The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-04-18
.1FrauduIent Amendments.


v,o,n tho Cincinnati Commercial.
III not probable that the Democratic
,,rty can be brought squarely up to an
EXPRESSION Of It's views on the validity OF
the amendments to the Constitution. II
has been famous for It's ability to evade
direct issues that might compromise its
prospects in any section of the country.
It's real purposes and opinions were 10 be
gathered rather from the speeches OF It's
orators aud the emanations Of its news.
papers, than from the resolutions anu
conventions.
That the Presidential Convention OF
next year will either preserve a polite 81
lence or give an evaSiVe response 70 any
question touching the validity OF the
amendments which may be addressed to
1t, is tolerably certain, since 1t Is under
stood that there Is a diversity OF opinion
concerning them among the more lnlluen'
tial men OF the party.
Mr.. Groesbeck gu the one hand, ana
Senator Blair on the other, represent the
existing divergence. The one assumes
that they will stand; the other pronoun-
ces them fraudulent" and proposes to
treat them rs null and void. To which
side will the party incline! Which Gle.
ment will prevail in the convention, and
shape the policy Of u Democratic Admin
istration, should one be elected?
We need not say how important will be
the answer. Before this question oil
others which may be introduced into the
impending canvass sink into lnsignifl.
canoe. The civil and political rights OF
all men of color in the United States de.
pend upon II. The work Of recOnstruc.
ton, to.whiCh years Of disputatiOnS and
earnest legislation have been given, de-
pends upon #. The best result of the
war, which is The practical realization OF
Democratic equality under impartial laws,
and leveling Of political distinctions
based upon accidents of race and color,
depends upon 1t.
It is Of the first importance, therefore,
that the people should have clear and
positive expression Of views from both
parties, In their largest representative CO.
pacity, upon these amendments. Ofcourse
as the fruit of Republican legislation and
effort, there is no disposition among Re-
publicans to question these amendments,
which they believe to be vital to the wei
fare of the nation, and the logical result
Of war which, on the part Of the South,
was waged 10 establish government upon
principles Numerically opposed 10 those
which are recognized and explicitly avow
ed in the amendments.
But there is a doubt, and very grave
one, rs to where tho Democratic party
stands, and the confidence Of the people
never should be given to the party, until 1t
has recorded its positive pledge, at least,
not TO distrust these amendments, or ad-
minister national affairs in spirit con-
trary to the obligations they impose. Take
away these amendments, and the Valua-
bic considerations Of long and bloody
struggle for national life will have been
taken away, and the way will be made
plain for new experiment in secession, a
sense oil expedienCy alone controlling 1t,
upon the pretext that q government must
BIZ established from which the negro, as a
political element, shall be completely ell
minated.
The denial of the validity Of these
amendments, in short, means revolution,
and return 10 the condition Of things
which existed at the beginning Of theciv
conflict ten years ago, save and except
slavery ITSELF The boldness with which
Senator Blair pronounCes the amendments
fraudulent, makes it Of consequence to
know how far he has the sympathies OF his
party; and unless there is some manifesto
lion Ofdissent on the part Of his Demo
cratic colleagues in Congress, the Demo
cratic press, or the National Convention
in 1879, 1t will be o fur conclusion that II
holds with him, and stands ready to ig'
more the articles Of amendment in It's legis'
lation and administration. So tarno such
manifestations has been made.