The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-06
A Government of BayOnets or a
Government of Law.
CENTRALESM VS.. FREEDOM.
Negro Suffrage on Its Trial---TO Stand
Or Fall by Results.
THE DUTY OF THE DEMOCRACY.

| ago, and taken In connection with the platform OF
| the Pennsylvania democracy and the 'new depart
ure OF the party is OF the greatest significance. 1t
| is published with Mr.. Stephens full consent and
approval and clearly defines his position in regard
| to the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments 1t
| was provoked by q short statement In New York
| paper
| ACCEPTS AMENDMENT XIII.
Ills well known by all who have read with any
attention Mr.. stephens second volume upon the
war between the States that he does hold and NAM
tain that the thirteenth amendment OF the Constitn
ton of the United States-that by which slavery
was abolished-was duly ratified by the Southern
States after they abandoned the cause OF secession
and resumed their obligations to the federal Union,
| Inis amendment having been thus duly ratified
ny the constitutional constituencies OF these States
Though they had no voice in its proposal BY Con-
gresS because OF their voluntary absence he never
theess regards as vital part OF the organic law.
| HE DECLINES AMENDMENTS XIV. AND XIV.
a X a sepSen oe no
hold either the fourteenth or fifteenth amendment.
stltutlon because they and are nothing but the
o1spring OF gross usurpatons OF power, passed 10y
| force, fraud and perddy.
| The reconstruction measures upon which they
rest entirely for their foundation and support were
passed ny Congress upon the assumption OF powers
aVowedly "oufslde' or the constitutl0n-ten OF the
| States OF the Union ut that time claiming repre-.
sentation In Congress (and not the origi-
ma! Colonies'') were arbitrarily and most wrong
fully denied voice and hearing IN the Congress OF
| the States upon those amendments when they were
proposed, and that too in the very face and teeth
OF the constitution. which declares that "each State
shall SHALL have at least one Representative" in the
House, and that mo State. without It's consent
| Senate"
| on proposing these last two amendments, ten
| States were thus most wrongfully and unconsttu.
tlonaly denied voice. 1t Is well known that but
they were denied voice, the so.cailed amendments
| never would have been proposed for adoption by
| the States OF the Union.
THE CONSPIRACY AGAINST AMERICAN LIBERTY.
But besides this 1t Is also well known that 1t was
part OF the plan of the conspirators against the
Sfnfno NV vhnrn
| these fraudulent amendments were concocted, as
their first step toward centralized empire, that they
constitutional constituencies OF these distrauchsed
states, as required by the constitution. They,
therefore not only originated In attempted revo-
luton OF the federal government by those who then
bore sway In the Congress OF states, but based
Tor their assumed future validity upon a like pro-
leced revolution OF the governments of ten OF the
states OF the Unien, which was TO be carried out by
carried out In these ten states Their rghrful or
deJure governments were overthrow and De .Jdct0
goveTnmenas established BY bayonets IN their stead,
WHY HE DOES NOT ACCEPT THEM.
the amendments thus originating In usurpation
these States not embraced In their constitutions and
unknown to the constitution Of the United States.
threats Gas late elections in this state have been
falsely said to have been carrled but by
placement OF the regular government OF these States
and the erection in their stead oil military despot-
Ism In each OF them: Their De j,ne governments
are still In state Of repression. This IL the truth
OF the case. and the annals OF no country age
show grosser or more palpable usurpations OF
power-more glaring acts Of wrong, violence, fraud
and perndy on the part OF those authority than
do those measures upon which solely these socaled
amendments were based. and those upon which
solely they are claimed TO have been passed and In
corporated as valid parts OF the constitution the
United states
BALLOTS NOT BULLETS.
