The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1872-08-10


prevented its passage by the
House except the rancorous and
faclIous hostility Of the Democrat.
ic members. II I have correctly
examined the Globe, the Demo
cratic members on seventeen diff
ferent occasions resisted the
passage of the Civil Rights bill by
the parliamentary process known
as filibustering They would not
even allow it to como to vote
Two intelligent colored members
from South Carolina, Elliott and
Rainey, begged Of the Democratic
side of the House to allow the
Civil Rights bin to be. voted on,
and they were answered by q denial
so absolute that it amounted to q
painful ieer of the rights Of the
colored men, and now you lend
your voice and influence to the re-
election of these Democratic mem
bers who are cooperating with
you in support Of Mr.. Greeley.
Do you not know Mr.. Sumner,
and will you not as candid man.
acknowledge that, with these men
in power in Congress, the rights Of
the caored men ere absolutely
sacrificed so far as those rights are
dependesn on Federal legislation ?
Still further, the rights Of the
colored men in this country are
secured, il secured at all, by the
three great constitutional amend
ments the 18th l4tb, and 10Th.
To give these amendments full
scope and effect, legislation
by Congress is imperatively
required, as you have 60 often and
eloquently demonstrated. But.h
Democratic party are on record in
the most conspicuous manner
against any legislation on the sub
ect. 1t was only in the month OF
February last, that my Colleague,
Mr.. Peters, offered resolution
in the House Of Representatives
affirming the validity OF tie consti
tutional amendnsens 9, and of such
reasonable legisisssi on of Congress
as may be necessary to make them
in their letter and spirit the most
influential. The resolution is very
mild and guarded as you will see
was adopted by 124 yeas to 50
nays. Only eight Of the yeas were
Democratic The resolution Of
Mr.. Peters was followed q week
later by one offered by Mr., Stew
enson, of Ohio, as follows
! Resolved, That we recognize as
valid and binding all tho existing
laws passed by Congress for the
enforcement of the Thirteenth,
| Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amend
ments of the Constitution Of the
the United States, and for the pro-
lection of citizens in their rights
under the Constitution as amend
ed.
On q vote upon this resolution
there were 107 yeas to 65 nays.
All the yeas were Republican, and
they are now unanimous in their
support of General Grant. All
I the nays we're Democrats, who are
now unanimous in their support oi
Mr.. Greeley.
1t is idle to affirm, as some Dem.
ocrats did in theresolution offered
by Mr.. Brooks. Of New York thai
These amendments are valid. parts
of the Constitution so long as the
same man, on the same day, voted
that the provisions of those
amendments should not be cnforc-
ed by Congressional legislation
The amendments are but sounding
brass aud tinkling g cymbals to The
colored man until Congress makes
them effective and practical. Nay
more, if the rights of the co!oret
man is to be left to the legislation
of the Southern States withou,
Congressional interv ention b,
would, under Democratic admin is
tration, be deprived Of the right o.
suffrage in less than two years. and
he would be very lucky if he es.
capped some form Of chattel slavery
or bondage, and in proof of this
danger, might quote volumes o
wisdom aud warning from the
speeches Of Charles Simmer
When therefore, you point ou
10 the colored men, ,th at their right
will be safe in the hands of tn
Democratic party you delude ano
mislead them, l do not say will.
fully, but none tine less really TIL,
email handful of Republicans com.
pared with the whole mass VIII,
unite with yourself and Mr.. Gree
ley in going over to the Democrat
ic party cannot leaven the lump Q