The Van Buren press., 1870-05-17
Governor English Of Connecticut.

) OF May, is a document woTthy INC peIus
@ al of all conservative men. 1t is clear
$ and to the point, and grasps the subject
1 of the 10Th amendment in statesman
like manner We copy Il portion Of the
= Message and its length forbids further
> notice at this time -
1t is now over fifty years since n con
stitntienal convention assembled IN this
State. OF the members of the body which
framed our present constitution, but one,
, it is believed, survives. Marvellous
changes have occurred during this period.
In population, in the pursuits of our peo-
pie, in their condition and habits of life,
in political ideas, in the relation of the
State to the other States and TO the Gene
raj Government, the changes are too
striking to need any particular indication.
In fact, tho bulk of our legislation to-
day, is upon subjects which were entire
I, ly unknown and hardly conceived of by
the people of Connecticut in 1918, and
the matters which absorbed their atten-
ton then, are for the most part regarded
by this generation as of inconsiderable
moment. Upon every principle which
justifes constitutional government, the
organic law which governs us should be
adapted to the altered circumstances of.
our people, and the frequent amendments
that have Of late years been made to the
Constitution and the propositions for
amendments that are constantly being
made, are only the natural symptoms at
tending the effort of this principle to vim
dictate itself therefore earnestly rec.
ommcnd that you take the necessary
steps for the calling of Convention at
the earliest day practicable, for revision
of the Constitution of this State. Nor
am sure that this will not be necessary,
as we'll AS expedient, if the State deter
mines to facilitate, by any act of its own,
the operation of the recently proclaimed
amendment to the Federal Constitution,
known as the Fifteenth Amendment: BY
the provisions of that article the State is
on account of color, in those to whom it
shall give the right to vote. But the
right to vote is constitutional privilege
in Connecticut. The qualifications of an
elector are prescribed by the Constitution
of the State The General Assembly has
no power over the subject. That instru-
ment, as it now stands, prcscribes no
qualification whatever for any other than
the white citizen. The new article Of the
Federal Constitution does not define
what qualifications shall entitle a citizen
to vote, but only prohibits the State from
making color, race, or previous condi-
ton Of servtude," q disqualification. As
the General Assembly has no power to
make white citizen of the United States
an elector Of this State, whatever qualif-
cation he may possess, am unable to see
how the requisite qualifications are to be
provided for the citizens "not white"
except by constitutional provision. In
thus alluding to the so-called Fifteenth
, Amendment to the Federal Constitution,
| am not insensible to the circumstances
attending its adoption, as proclaimed by
the President Of the United States The
fact is notorious that it's claimed ratiica-
ton by several of the States enumerated
among those requisite for its adoption
was accomplished by means of chicanery
5 and force, which would properly vtiatC
!. any contract between one citizen another
: brought about by such means
In its object and effect, too, it is revo.
lutionary Of that system of government
which recognizes local self-government
as necessary to the stability and ndis
, pensablc to the practical working of re
publican Institutions. BY the power OF
!. appropriate legislation which it gives
t to Congress, it commits to the absolute
control of the General Government the
I. right to vote in every State, and the
= mockeries Of an election which have
within the past few years, been held ii
the Southern States, under the bayoncts
0 of the General Government, is sufficient
t commentary upon the liability to abuse
of such an important power. But still
, the forms of law in the adoption of this
' amendment have been complied with, ano
, it has been officially proclaimed as an in
tegral portion of this organic law. lfth,
: State of Connecticut, by any constitu
tional act OF its own, could prevent this
: deprivation of that right, which ever sine,
its foundation as q commonwealth it has
: at all times proclaimed, and would never
. by the vote of its people, have abandon
, ed, "the right to manage her intcrna
y concerns in her own way l should no
d hesitate to recommend it for your adop
ton but know of no way in which thi.
Z can be accomplished. The State is pow
: eress for that purpose, but, as nearly
two centuries ago, its historic oak pre-
n served its chartered liberties, so now, it.
people should treasure in their heart,
a this vital principle of free government
for the time will surely come when it viii
!; be again recognized rs the safeguard o
the republic.
One of the most alarming indications
of the present day, is the continued impa
tience on the part of those temporarily
controlling the power Of the Genera
, Government, of those constitutional re
straints which the founders of our Gov
ernment regarded as essential to the pro
lection of Republican Institutions. The
, exigencies Of the Government during the
e late civil war, were held to excuse certain
a departures fr, IN the spirit of the Consti
, tuition. But the return of peace, will
the alleged causes of sectional strife re
moved, and those controversies that hat
distracted the country, unsettled its com
: mercial relations, and paralyzed its in
y dnstrv virtually adiusted rendered Tho