result of
wise craftsmanship Admitting the end
attained to be good, is it a matter Of con-
graduation that the result has been secured
through the action of the nation at large,
rather than through the action of the
States? For our part, we answer all these
questions in the affirmative.
We know the wisdom of this amend
ment is challenged, just as the wisdom OF
the fourteenth amendment was challenged.
As to the propriety of this change, so far
as its own intrinsic merits are concerned,
we have just this to say: Because all
government is founded on the consent of
those governed, it is proper and right that
every citizen under any government should
have a voice in its affairs. With US, the
only legal method by which the citizen can
give force to his will is by the right to vote.
If deprived of that right, or if it is with
held from him, he must either be silent,
suffering whatever is imposed upon him,
or give effect to his will by mere physical
force He may urge, persuade, and rea-
son, so long as his fellow-creatures, clothed
with right to vote, choose to hear HIM or
allow him that privilege. But for the ul-
innate defence of his rights, or mainten-
ance of his interests, he has no other re-
lance, SO far as the law is concerned, than
mere physical force. If all the people of
country enjoy their rights at the mercy
of one man, as in an absolute monarchy,
there is less danger of tyrannical laws than
if one portion enjoy their rights by the
grace of God alone, and another at the op-
tion of their fellow man. 1t is not posi-
bic that any portion of people should lack
.lzi---I ------.-4.--
tending their rights and interests without
becoming the victims of injustice and op
preston Norris it half SO dangerous to
free country that one portion of the people
should be oppressed as that another larger,
more powerful, and influential portion of
the people should become the oppressors.
No man can oppress another without hav-
ing his own sense of right and justice
bIunted More than this, he who has
learned to oppress one man has just made
himself ready to tread upon, another
There never was, there never can be, an
instance in which person who had learn
ed TO .opprcss others was willing to stop
half way in his practices. He would eth
er go forward to the utmost limit, OF go
back to the exactest Justice. Not one in
ten thousand ever voluntarily takes the
back track Had suffrage not been given
to the blacks, we would have had an aris-
tocracy of class, of the phariseeism, Il am
holier than thou,' in the place of the ar
istocraey of slavery. Z r5t -at g.. adj =
But what of the accomplishments of this
end through the action of the National
Congress ? We freely admit thai the
Republican party has changed the charac-
ter of the National constitution and gov
erument in no small degree. 1t first made
those agencies the means of guaranteeing
to every man equal civil rights, and now.
through the same agencies, it seeks to
guarantee to all men equal political rights
Previous to the accession of the Republican
party to power, personal liberty, personal
security, and the right of private property
were secured Or denied to every person BY
each State at its own 1direction.a 1t is not
now IN the power of a State to deny any
man of these great rights. When the
proposed change is adopted, it VIII bs
equally out Of the power Of a State to de
privc any citizen Of the right to vote on
account of his color or Trssce9 Each State
may establish for itself what rule of sui:
frage it sees fit, provided it does not make
race or color Il disqualification, The
amendment merely puts all citizens on an
equality4-5whateycr rule applies TO % one
must apply to ali, 'zai a5l -i1 7eqe. lagc
Patrick Henryand others opposed tfc
adoption. OF our National Constitution be
cause it Centralized Rower, aud would, be
come dangerous TO ibersy- Tie looked
upon the States Us the besr gterdiani o