These, as we understand them, are Mr.. Stephens
views In regard to the last two amendments.
called In the views thus entertained we suppose
the editor OF the Express concurs at least in the
MAN, All true democrats AT least do But he seems
to look results OF these
existing status under them throughout the limits OF
the Union mas as nxed tacis not 70 be changed or
upon them In the same light. In this, we conceive,
consists difference small or great as 1t may be.
between them. While Mr.. Stephens advises, and
has from the FIRST OF these usurpations as we know
advised that there should be resistance by force
sure ultimate remedy for them and all like acts
of tyranny under our system OF government Is
the peaceful rectlfcation OF wrongs through the
ballot box, yet he maintains that this rectlncatlon
can never be brought about except by an exposure
OF the wrongs and an arrangement OF their authors
before the people for their condemnation. 1t can
no, DC done by an acceptance OF the wrongs as
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Of the Validity ' Of measures usu so
founded entirely upon usurpations fraud, violence
and per1dy as these are known 10 be.
NO PEACE TILL THESE AMENDMENTS ARE REPEALED.
Inc only saie way out. according 10 mis- opinion,
IS the peaceful mode OF an earnest appeal TO the
sober second thought OF the berty-lovlng masses
the people, In all the States to ray the polls and
there pronounce their crushing judgment OF popu-
lar condemnation against these and all like usurpa-
tons; as well as against their authors
II the party In power are 70 he turned out It ought
TO he for their mlsdeeds OF some sort. What mis-
deeds have they done are likely TO do compared
with theseY ms party ought to be condemned, If
at all, for what they have done as well as for what
they are likely TO do Judging the future by past
New lsurpations can only be Justly apprehended
hereafter from those which have gone before.
Mr.. Stephens, doubtlessly, agrees fully with the
last sentence OF the article quoted which Is that
policy and duty, interest aud PATRIOTISM seem to us
now to demand that we unite 10 prevent new usur-
patrons OF power and new inringements upon the
rights OF the people and the States.n
IN nj
attempting TO unite the people IN rally 70 prevent
new usurpatons, Il the existing ones which strike
at the citadel or the rGhts Of the people, as well
as 'the States,n are to be utterly ignotedy In view
OF policy alone with what confidence face could
any man go before the people OF any State and ap
peal to them to unite and rally for the prevention or
new usurpations, who should begin MS appeal bv
and fixed facts''-not to be now or ever hereafter
questioned or assaed-the foulest usurpatons
rights OF any portion OF the American people
Could the earnest efforts OF the people, any wnere
be expected TO be enlisted for prevention OF
usurpaons OF any Sort the call or entreay OF any
party which either winks at or connIyes at much
less which favors the sanction OF these greatest all
outrages upon popular righs-these highest OF all
crimes against The constItntIon-these fecst OF all
blows ever aimed at public liberty IN tnie country,
10y which ten commemorative were stricken from
the roll OF States aud the lives with the rights OF
person and property. OF nine millions Of freemen
were put under The absolute dominion or military
satraps.
THE AMENDMENTS STILL LIVING ISSUES.
III the party In power are TO be assailcd for their
nsurpauons, II they are TO be put out to save the
rights OF the people and the Statcs' from their
grasp OF usurpations Is II not the dictate OF pa
trotsm ms well as Of sound policy, to assail them
lore and AFT root and branch, pointedly and most
vigorously. for their most mischevous and iniqui.
tous acts OF tins characterhose aimed at the over
throw OF the entire structure OF American free lnsli-
tuiIonsy
Whatever may he said or Thought OF 'dead issuesi'
In the coming contest all true friends OF the const-
luton now seem to be coming to the conclusion,
though some OF them tardily that the whole Will In
the end be narrowed down 10 the single Issue OF
whether ours - TO be government OF bayonets or
government Of laws 40 this complexion II comes
AZ last This single issue. ike Aaron's rod, must
and WIN swallow up oil questions OF tariffs, revenue
reform, taxation, negro suffrage, or what not.
NEGRO SUFFRAGE.
With regard 10 the special subject OF negro sur |
frage, we understand Mr. stephens position TO he
that IL ~ question which docs not belong to fed
eial politics IN any way. IL IL question which be-
longs exclusively 10 tue States The federal gov
ernment hnS no more rightlnl control over negro