Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-08-09

Still further; the rights OF the colored
men are secured, if secured at all, by
the three great Constitutional amend
ments, the 18th, 14th and 10th, To
give these amendments full scope and
effect, legislation by Congress is impera-
lively required, as you have so often and
So eloquently demonstrated. But the
Democratic party are on record in the
most conspicuous manner against any !
legislation ON the subject. 1t was only
in the month of February last that my |
colleague, Mr.. Peters, offered resolution
in the House of Representatives affirm
ing the validity of the Constitutional
amendments and of such REASONABLE
legislation of Congress AS MAY BE NE
CEssARY to make them in their letter
and spirit most effectual." This resolu-
tion-very mild and guarded, as you
will see--was adopted by 124 YEAS to 5S
NAYS; OILY EIGHT of the YEAS were
Democrats ALL the NAYS were Demo-
Gratis.
The resolution of Mr.. Peters was fol-
lowed, a week later, by one offered by
Mr. Stevenson of Ohio, as follows:
Resolved, That we recognize as valid
and binding all existing laws passed by
Congress for the enforcement of the thir-
teenth, fourteenth and fifteenth amend
ments of the Constitution of the United
States, and for the protection of citizens
in their rights under the Constitution as
amended.
OF the vote upon this resolution there
were 107 YEAS to So NAYS. ALL THE
YEAS we're Republicans, and they are
now unanimous in support Of President
Grant. All the nays were Democrats,
who are now equrlly unanimous in sup
port of Mr.. Gre eley.
1t is idle to affirm, as some Democrats
did in a resolution offered bv Mr.. Brooks
of New York, that these amendments
are valid parts Of the Constitution" 50
long as the same men on the same day
vote that the provisions Of those amend
ments should not be enforced by Con-
gressional legislation. The amendments
are but sounding brass and tinkling
cymbals" to the ears of the colored man
until Congress makes them effective and
practical Nay, more if the rights of
the colored man are to be left to the leg
islation of the Southern States, without
Congressional Intervention, he would I'M
der Democratic Administration be de-
prived of the right of suffrage in less
than two years, and he would be very
lucky if he escaped some form of chat
tel slavery or peonage. And in proof
of this l might quote volumes of wisdom
and warning from the speeches of Charles
Sumner
| When, therefore, you point out to the
colored men that their rights will be
safe in the hands Of the Democratic par.
| ty you delude and mislead them-I dc
not say wilfully but none the less really
The small handful of Republican,
compared with the whole mass-whc
unite with yourself and Mr.. Greeley in
going over to the Democratic party, can
not leaven that lump Of political un-
soundness even if you preserve your own
original principles in the contact The
administration of Mr.. Greeley, should
he be elected, would be in the whole and
in detail Democratic administration
and you would be compelled to go witt
7 the current or repent and turn bach
when too late to meEd the evil you hac
done. Your argument that Horace Gree
ley does not become Democrat by re
ceiving Democratic votes illustrating il
by the analogy Of your own election tc
the Senate-is hardly pertinent. The
point is not what Mr.. Greeley will be,
come personally, but what will be the
complexion of the great Legislative
branch Of the Government with all it,
, controlling power. You know very well
Mr.. Sumner, that if Mr.. Greeley is elect
ed President, Congress is handed over t.
the control of the party who have per
sistently denied the rights of the blacl
man. What course you will pursue to
ward the colored mani is of small conse
quence after you have transferred tn
power Of Government to his enemy
The colored men of this country arr
e not as class enlightened; but the,
, have wonderful instincts, and when the,
read your letter they will know that a
, great crisis in their fate you deserte,
them. Charles Sumner co-operatin,
with Jefferson Davis is not the sam
Charles Sumner they have hitherto Idol
q ized-any more than Horace Greeley
cheered to the echo in Tammany Hall
is the same Horace Greeley whom tn
Republicans have hitherto trusted. TIL
black men of this country will never b,
ungrateful for what you have done 70
them In the past-nor, in the bitterness
of their hearts, will they ever forge