Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-05-19
THE "wHlTE MANS PARTY" LIE.
The 9ravitation of the Democratic Party
to Negro suffrage.
Evidences from all Quarters.


I =
one OF the prominent aspirants for the Dem
ocratic Presidential nomination, and many
leading Democrats favor him. The follow
ing letter shows bis position. 1t was writer
to the colored men, celebrating the l5tt
amendment at Cincinnati. 1t will be noticed
that he congratulates them that 1t has beer
made part of the supreme law of the land
and declares that 1t seemed to be necessary
W,sHINaToN, d. c., Mar. 80. 1870.
| Accept my thanks for the invitation
rendered on behalf Of the colored people
0f Cincinnati 10 attend their celebration
My duties will not permit me to be present
except by good will and wishes.
| Almost quarter Of century has passed
since some of you probably heard me de
clare (May, 1845 that all legal distinctions
between individuals of the same country,
founded on any such circumstances as ori
gin and the like, are hostile to the genius Of
our institutions and incompatible with the
true theory of American liberty that true
democracy makes no inquiry about the colOl
oil the skin, or the place of nativity, or any
other similar circumstances Of condition
| and that the exclusion of the colored people
as body from the electric franchise is in.
compatible with true democratic principles.
congratulate you that these principles
have been at length made part Of the su-
preme law of the land Many, NO donbt,
would have been glad, as should have
been. If the great work consummated by the
ratification Of the fifteenth amendment
could have been accomplished, through the
States through the amendment Of the State
Constitution: but the delays and uncertain
ties prejudicial to every interest inseparable
from that mode of proceeding seemed to me-
cessitate the course actually adopted. Nor
does the amendment impair the real right oi
any State. 1t leaves the whole regulation ol
suffrage TO the whole people of each State,
subject only to the fundamental law thai
the right of no citizen to vote shall be de.
MED or abridged on account of race, color,
or previous condition of servitude. 1t is tt
he hoped that each State will go conform Its
Constitution and laws to this fundamental
law that no occasion may be given for Leg
islation by Cong ess. But the best vindica-
tion OF the wisdom as well as the justice OF
the amendment must be found In the con
duct of the large class of citizens whom
you represent. On the occasion to which
have referred / ventured to say that the best
way to i.sure the peaceful dwelling
together of the different races is the cor
dial reciprocation of benefits, and not the
mutusl iDfliction Of injuries
~ cannot now give you tetter counsel
than offered then. g Go forward, having
perfect faith In YOUR own manhood. ia Gods
providence, adding TO your faith virtue, and
to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge pa
tience temperance, and to temperance
br0therly kindness Charity" Why no,
signul'ze your rel ,cing, in the rights secured
under the fifteenth amendment, by urging
upon Congress the prompt removal of all
political disabilities imposed upon our fellow
| cilizrns by the fourteenth amendment, 81
that through universal suffrage and universal
amnesty, peace. good will and prosperity
may be established throughout our country
Every good man must rejoice in the progress
which the colored citizens of the United
States have made in education, In religious
culture. and in tho general Improvement oi
of their condition. Every man must earn
estly desire their continued and accelerated
progress in the same direction; all public
and private interests will be promoted by 1t,
and it will insure at no distant day the cor
dial recognition of their rights, even from
those oftheir fellow citizens who have most
earnestly opposed them. No man can now
be found who would restore slavery. A few
years hence, ifthe colored men are wise, it
will be impossible to find man who will
dfOW III ihfOT Vi ucuyluB VI
ing their rights to vote.
SALMON p. CHASE"
The following is an editorial article from
the Philadelphia Sunday Transc, ipt, (April
2t) one of the most prominent and influen
tial Democratic newspapers in that city. Ii
refers to the recent action of some City
Committee, which passed resolutions de-
nouncing the 18th Amendment. 1t will be
seen that the Transcript pronounces all
talk about the Amendment being "pre
tended" as demoralizipg and disastrous to
the party, aad Only sure to result in evil =
WORSE THAN THE BoUhBoNs.
The Bourbons never learned and never
forgot anything. Believing their mission
complete, they built about them wall, ant
over its parapets they never cast their eyes
The City Committee of the Democracy ar.
worse even than the Bourbous. Burr, Il II
the contemplation of the rubbish of the Past
they forget that they still live. Thev haven
the ghost of an idea that there is Present
and do not even dream that there will be
Fuure. Political devotees, they pass thei
hours in counting their beads, which they
accomplish with studied accuracy, and they
never get tc the end of their string. Instead
of being live oak or DID hickory, they are al
reeds that the wind respect not and are desti
tute of power, ,pith, or strength During the
past week they have sent forth their wisdom
Like 80 many Bdnsbys. they have chunks
of It; and, much to our regret, these chunks
are sent forth with every grammatical i'm.
perfection on their head, and great deal be.
sides all around, loose.
These young gentlemen-whn they are we
know not-tell us a great deal about the Fed
eral Constitution, a subject as trite as it IL
held to be trivial in this s.new era, and they
20 over great deal, and they say great
deal that might as well he let alone fol
the time while they forget, or at least ig.
more thousand things that might be said ia
a good purpose Just at this crisis of our ma
| ,ional affairs. OF what use now is all the
blather concerning "ouirages, crimes, force
and violence" when, for nine long years.
these have been borne with Christian forti
iude and resignation ? All such talk is sim
| ply trash. All blatherskiting about "pre.
tended" amendments to the Constitution is
no heiter. Everything of the kind is be-
ncath the dignity of Democracy. and demor-
alizing and disastrous in its tendency. The
true strength of the Democracy has always
been it's strict adhesion to the Constitution as
| 1t stands. and as it is recognized BY the au
ihorities in the land. This has been the
sheet anchor of its faith. IT has been iis
shihbol-th that has given repeated victories
1t has been the landmark that has never fail
ed its chiefs or followers. 1t is the star thai
cannot now be dimmed, If utter darkness il
not to follow. Fidelity to the Constitution
is Democratic duty; and, If wrong there be
right only ran he had under the provision.
of that sacred instrument.
BY authority it is proclaimed that the Fif
teenth Amendment is part of the Constitu
tion of the country. 1t may be right ant
proper measure or not. In either event 1t il
part of the fundamental law. As such 1
must be recognized. AS such II must bt
oheyed. Obedience to law is the truest tes
of honest citizenship. Resistance to tn,
Constitution Is no part of Democratic duty
That which chafes to-day may Tomorrow
have it's remedy, and the deepest wrong will
in time, find its requtal. But no wrong cal
justify resistance to law, and nothing cal
warrant antagonism to the written Constitu
tion of the land. Therefore, the pronun
ciamentos of "blind teachers" should fin,
no recognition in Democratic circles. A
they are ineffective for good, they can resul
but in evil.
The following is the major portion of
letter printed by John O'Byrne, ESQ.,, In th