Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-01-27
WHITTIER DRIFTING?

Further E1CrOnChments of Congress
-The. Construction Put upon the
Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amend
mcnts-The Liquidation of the
states TO be Supervised by Com
cress.
Correspondence of the Baltimore Gazette.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 1S7O.-The bills
already introduced, and those in course
of preparation, designed to carry into
effect the fourteeth and fifteenth
amendments, are OminOus of further
encroachments upon the few remaining
privileges of the States. II is claimed by
the Radicals that these amendments place
the legislation of all the States at the
caprice of Congress, which they further
contend is the sole judge of what kind of
a government is republican in form.
Under the stipulation in the fourteenth
amendment, il is proposed to subject to
heavy penalties, all persons amenable 70
congressional prescription who shall &C
cept Office under any State government
This legislation is aimed at Maryland,
Delaware and kentucky-thCse being the
only States which, at this moment, are
practically nOn-prOsCriptivc. II isfurtheI
in contemplation to declare negroes COM
petent TO hold executive, legislative and
judicial offices in all the States, and pro-
nouncing all discriminating State legisla-
ton in this respect null and void. The
hatred and malice of the Buffers, the
Schcncks, the Summers and the brakes
will never abate until the fifteen slave
holding States, al the breaking out of the
civil war, are subject to negro and carpet
bag control. They think, with full negro
suffrage, at least portions of even Mary
land would be now in their power. 1t
would highly crafty the malignants
if but a sprinking Of erich black
blood could be infused into the
two branches Of your Legislature. They
know well enough that under no sys-
TEN they could adopt would the negro
ever gain a footing in Northern State As
semblies. The hypoCrites are at this
moment at fever heat in devising excuses
for keeping Sambo from West Point and
the Annapolis Naval Academy. But !
hear that this matter will shortly be pre-
sented in a form which viii admit of no
postponement. If the entire South Cn-
GLIDING States which did not Join in the
secession mOvement) is to have the negro
forced upon it as an equal, the epauletted
upstairs, on sea and land, cannot COM
plain if compelled to take them into their
messes upon social equality with their
wives, daughters and sisters. Admission
to the public military schools would in
fallibly accomplish this end.
The discussion of the Virginia bin has
brought out a confession of faith on
the part of the Radical Senators, not only
iustifying the above remarks, but sUgges-
tive of further tyranny. Even those who
favored the admission Of the State with
out express conditions, did SO upon tn,
ground that the States generally in OF Ou
of the Union, are subject TO the para
mount power of Congress. The latter
claims the authority, under the CLAUSE
guaranteeing republican form of gov
eminent" to the States, the right to regu
late their legislation in all respcCts-unde
that conferred upon each House the power
to Judge of the qualifications of its mem
beers, the right capriciously to refuse t.
admit (as in the case Of Gov. ThOmas), O
10 cXpCl las in the case of Mr.. Stockton;
and now, under the clause empowering thu
House Of Representatives to count tht
votes" for President and Vice President
the night is insisted upon of going behinC
the State seal, and Judging of the
legality Of the elections and thu
qualifications Of the electors. In short
as things now stand, Congress has UsurpeC
;hc power Of designating who shall anC
who shall not vote in all State elections
Il can make or unmakc its own members
and, while annihilating the conservative
power of the Judiciary by a simple act o.
lis own, set aside an election of Presi
den, 10y the people, if such thing coul,
ever DE necessary, under the llimsiest pre-
texts, and without deigning 10 suggest
why OF a wherefore. Besides all thi
'thc party" has an absolute reserve Of tel
lpcrhaps eleven States bound and pledge,
TO ''votc" the Radical ticket, upon pail
of having their votes thrown out, as give
in chad faith" and their people agai
put under martial law, administered b.
some harpy like Butleror Bullock, or som