Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-04-07
THE REPUBLICANS OF DELA-
WARE JUoTIF,IED-TITE XVTH
AMENDAfENT THEIR HONORA-
BILE WORK

=
BILE WORK.
The Republicans of Delaware have in the
present situation of affairs, new proof of
that which none of them should ever dare 10
doubt-namely, that just principle, earn
es,ly advocated, is sure to triumph.
When the Republican Convention of this
State, at Dover, in April, 1868, adopted a
resolution calling for the amendment of the
National Constitution, by such measure as
would 'secure Impartial Suffrage throughout
the Republic, ut was step boldly and reso-
lutely taken, in advance OF the general
progress, not only of the people at large, but
even of the Republican party. 1t was a step
Of no ordinary character, for "Bordcr
State" to take. In so radical proposition,
we were almost alone, with Maryland. Even
Massachusetts, at her Convention of that
year, sat under the Conservative influence OF
men like Richard Henry Dana, Jr., and gave
no word of endorsement to the demand
which had been made for Constitutional
Amendment. Worse still, at the National
! Convention. at Chicago, the platform framed
placed its heel, as if purposely, upon all such
propositions, and declared, with an incon-
sistent absurdity that stamped the name of
political unfaithfulness on its face, that
while the guaranty Of suffrage must be
maintained in the lately rebellious States, in
those that were loyal, the question 'be-
i Thus the action of our State stood, in the
4 presence of the National Convention, as
though rebuked and silenced.
But as we have already said, there can be
mo permanent repression to the cause OF
justice. The work commenced in Delaware
scarcely paused, by this untimely Interrupt
tion. When Congress met, its first care waste
Frame and propose just such an amendment
hs the 'sThird Dover Resolution" had plead
for, securing impartial suffrage everywhere
b the nation. Late in the session, it wa
passed by both houses, with the requisite
two-thirds majority, and when the Presiden
came to deliver his brief but most compre
hensive Inaugural Address, he entertained
the hope and expressed the desire that tn
suffrage question might now be settled, for
ever, on the basis of justice, by the ratifca
ton of the proposed Amendment.
Thus was the movement made national
and placed first by Congress, and then b
the Executive Department of the govern
ment within the scope of the declared pul
poses of the Republican party. The radio,
action OF Delaware was not only sanctioned
but adopted, and written on the banners, III
der which three millions of American vote
marched. The seed sown by our Delawal
Convention had sprung so soon, in spite
the unfriendly storms of Chicago, into
great tree that the whole party were wi
ing to come beneath its branches. This, v
say again, not because of Delawares inf
enes as State, but because the positit
a0e tool sOas the true one. We hi
stripped the political situation, of that tim
and dared to speak of it as 1t really wa
Our "Third Resolution was the truth Dol
ly spoken, and hence, it has triumphed.
In the light of to-day, with this gre
measure of Enfranchisement approved
thirty States of the Union, we have tax
the occasion to thus rejoice. Not only &c
gress. and the President, but every Repub
can Commonwealth has Joined in appro'
OF the Amendment. Never were any set
men more fully justified by Time, and
progress of great Events, than the Repub
cans of Delaware. They took the fie
first they never left it they find, nc
their early plan Of action, then dsnount
as rash and premature, not only adopted
their party, and not only accomplished ai
Tact, but written, forever, on the broad p'
of the Republics Constitution, and regar'
by great nation with pride and joyful
proval. Thus does the goodness Of
sanction and crown with success, the eft
in behalf of Justice and Truth, no ma
from what source 1t comes.