Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-09-07
THE aFIFrEENTH AMENDMENT
uNCONsTITUTION

= II u =
UNCONSTITUTIONAL"
The above has passed into song, and
ia often repeated as maxim by the
Avalanche, but we have, up to this hme'
failed to perceive the correctness or the
common sense of the statement and DEFY
tia editor to show wherein the Fifteenth
Amendment could be unconstitutional
It sounds nightly like some OF the
writings of the famous Mrs. Parhngton'
and is considerably worse than Our
Foreign relations with Cuba" The thing
ia not TO be wondered at, for the editor oil
the Aralanche has of late been
40 mixed up in his mind that
be cant tell the difference between
black and white, and protests every
dsy that a negro is equivalent to q
white man. he is decidedly in favor OF
mixing things in every respect, and mas
become so jumbled up in his senses as 70
charge the Fifteenth Amendment (which
does not exist as being unconst'tunonal
This delightful organ, which showers
around US every morning its black rays
denies that an amendment proposed BY
two.thirds of Congress and ratifed by
tbree-fourths of the States becomes part
of The Constitution. If a newspaper would
deuy such a thing it would deny that
the sun shines at mid-day-would
not stop at denial of its old friends and
former partisans, aud, like Peter, would
deny Jesus Christ.
The Congress Of the United States does
mt Intend by open force to take from
the States the reserved right of regulat-
ing the question of suffrage within their
own peculiar district or territory, but
simply asks these States to yield up
this right to be exercised BY it lCongres)
in the future. 1t is true the right to
regulate the qualification of voters in the
States were reserved by them, but we
oresume no sane editor you'd deny that
The States could delegate that poioer TO
the General Government. Now, the Ara
lanche is guilty OF another Of its smart
speeches in this morning editorial against
the LEDGER, after denying the rignt
20 Congress and the Legislatures OF the
States to amend the Constitution OF our
General Government. 1t says:
This proposition we deny. The Legs
latures of the several States can DO every
thing not expressly prohibited by the
State constitutions. But Congress can 40
nothing unless the power be expressly
granted by the Constitution.
. ! Now, every young lawyer 10 the coun-
,ry. and even we'll informed persons, will
turn up their eyes in wonder at the ao-
surdiry of this fret proposition. Instead
of the Legislatures OF the several States
having the right to do everything not
prohibited by their Constitution, the re-
verse is exactly correct, for the Leg
islature of State is the child. the
offspring of the Constitution, which
smoke it into existence, and can
not assume to exercise any duties or
power, Unless especially authorized IN
that instrument itself. We would like to
be informed where the editor Of the Ard-
lanche received his Instruction on the
subject Of onr laws and the relative posi-
ton of the people and States, and the
States to the General Government He
is certainly very much benighted, aud
should be sent to school, where the editor
Of the LEDGRR learned in his boyhood
che lessons SO necessary now for the
guidance Of the AralGGche.