Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1871-09-23
The New Departure, continued.

To the Editor Of the Dallas Herald
IT has been shown in n former article
satisfactorily trust to all candid minds
that the questions arising out ofthe amend
meiiis under consideration are no longer,
and id fact can he no longer issues before
the cti!htry. They are as incxorabl5 be.
yond ,l,p pole of political controversy and
as totally irrelevant in their application
to the PRESENT political situation as the old
question Of secession and co'rtion. The
latter havo bceh decided by the arbilrament
of arms henco II has been decided to leave
them with the GHtied past. Such Is also
the popular verdict in regard to the insIi-
tuition of slavery, its abolition is conceded
to be the ''natural aid Legitimate result Of
the war" was embodied in the constitution
al ,hc 18th amendment; fut tho manner
of its adoption is no mdrS to be approved
than the ma nuer in which The 18th amend
ment became part Of tie Constitution,
therefore it is no more incorfntible with
democratic principles to demard the re.
bnslavement of the negrc than to demand
that he be reduced to his former status OF
political infcriority. Both the freedom Of
the negro and his political egIHiiiy we're
brouyh, about for lc self Same purpose,
namely; 10 override tho rights nnd i'm nu-
mites OF the states, aud uboye all, 10 place
under tke control of the radical party
those elettens which wo.'ld enable it to
retain the ascendency. And here is n wide
difference between centralized Hadicahem,
and Democracy rs expounded in the ONO
resolutions, properly known by the so6r'-
9u,t Of "Ncw Departure.
have said that the Democracy should
come forth untrammeled by old issues even
il this dill imply Surrender Of some OF
its ancient principles, but the "New De-
parture' does not demand that surrender
of democratic principles Thich this title
would naturally imply, th5tsh it is con-
tinually heralded throughout the land both
by open and avowed enemies snd spreten-
ded friends Of Democracy that its adoption
would be equivalent to an entire fbandon-
ment Of the ancient landmarks, and this
idea has somehow gained lodgreht in
the pubf,: mind. Such q change if not
entirely t.nfounded is at least too sweep.
ing in its character. Perhaps the prin-
ciple if mol .he only objection TO the "New
Departure" would be that it accepts the
cry which l. opposed to tho time hOnored
principle Of State Sovereignty rs embod-
led in the 1Gih amendment to the Consti-
tuition, in tha. The status of citizenship and
prescribing tie Qualifications Of its voters
is taken from each state aud given to the
general government, true, but il is no more
an infringement on si5te sovereignty than
the abolition OF slavery, IN which the Dem
otratie party and in fact the Whole 6ouH-.
tr, readily acquiesse1. But tic "New
Departure1 does not strike at the sovereign
~ Of the states, treating them as mere
tributaries 10 the Federal Government, but
lin.ists that these amendments shall not
he held a. having in any respect altered
and modified the original theory and char
.c,er Of the Federal Government rs de-
signed and taught by its founders, but
bnlv 70 have enlarged the powers delega-
s.a 70 II. and to that extent and no more
70 bsss abridged the reserved rights Of the
states
Thus While the extent Of the powers and
-;rhts Of the states is held 10 be limited 10
cougerrn 10 the e1igencies Of the times,
,l,s rreat principles Of a government OF
J,lsv.tsd poEers. a Union OF eOequal SOW
,ir1 stsfss are steadily kept in view. In
, word. tie Democracy proposes TO leave
n. dead issues q the past, and apply its
,r.iQr.t rrinciples 20 the new issues which
-,,fr,r.t ~, and nov q 3 in the past d viii
l.usua sfriri construction Of the Con-
-,s,rsiun. thus "a afi n farther it a.