The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1870-08-15
Governor stevenson aud the Flick
Amendment.


to-day. The ipipt resolution of the Legis-
latare, adopted on the ssth day Of Feb
ruary, 1870, proposing an Amepdp'en,
to tho Constitution. This is the "Flick
Amendment" Of which we have beard SO
much Of late. and draws its name from a
carpet-bagge' and peddler Of pills and
patent rights, who, by the force Of regis-
tration, obtained q seat in the Legislature
from Pendleton comfy, and .. one be-
came a spoutiug negro-worshiPping re-
publican, and this is the product of bis
genius. His amendment was submitted
and adopted. It makes the white men Of
our State LAS GOOD AS a NIooEE," and
it is proclaimed from tho musings who
wants to be botter!"
We always entertained doubts Of the
sincerity Of the republican party respect
ing the Flick Amendment. We also
doubted its suficiency, it adopted, to &C.
complish the ends desired by our friends.
We have never opposed it, and do not
now oppose it. 1t is one Of a series Of
measures calculated to enfrancbisc o
large portion of tho white race Of our
State. BY its adoption We will be re-
lieved Of the Constitutional embarrass-
ments now encircling the white race in
chains. But the legislative "test oaths'
as they existed in 1866. when this Con-
sti,utional Amendment was forced upon q
majority by minority Of the people. will
remain. 1t is not proposed by Mr.. Flick
to repeal the "TEsr eArlls," and to re-
move the disabilities which they occasion.
It was to remedy this that the State plat
form at Charleston was adopted. demand
ing tho immediate acknowledgements Of the
white race by The specdiest means known
10 our own laws. ~ st.1
LIST. The Democratic platform demand
cd and embraced a repeal Of all "tea
oafhs," and requiring the registration Of
all men not convicted Of participation in
The rebellion by the verdict Of q jury and
The judgment OF . court. ,r.l aa
End. It embraced the calling Of Con-
ven ton to reform the organic Law Of tho
State, emitting ali the disabling clauses.
Sd. II embraced the Flick Amendment,
and whichever was found to be tho speed
lest was declared for, and TO be insisted
upon in the campaign. s
There is no difference in purpose ke.
tween the State platform men and The
Flick Amendment men. They all am o.
the same object. Tho State platform
comprehcnds all tie means necessary 70,
The entire deliversnce Of the white race
from bondage and chains. The Flick
Amendment only RENTS US back to the
unconstitutional and arbitrary "h.t
oath,," by the force Of which the amended
Constitution was adopted--all the shackles
which partisan rancor can invent will re-
main as laws Of our State, and no radical
proposes their repeal. But tho radicals
are unwilling to adopt the Flick Amend.
ment. Their platform approves its sub
mission, and equally approves its rejeo-
ton. For it in effect says tha. the
"truaing' Democrats are to be told tba.
the radicals approve its adoption; but BY
sly wink Of the eye they Qhe radicals)
are At liberty to speak, vote and act as
they please.
In fact the radicals never intended TO
adopt the Flick Amendment. Insufficient
Of itself, as il is shown TO be 10 the full
accomplishment Of the demands Of the
country, the clause in the Constitution,
which this Amendment processes to abol-
ish, 10 found to be sorviccable to the op-
prcssor, and cannot be yielded until
another-and still another election has
passed over. One pretext after another il
adopted 10 prolong tho agony Of the
country and perpetuate power in the
hands Of the rulers: TIE radicals arc not
sincere in their protested desire for the
adoption OF the Flick Amendment. Many
Of the liberal republicans would rejoice TO
sec the consumation Of this policy; but
the rulers-thc bitter.cnders will never
consent to let up the down-troddeu eiti.
zens Of our State.
II tho radicals intended to favsr The
adoption Of Flick Amendment, why
did they fail to continue their work IN
that dircction7 The Governor hns wholly
omitted to perform his duty by the publ.
cation Of the Amendment, which he knew