The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1870-12-14

| mas been sald certain acts are 10 be cone.
certain acquisitions are to be observed, be-
fore a change can be affected. Bu. to what
purpose are those acts required or those
acquisitions epjoined, if Me Legisla'me or
any department Of the government cm
dispeuse nth them ? To do 80 woald be
to violate the instrument they are sworn to
support, and every principle ofpublic LAW
and sound constitutional policy requires
the courts to pronounce against any amend
meut which is not shown to have been
made in accordance with the rules pr :
scribed by the fundamental law"
This is the legal aspect of the case
and whether our position is correct or not.
i'll view of the past, could it be safe to
trust to a Judiciary ,chich ha, secured
place rhOlly as reuard for parti:an ser.
nice, to decide that the omission was no,
fatal? Experience has taught us thu;
our Judges will 60 far, seryfar. in order
to minister tothe base ends of party; and
in such matter .. this. involving. as it
does. the liberty of more thsn 20. goo Q!
our citizens, we would prefer to leave
nothing to inference. or TO the inttrpre-
'ation Of partizsn Judges. xho can OnM
hope to hill their positions by continued
Acknowledgement! Their decision. in
our MUD, would no, be questionable.
They would, rs in the past, decide jus: as
the necessities d their party required,
and would dsc!sr" til. Amendment void.
This is our opinion; and whether it be
I right or wrong. We submit: that when thare
is remedy FOR disfra uchisemens which is
open to none Of the objections that can be
urged against ,hi. measure, is it M, sisc,
il it not prudent, to pursue that course ?
. We think so. and. therefore, our second
reason for prcferring Convention is:-
( That it will accomplish the end sought
( euiranchi,emcnt-in manner so en-
tirely legal and proper. rs to be open to
uone of the objections that Gun be urged
against the other propositions.
D
; The righ: of the people to alter or
change their Constitution, is inhereut.and
the remedy We favor for the evils which
uow inaiet the body polite. is one that
has been exercised by communities from
time immemcrial. 1t is the legitimate
aud proper method of amending Conssi-
,utious; for as they were formed by the
people in the exercise of their sovereign
rights, 50 should they be changed
Our third reason for fayoriug a Con-
yen,iou ISL
That by it eniranchisement can be, OBJ
tanned without even qaasi endorsement
of Negro Suffrage, or Equalization of the
unconstitutional legislation by which it
was forced upon MS, and consequently
without sacrifice Of principle.
As We discussed ,hi, question somewhat
ut length in our former article, we do not
wish to reterate our argument. bu, it
seems to US that when uu object eau DO OBJ
tsined, legally and properly. witlou, en-
dorsing legislation which the Democracy
have never ceased to deuouncc ~. uncon-
stitutionnl, revolutionary aud outrageous,
j. is the duty ofthe party to use those
means which a.e CONSTANT with the prin-
ciples represents The Democratic party
is law-abiding party. 1t is rnSre than
,has-it is a party Of PMScrrtE. All the
victories i, has won. all ths glory it has
achieved, all the good it has accomplished.
has been BY strict adherence TO its priu-
ciple.; and We are one Of those who be-
lieve that all the hopes i, hSs Of future
victory. Of future glory and "tfuturc good,
depend upon strict ndbor"nce to princi-
pie. We believe this, as firmly as We do
in our existence. Nothing was ever gained
By a sacrifice of principle, But everything
that has been lost. has been lost by truck.
ling to The dictates of policy" The
campaign which rcsultcl so gloriously for
us in this State, " as made on the issue
that Negro Suffrage has been forciblv and
Illegally forced upon our people. Every
Democratic speaker We hear! and every
Democratic paper we read took thi, posi-
ton. The campaign VIA bold and as
grcssive. and il ras s's rsgM Had the
timid, foolish counsel, rfWould-bs-lcsders
been followed, and rad We treated the
XVIII Amendment and Negro Suffrage rs
accomplished facts we would have III
lie difficulty III deciding what would now
be the proper course for 'he Democracy to
IL /