Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-03-01

By conierring suffrage upon the col
ored raco have wo lost tho rights our
fathers secured TO us by the Conslilu.
tiony In giving freedom to the slaves
have we become slaves ourselves Ii
must be apparent TO all that the Ian.
gnage of this pretended fifteenth
amendment confers no power upon
Congress to pass such n measure as
this bill. II is at most only prohi.
bition upon the United States and tho
States as such-upon them In their
legislative capacity, the only capacity
m which they can act-prohibiting
them from discriminating against any
citizen on account Of trace, color or
previous condition of scrsitudc." 1t
makes void any act Of tho United
States and the States that should
make thi8 discrimination The power
TO punish individuals and impose pom.
alties for the violation of law or ODE.
dionce TO State laws must be found, if
at all, In some other provision. And.
sir, is it possible that one will be
found bold enough to attempt to de-
iend the conslitutionality of this meas
ure under section four, clause one, of
the ConstitutionY
"The times, places and manner of
holding elections for Senators and
Representatives shall be prescribed in
each State by the Legislature thereof; !;
but the Congress may at any time by
law mako or alter such regulations,
except to the place Of choosing SEN
ators."
Congress may al any time mako or
alter such regulations. Can arbitrary
arrests and Imprisonment, without
trial or warrant, be justified under
this provisiony Can State officers for
obedience to State laws, not altered
by any act of Congress be made crimi-
mails and subjected to the penalties of
this bill? Can the army and navy be
placed under the command of any
marsbaps deputy and marched indis-
criminatelyagainsi the citizens and Off
GERS Of States on a bare suspicion that
they contemplated resistance to some
outrage of such deputy marshall viii
any gentleman argue that under this
provision or any other provision of
the Constitution of the United States
may take possession Of the registra-
tion as well us the elections of the
States, determine who is qualified,
and who is not qualified, who shall
and who shall not register, TO the ex-
clusion Of all State authority, as pro-
vided by in this bill; that the Gov.
ernors of the States and all other
State officers can, under penalties, be
required by the Federal Government
TO serve as its officers and do its bid
ding? Sir, the proposition and all
such propositions arc too absurd and
preposterous for a candid answer
There is no constitutional warrant for
this measure. 1t is rank usurpation and
revolution it is an insult to every cit
izen of the Republic ; il is hostile 10 cv-
cry feature to liberty, and violates eve
ry fundamental idea of republican gov.
eminent; it will bring war and blood.
shed it is intended to awe tho free
men Of the States and drive them
from the polls. They will not submit
without struggle. There will be
many man, accustomed TO cast his
vote without hindrance or molesta.
tion many good and true citizen,
faithful, law-abiding and patriotic,
who will feel more like firing bullet
than casting ballot through the spy
and informer paid from the peoples
treasury, which this bill places before
and behind the ballot-box, to obstruct,
not facilitate voting. The hypocrili.
cal cry Of "Let us have peace" will
not nval in the face of such measures
as this. The people cannot be hu-
inflated much further, they will soon |
have borne all they can; they viii
ere long assert their sovereign right |
and power to be free;- and they /
viii teach Congress, too, that its
members are the servants and not the |
masters of the people, and that the
people have, under our system, the /
right 10 govern themselves.