Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1871-09-05

On his nomination by the Democrat,
State Convention OF Wisconsin for Govern
or, ex-senator Doolittie made a very sbl,
speech one OF tbs best, IN tact, that vi
have seen this year. AS to the position o
The Democratic party on the constitutions
amendments, hIs words were well considered
aud forc:ble. We quote thIs part of BIZ
speech
The views aud purpose of the Democrat
&c party and Of all VINO opposed the GGop.
tIon OF those amendments have been frequ
emily called 10 question and that By Senat-
or Morton and Speaker Blaine, who are re-
gsrded as the leaders OF the Ad ADMINISTRATION
party. They say, 10 substance, because the
Democratic party opposed military recon
stiaotioa SCd voted against those amend
ments 10 Congress and The State LeRislstu-
res, 1t Intends, when 1t comes into power
and come it will-tO disregard those amend,
ments and SET them aside. In saying this,
taey assert what they cannot knos to be true,
aud they assert what we know cannot be
true. Long before Mr.. EA.lAndigbam SAID
anything upon the subject, the address OF
the Democratic members OF Congress dec
Jared the contrary
ave earnestly enteres, our feilo w-citizeus
IN ell pGrts OF the UuIoH 10 spare 10 efforts
70 maintain peace and order 70 carefully
protect the rights OF every cIuz,n to pre-
serve kindly relations Gmorg all msu, and
10 dIsoouutenABoe sud discourage aBy yio-
lAtion of the rights OF aay portion OF tae
people secured UHder tas Constitution OF by
any Of the amendments" As 10 Mr.. Val
landighau, II might have boon s uew depar.
ture. How could the Democratic party dis
regard or set aside those amendments il
~tAegzopld2 But three ways can be con
oeIved or Rave ever been suggested
Fret, By obtaining q decision Of the Sup
rene Cour; declaring ;hsm VOID. The pre-
sent construction Of shat court makes the
thing in possible, and no Democrat would
purpose to reconstruct the Supreme Court
10 reverse its dscisions. They honor the
judiciary too much TO do that. Besides, il
almost certain that upon all such political
questions, depending upon the results OF
elections, the Judiciary would feel bound to
accept and follow the declarations Of the
political power. Congress aud the e1ecu-
tive thought the Supreme Court could Meth
or taLe judicial notice Of events depending
upon elections except as they are declared,
nor frame an Issue TO try the question Of
fact whether a constitutional amendment
has or has not been ratified by tbe l~egisla-
lures OF three-fourths Of all the States, after
the same has been proclaimed duly ratified
by the proper officer under the forms Of
law.
Second, by proposing a new amendment
to set them aside directly. This would be b
legitimate mode, bat is wholly imprsetios-
bic. Beyond question, more than oue-fourth
OF the States would vote against it, and
taree-fourths are required to carry il. The
attempt to do do would renew the agitation
OF the negro question 10 another form, bul
could bring no practical result. Besides.
all parties, north and south, are u unwilling
10 open that question. The negro is free,
end none would eLslsve him, and negro suf-
irARe has become q fixed fact, q thing ac-
oomplished.
lh'rd, the only other possible mode is the
military one Of using the army to control cleo
mons and to change the Constitution. Rad.
lcaIs like Senator Morton might consistent
ly adopt this mode, for they do not hesitate
to put tbs army above the Constitution and
oiVlI law IN order to control or decide cleo
tions; but no man who still cherishes the
OF the old Denocratic-republican
school Of Jefferson and of jackson, would
care to use the standing army for any such
purpose. Besides, the attempt so take away
negro suffrage by force would lead TO a
DOGGY stroFgle-probsbly to civil var
Ana without doing sny good would ipvolvs
greater evils than now exi.,
should not have d~elt upon this .rhis0,
90 long, but for the constant sga. 'aSJee'
Radical opponents to place IA in our
position and to charge as with the pn. ,anse
Of dealing with the Constitution a. pSse
themselves have done, namely, 10 recon-
struct it by the sword, and 10 rsnev o;vi,
strife. "