Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-09-03
VOLUME XVII---NO. 70.
TIE PUBLIC DEBT-"sAtE TIE REpUR-
LIc, LET THE DEBT CO."

TIE PUBLIC DEBT-"sAtE TIE REpUH
Lie, LET THE DEBT CO."
In our present condition VIC sec
the history of the world proved
We started with a representative
democracy. Tie fatIcrs of the
country conceived the Constitution
which, rs it has truly been
said, was can inspiration from on
high" Lately we find that great
efforts have been made to change
our form Of government and to di-
vide the Government. Now that
VIC arc cndcavoring to get back to
our Old mooring and our true ro-
sltlon, the danger lies in our going
too tar the other way. L trust in
God the good sense Of the rcoplc
will prevent it from being merged
INTO dcspotism. Tt is even now
being attempted. Your attention.
AN hNHlRE ON TIE RUINS OF THE
RErU3LIc.
Men in power in this Govern
mcht are even now attempting to
create an empire OIL the ruins Of
this republic. There is a debt ow-
ing by the Unied States amounting
to $500, 100000. These men who
arc engaged i'll this conspiracy to
change our republican government
into an empire say that this debt
was created to f;prescr,c the repub
lie 'Now, what is assumed p
SIMPLY that We must destroy the
republic for the purpose Of paving
the debt, by converting the rcpub
lie into an empire. Ny country
men. before God and this pconlc
to-Dl%ht, / would rather that tie
r'rnE'i: was preserved and the
.!".'' l.: go. Loud cl!ecrs.l This
''>';l 80; created to save tho repub-
lie. No." thc republic must be de-
s'n'yci to pay the debt. Rather
!cs th* Government be preserved
and ict tie debt so. [CEccrs.1
TIE tIPTEENrn AMENDMENT.
Our Government is one in which
the people do the voting md orc
the source Of power. They arc
sovereign. As longIas the power
Is III the people the State can de-
tcrminc its status and powers.
Now 1t is assumed by Congress to
propose an amendment to the Fed
cral Constitution which prohibits
the State from fixing the qualitica-
tons OF its voters. Then, if this
is adopted, Congress
takes the power away from the
State, that body becomes SOVEREIGN
and the country is swinging to-
wards empire.
The Constitution of the United
States, in arranging for rcprescn-
ton of the several States in Con-
Gress, determined that Congress-
men should be elected by the clco-
tors III the State qualified to vote
for members of the most numerous
branch of the State Legislature. !
Inc fifteenth amendment proposes
to lodge this power in Congress.
Let us look at the present con-
dition of Virginia, Mississippi and
Texas. After it had been demon
strated that they had no power to
secede, it is now proposed by the
Federal authorities to keep them
out of the Union. Now the Con-
in giving permission to
itself, says, "Providcd that
the Constitution shall not be 80
amended as to deprive any State of
its equal suffrage in the Senate"
he Government now turns to Vir-
ginia and says that until she ratifies
the Fifteenth Amendment she shall
not be represented in the Senate.
TIE REAL PARTY.
The time is now como when we
should consider the elementary
principles Of our Government, and
where they are tending. Away
with these shallow cries for party ! |
Let US save the Constitution and
the country. Let us rally under
the Constitution. Let us know no
party animositics engcndercd in
the days gone by.
The speaker here addressed the
colorcd men present, advising them
of their true condition and their
interest in voting en- masse with the
white population of Tennessee.
TIE DoNDHoLDERs.
3SWherc is all the gold and s;Iyer