Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-03-04
THE DELLA WARE RADICALS JUS
IIFTED.

At Dover, in April Of last year, when the
Republican State Convention assembled, il
was the conviction of many earnest men
therein, that policy, duty, and political hon
esty, all united to demand OF the occasion,
high-toned and decided expression of prin-
ciple. The Committee on Resolutions, there
fore, in reporting series of seven planks
for the State platform, marked, significantly,
the progressive step which it was proposed
to take, by the third, which was in the fol-
lowing plain language:-
49, That we approve the plan adopted by
Congress for the re organization of the rebel
States that its vital principle, Impartial
Suffrage is just as well us polite; and that
in view of the action of Congress already
had, as well as of this natural justice, we
express the hope that such an amendment
of the Constitution of the United States will
| be made, as will secure the application of
the principle, throughout the Republic"
After brief but vigorous debate, this
resolution was enthusiastically adopted
Yeas Is; nays 81. 1t went into the State
platform as the resolved opinion Of that
Convention, and has never been rescinded.
When, however, the Republican National
Convention met at Chicago, it did not, as
many Radicals had anticipated, simply ig-
more the Suffrage question, but it adopted a
most gratuitous, most unreasonable, and
most uncandid expression, in these words 49,
''The guaranty by Congress of Equal Suf-
frage to all loyal men nj the South, was de-
manded by every consideration Of public
safety, of gratitude, and of justice, and must
be maintained; while the question of Suf-
frage in all the loyal States properly belongs
to the people of those States"
The second clause is that which we de
nominate gratuitous, unreasonable, and un-
truthful. It's character was instantly per-
ceived when it was presented TO the country
and in the COMMERCIAL of May 25th, VIC
properly characterized its disgraceful pur-
port. We repudated it as not Republican,
and not true. We said, then, in conclusion
of our article, that the Republican party
"will either adopt course pecsely oppo
'ssite to that indicated by the second claus,
'of the second Chicago resolution, or Il
twill expire, as the old Wing party did, be
"causc its spinal column is destroyed"
With this language the earnest, active,
thinking Republicans of this State, as o
other States, agreed, preferring, when party
and principle were divorced, to cast thei
, lot with the latter.
, Time has justified us. The Republican
party never approved that clause in tn
, Chicago platform. 1t was always scornet
and disregarded. Though it was a mos
: Important expression, everybody passed /
Q over in silent contempt. In the long cam
, paigu of 1865, we doubt IL ever a speake
for Grant and Colfax insulted bis audienc
r by quoting or advocating 1t as a part of tn
4 platform on which they stood. Finally
8 urged by popular feeling which it coul
. not have resisted, if 1t had wished to, Con
. gress came to the discharge of its duty, si
. weeks ago, and on Friday of last weel
i passed finally and presented to the State
:, : for ratification, this Amendment to the Con
n stitution:
o "The right OF citizens of the United State
g to vote shall not be denied or abridged b
e the United States or by any State, on accour
Y of race, color or previous condition of serv
II tude."
o This was adopted by the House on Thur
J. day by more than three votes TO onc-yeai
l43; nays, 4s and by the Senate on FIR
l. day, 10 vote just three to one-yeas, 80
al nays, Is.
At Can anything be more satisfactory Notl
ing but the ratification of the Amendmel
re by three-fourths of the States, aud that wi
?" come, in eighteen months, possibly in yea
l. 1t has just been ten months between II
g. time we asked for Constitutional Amen'
rt ment to secure the application of Imparti
to Suffrage throughout the Republic, and u
it time that Congress framed and adopted th
I'd Amendment, even though the National Co
d. vention placed sad stumbling block in o
z, way. We say again, the Radical men In o
D. 4stxts are triunphxntly justihed.