Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-02-10
The Work Accom- plisheA

The fifteenth amendment to the nation
al constitution has been ratified by the
legislatures of twentv-eight States If
New York, which wen through the for
mality of resembling her Constitution, be
counted The last State to ratty was
Georgia, which completed the act On she
Sd inst. The legislatures OF Kansas and
Missouri ratified the amendment year
ago, but the work was imperiectly done,
and so the imperfections were recently
remsdied by the legislatures now in ses'
sion We have seen no statement re-
specting the course that the Government
will pursue in regard to New Yorks rat
iication-whether it will hold the state
to its first action, or recognize her right
20 rescind the ratification. As there 10
certainly one other State, Nebraska, that
will ratify the amendment it would he as
we'll perhaps to wait for the action OF the
State before declaring the result; the
vexsd question raised by the action of
New York could thu, be avoided, and
the opponents Of ratification would Sus
be IL priged of all reasonable ground for
complaint in the matter.
But if New York is not counted, the
ratification is as good as complete, Tor, as
we have said above, at least one more
State will concur in it. At last the great
work, to do which the Republican party
was formed, has been accomplished at
last our Constitution is the grand chars
ter of liberty and equality to all who
seek its protection, regardless Of race
or color, or previous condition of servl'
sude;" at last the country is wholly free
both in creed and practice, and the law
knows no difference between white or
black or brown. The great crime Of the
nation has been put away, and we trust
that it and its long train of evils VIII
soon BIO remembered only as a troubled
dream. Had the Republican party 40,
complished nothing but this publication
of oar laws and Constitution, ID would be
entitled to rank as the grandess party
ever existed. Less than twenty years
old, il has freed the nation from curse
that has ridden it since its foundation,
that was reproach among the power. OF
the world aud that conducted II Al last
to civil was, and came near crushing all
the institutions for which il was most
celebrated, and which have given its
name and influence in the family OF na>
tons The opponents Of tho Republican
party may sneerngly call il The God
and Humanity party" bu. the sneer
contains more truth than scarcasm. 10
is the party that has maintained the God
given rights Of humanity, for all nations
and peoples, and but for its labors one
ne two things would have been expo
Irie need ere this day the prevailing in,
i.s;tution Of the country would have been
NEGRO slavery, or the nation would have
Ibcon rent in twain, with one,half OF it
controlled by a slave oligarchy. To have
h,rmonized the Constitution and laws Of
Ebc nation, and made all supper. freedom
hnd equality to have lifted up racs
Into liberty ana into political rights, and
~ have been the main instrument IN pre-.
serying the integrity Of the nation are
achievements sallioieas to immorielire q
marty. had il done nothing else. These
hro'fhc achievements of tho Republican
marty. and for this work, whatever may
become Of II in future, lis name AMI
llama viii ba cherished rs long ~ the
lratio1 fgis.a. ana Wherever Isee in'sitH.
4 i.na.fs S rsa .i.lpIub:s tty'N.