Oxford Democrat., 1872-08-13

|
10Th. To give these amendments full
scope and effect, Legislation by Congress
is imperalivcly required, rs 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 res.
olution in the House of Representatives,
affirming 1.-THE validity of tho ConsLitu-
tional amendments and of such REASON
ABLE Legislature oi Congress AS MAY BE
NECESSARY 10 make them in their letter
and spirit most e!icclus.' This rcsolu-
tion-vcly mild and guarded, rs you will
sce--was adopted by l2i yeas to SO nays: :
only EIGHT ol the YEAS were Democratic !;
ALL the NAYS were Democrats.
The resolution OF Mr.. Peters wis fol-
lowed II week later. by one offered by
Mr.. Stephenson of Ohio. rs Gollows:-
Resolved. That VIC recognize as
valid and binding, all existing laws pas
sed by Congress for the enforcement OF
/ thirteenth. fourteenth, and fifteenth
amendments of the Constitution OF the
United States. and for the protection OF
citizens in their rights under tho Const-
tuition rs amended"
On the vote upon this resolution there
were l0I YEAS TO 90 NAYS. ALI THE YEAS
were Republicans, and they arc now
unanimous in support OF President Grant.
. All the nays were Democrats, who are
now equally unanimous in support OF Mr.
Greeley.
1t is idle TO affirm as some Democrats
did, in resolution offered 10y Mr. Brooks
oi New York that these amendments
are valid parts ol the Constitution" so
long a the same men OH The same day
vote that The provisions o. iuose amend
mcnts sho2ld nrt be- enforced 10y Con-
/ gresSional legislation. The amendment 8
are but sounding brass and tinkling
cyUuais" to the colored man until Con-
gress makes them effective and practical.
Nay more, ii the rights OF the colored
man are TO be left TO the legislation OF
the Southern States, without Congress
sona intervention, he would. under n
/ Democratic administration be deprived
of The right OF suffrage in less than two
years, and he would be very lucky il he
escaped some form OF chattel slavery or
peonasc And in proof of this danger
| 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 party
YOU dcludc and mislead. them-l do not
say williully. but none the less really.
The small handful of Repnblicans-com-
/ pared with the whole mass-who unite
with yourself and Mr.. Greeley in going
over to the Democratic party, cannot
lcavcn that lump of political unsound-
ness even ii YOU pi eserve your own orig
inal principles III the contact. The adj
mnistralion of Mr Greeley. therefore,
should he be- elected. would be in the
whole and in detail Democratic Admin
istraiiun and you would be compelled 10
90 with the current or repent and turn
hack when too late TO mend the evil you
had done Your argument that Horace
Greeley does not become Democrat by
receiving Democratic notwithstanding
it by the analogy of your own election TO
the Scnate-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 its
vast and controlling power. You know
very well, Mr.. Sumner, that il Mr.. Gree
lev is elected President, Congress is
handed over TO the control of the party
who have persistently denied the rights
OF the black man. What course you
will pursue towards the cOorcd man ID
OF email consequence after you have
transferred the power Of Government &c
his enemy
The colored men Of this country are
not rs II class enlightened; but they have
wonderful instincts, and when they read
your letter they will know that AT a great
crisis in their late you deserted them.
Charles Sumner cooperating with Jeif'
erson Davis is not the same Charles Sum
ner they have hitherto idoliZed- any
moye than Horace Greeley, cheercd TO
the echo in Tammany Hall, is the same
Horace Greeley whom the Republicans
have hitherto trusted. The black men
of this country will never be ungratetul
for what YOU have done for them in the
past-nor, in the bitterness OF theil
hearts, will they ever forgot that heated
and blinded by personal hatred OF one
man, you turned your back on the mil
lions 10 whom in past years you have
stood rs a shield and bulwark of defensel
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant.
JAMES G. BLAINE.
during thunder storm mother