Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1871-06-29


to prevent them from exercising either |
civil or political rights, and who whip
ped, scourged and murdered white
men and women, too, for educating
and being friends of the negro race
What will jeff Davis say, who though
his life was fairly forfeited by his trea-
son,Yet commands influence over more
votes in the Sonth than we have Dem
ocrats in Ohio? What VIII the large
minority of Ohio Democrats say who
protested in the convention against
acquiescing in the amendments Still,
in spite of all this uncertainty, it is
glorious fact, of which evere Republi-
can may feel proud, that majority Of
the Democrats of Ohio acquiesce in
the great measure we have brought
about promise obedience to them
and enforcement of them, and beg of
US no longer to consider them as po
litical issues before the country.
We would have greater cause for re-
joicing if I'VE did not see so many rea-
sons for regarding this new departure
as a Trojan Horse-a new device of the
enemy to steal into our camp and be
tray our cause. What do they mean
by denouncing the extraordinary
means by which the amendments we're
brought about? The only means by
which the amendments could be
adopted was by a vote of two-thirds of
each House of Congress, ratified by
three-fourths of the States. Was this
consent given? If so, the amend
ments are the supreme law. Do they
i - a.. Tk III
bacK-handed lick at what they ratify
and agree to enforce? Again What
do they mean by vigorously applying
the Democratic rule of strict construc-
ton to the amendments Does this
conceal some covert purpose to de-
feat them? Is this a new Kentucky
resolution of '98, containing the heresy
of Secession and Notification ? The
18th amendment is, mainly, only the
true Interpretation of the old Consti-
tuition, but the vital principles and
guarantees of the old Constitution
were nullified by strict construction, ,or
rather by false construction. Hence
the necessity of the 14th amendment,
which defines who are citizens, what
are the rights of citizen, and specifi-
force them by appropriate legislation.
If Calhoun's doctrine of strict con
struction is to be revived to defeat the
amendments, then nothing is settled.
| What we mean is, that these amend
ments are the logical results Of a great
civil war which brushed from our at,
mosphere all taint of slavery, seces-
sion, and Calhounism; that they shall
have their full operation according to
the plain meaning of English words,
and that Congress shall, from time to
! time, pass laws to enforce them and
that the President shall execute these
laws fully and efficiently, subject only
to the judicial power of the Courts of
the United States. If this is what they
mean by the new Departure, it is all
right. If not, it is mere political trick
too shallow to mislead or deceive any
one.
Again: What do they mean by
their fifth resolution? Is it the mere
naked axiom that acts passed by Con
gress are subject to repeal? If So
why pompously utter what all admit
But the context shows that they mean
arepeal of all the acts passed to en-
force the amendments. The amend
ments without the appropriate legisla
ton, mere dogmas, without inner
ent power of enforcement. The ter
commandments are laws of the highes
sanction, but what are they worth with
out penalties and punishment ? Wha
good does it do to say thou shalt no
murder, unless the law comes in anC
says, if thou dost murder, thou shal
surely be put to death or imprisoned
What use is it to say that all men shal
have equal political and civil rights
unless the law Furnishes violation o
these rights What does this new de
parture mean, except to say, we recog
nize these amendments, but we will re
2 peal the laws that enforce them? W
: had many rights secured by the con
stitution as it was that were plainl
: and openly nullifed. The citizens Q
f any one State had all the PRIV
: liges and immunities of citizens in th
e several States, and yet for years eli
), izen of the North could not and di
: not enjoy his rights in the South.
: Judge Hoar, of MASSACHUSETTS, wa
# expelled from South Carolina for th
AnSAO OhOAH " oPPCeA " ehO OOUAC CS
e South Carolina for protection from i
) legal imprisonment of a citizen of Ma
d sachusetts. The Democratic party. b
It what they call strict construction an
S by their refusal to pass appropriat
l. laws, stripped the constitution of ha
r its vitality. Do they wish in the san
d way to emasculate these amendments
: Does any sensible man believe that
4 Democratic Congress could or woul
pass any law to enforce any of thes
e amendments ? Every effort of ours
J. -enforce them has been met by tt
g most violent parliamentary Oppos
Ie ton and the laws haye been resisted /
l. organized violence.
II Now they tell US they will repeal Il
ID laws, and yet they recognize tt
lie amendments. They believe in Il
u Maine Liquor law but are opposed
e. its enforcement. They confess the
s, sins but will surely repeat them.
r The New Departure is g. goo
Of enough Morgan until after the ele
Il. ton, and then their platform is loo
a enough for them to creep through al
al follow their old course of hate, pers
re cution and violence. While the
I'd tricks are played upon us here, t
ID mass of the Democratic voters in t
y, South are waiting and watching - n
g. over the border, but in the heart of o
n country-to restore the lost cause;
al upset all that we have gained in