Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-02-03
,tents and purposes, to have vacated his

Of Virginia Is entitled to representation In
Congress upon the following fundamental
conditions:
That the constitution of Virginia shall
never be amended or changed as to deprive
any class Of citizens of the United States Of
the right TO vote who are entitled to vote by
the constitution herein recognized, except as
punishment for such crimes as are now
felonies at common law, whereof they shall
have been duly convicted under laws equal
ly applicable TO all the inhabitants Of said
State. Provided, That any alteration Of
| said constitution prospective In it's effects
may be made In regard to the time and place
of residence of voters; That It shall never be
lawful for the said State to deprive any citi-
zen of the United States, on account Of his
race, color, or previous condition Of servi-
| iude, of the right to hold office under the
constitution and laws of said State, or upon
any such ground, to require Of him any
| other qualifications for ofHce than euch as
| required ofall other citizens; that the con-
stitution of Virginia shall never be so amend
ed or changed as TO deprive any citizen, or
class of citizens Of the United States of the
school rights and privileges secured by the
constitution Of said State.
A Republican Senate engrafted in the bill
these Fundamental conditions, every Dem
ocrat in the Senate voting against them
and with these additions the Senate passed
the bill, and 1t is now In the House for ac-
| tiOn here.
Though the Senate did not adopt "condi-
tions In the same words of the House bill
reported from the Reconstruction Commit
tee, yet they are designed to secure the same
great ends and others in addition-the equal
rights and privileges of all classes of citizens
and so the Senate demands in substances
whatI insisted on in Committee, and by my
vote and speech in the House.
In objecting to my vote on the Virginia
bill, as you do in your letter in the CONNER
oIAL, you condemn the action Of Republi-
can Senate, the action of all the Republican
members of the Reconstruction Committee
except one, the 95 Republicans of the House
who voted against striking out the ''condi-
tions" and you thereby endorse the Demo-
Gratis whose votes, added to the Republican
minority, struck out the conditions"
If you can afford to place yourself on
these questions against the Republican ma
jority of both branches of Congress, and
with the democratic party, must neverthe-
less content myself with standing side by
side with the Republican majority of both
Houses Of Congress.
These " conditions" are substantially the
same as those imposed on North Carolina,
South Carolina, Louisiana, Georgia, Alaba.
ma and Florida by the act Of Congress OF
the 25th Of June 1868, admitting those States
to representation. Those States were orga-
nized and controlled by the Republican par.
ty, yet the 10th Congress- Republican
Congress-imposed on them the condi
tions."
vi ginia was organized in good part by
the Democratic party, with certainly one
United States Senator in opposition to the
Republican party.
BY ohjecting to my vote, you condemn
tho Republicans of tho +o,h Oossroos, wis
passed the act of June 25tb, 1868, you plan
yourself so far on the platform of Andrew
johnson, who refused to approve it, and yor
propose to relieve Virginia, organized by po
litical opponents, from conditions imposed
on States organized by our political friends.
But you say Virginia dare do no wrong
to the liberties OF her people in the Union o.
out of it."
If that be so, then neither Virginia mo-
you ought to object to conditions" tn,
only object of which is to secure the "lber
ties Of her people, but if you are mistaken
then the conditions are necessary. If Vir
ginia will doright she cannot object to icon
ditions" which only require this Ut her hands
-ifshe will not, then they are indespensa
, be.
These " conditions, think you will asre
with me ought to be required:
lst. Unless Congress has no Constitutions
right to exact them; or,
ID. Unless they are unnecessary; or,
Sd. Unless they are wrong.
, have already argued the question of Con
+ stitutional Power in my speech of Januar,
18Th in Congress, and will not now repea
its arguments, or the authorities cited in il
: 1t may be enough here to say the l4tl
, article of Amendment to the Constitution
provides that:
4tO DthtC eudll Lndhc VI CulOltc duY ldv
9 (which shall abridge the privileges or in
Q "munities ofcitizens =. nor deny :,
r "any person within its Jurisdiction the equo
: "protsction of the tatOs, Gand]
: Congress shall have power to enforc
q the provisions of this article"
j Are the conditions necessary
You do not venture to say that majorit
b of the people of Virginia would not il the
r dare do any wrong to the liberties of he
8 people" You only say Virginia dare
NO wrong" If she is to he controlled b
4 her fears rather than any conscientious cor
Il victiuns of duty are not conditions neces
II sary2 Her fears may vanish.
/" Her Slave Code remains unrepealed to tn
J, day, with the obnoxious laws discrimna.in
), against color. Have the leading men VIII
G control the State given any earnest proof I
1t desire to abrogate these
vi When the Virginia Convention was Il
10 session near two years ago making her Cor
stitution, gentleman now very high In a,
,f thority in the reconstructed government
'r came to Washington and urged Senator wi
- son and other Senators to exert their iut1i
,e ence to have the Convention insert in Il
r. Constitution clause denying the right
m suffrage to men who after three years cou
:, ~ not read. As the 18th Amendment of Il
le Constitution OF the United States does NJ
te prohibit that, is not some condition" nece
81 sary to prevent Virginia from doing
"A "wrong to the liberties of her people
st Or would you permit the great mass Of Il
n freedmen thus to be deprived of the right
y y suffrage?
\, 10 In the reconstructed Constitution IF vi
a. ginia, there is what is known as the "Coun
ed organization" article of the Constitutio
pY providing among other things for Conamt
- hch0ols. The recent debates In the Sena
d. huve proved, that Gov. Walker when ca
to didate during the last summer, permit
all himself to be represented by the address
su o, the Conservative (democratic) State Coz
W. mittee as opposed to executing that pro-